City Rides: 2024 Volkswagen Touareg

The new vehicle introduces fresh looks, smooth drives, and plenty of street cred.

Thanks to our VW friends in Abu Dhabi, we recently got our hands on the new 2024 Volkswagen Touareg for a terrific test drive, and let’s just say it made quite the first impression. One look at its refreshed design, and we could tell the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer gave it a solid makeover, which would make our next four days fun and thrilling. 

The sleek, redesigned LED headlights and a sharper front grill give the new Touareg a modern, sporty vibe. Plus, whoever’s trailing behind you will be gazing at a full-width light strip—a nod to its Porsche relatives—which adds a little extra flair. The facelift isn’t just skin-deep, and VW is clearly determined to make the Touareg stand out as a more dynamic player in the SUV game.

But there’s more to the 2024 Volkswagen Touareg than just a pretty face. Beneath the hood, the Elegance model packed a punch with a 3.0L V6 turbocharged engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. In non-motorhead language, 335 horsepower and seamless gear shifts from the Tiptronic gearbox made it a joy to drive. Another element that made the Touareg’s smooth ride quality stand out was its suspension, which glided over the speed bumps in Dubai Marina, turning the backstreets into a smooth ride. When the traffic allowed, we turned the capable car into sport mode – sharpening the throttle response and firming the suspension up – adding extra fun to our drive.

With a fuel economy of 12.7 L/100 km in the city and 9.4 L/100 km towards Abu Dhabi, the solid balance of power and efficiency required only one fuel stop during the four days we were together. While we didn’t get a chance to take the car off-road, its advertised towing capacity hints that it’s ready for more than just six-lane roads. 

The interior gave the impression of being more luxury than SUV. The first thing that got our attention were the ventilated leather seats which offered great support and comfort, making longer drives and traffic jams feel like a breeze. In addition to that, we enjoyed the functionality of the back massage feature.

Now, onto the techy stuff: the infotainment system, equipped with the ‘Premium Navigation System “Discover Pro Max”‘ was user-friendly and featured a large touchscreen that was easy to navigate, after a few trials and errors, of course. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto made staying connected simple but drained our phone battery when using it over wifi. Therefore, the cable option is recommended. The sound system is crystal clear, and combined with the soundproof windows, we enjoyed our playlists without having to blast the speakers at concert-level decibels. Other features worth mentioning include advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Much like its predecessor, the 2024 Volkswagen Touareg is an all-rounder perfect for navigating Dubai’s busy streets and beyond. It keeps its approachable design but adds a pinch of extra sportiness. The new Touareg makes a great day-to-day car, as it provides comfort, luxury, and tech, with just enough ruggedness to handle weekend getaways. 

While it may not be the flashiest SUV on the market, it’s a reliable choice that offers a balanced mix of style, practicality, and performance.

GO: Visit www.volkswagen-abu-dhabi.com for more information.