2015 Volkswagen Touareg: Family Travel Luxury For A City Escape

2015 VW Touareg
Credit: www.vw.com

A multi-gen road trip upgraded by the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg.

Having a rental car makes even a city escape easy when traveling with kids. It gives us an opportunity to explore the nooks and crannies of cities, as well as make side trips to the suburbs. We had the opportunity to test drive a brand new VW Touareg during our three day weekend to Washington, DC. The 2015 VW Touareg, a mid-sized SUV, comfortably accommodated our multi-generational group of four including my mother, husband, son, and me in a luxury family travel setting.

2015 Volkswagen Touareg luxury features

2015 VW Touareg

As soon as we picked up the sleek black model, we were impressed with its sophisticated look both inside and out. The leather seats and leatherette upholstery gave it a luxurious feel.

The rear seat can accommodate three passengers and the car seat could be easily set up on either side or middle. Just like the front seats, the rear seat can also be adjusted by sliding back and forth or made to recline if necessary.

The dual zone climate control makes it easier to satisfy passengers in the front and back. When dealing with temperature drops at night I loved having the ability to heat front seats as well.

One of the most memorable features of the VW Touraeg is its panoramic sunroof. We could open it up for air or just enjoy the sunlight though the glass roof depending on the weather. This added a new level of excitement for our toddler as he was fascinated to capture the sights from above.

Details such as sun visors with illuminated mirrors, adjustable arm rests, and a center console with cup holders made our drive very comfortable.

Safety features that showed their mettle

2015 VW Touareg

The safety feature that really came in use when driving through narrow streets and parking in tight spots in big city neighborhoods is the 360 degree camera system. The screen with a street view and annotated directions gave me the necessary feedback to adjust as I pulled into a tight spaces.

The lane departure control and blind spot monitoring alerted me with a slight vibration on the steering wheel. There was a smaller screen on the dashboard showing the upcoming lane divisions/rotaries which gave more visual direction in addition to the GPS. Along with adaptive cruise control, these features make it an ideal car for a road trip.

User friendly technology

2015 VW Touareg

Along with a good -sized eight-inch screen, the onscreen navigation system is user friendly. The speed limit was conveniently displayed on the side.

The 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity so we connected to our smart phones to make calls or play music safely while driving. There is also an option to make an emergency call at the touch of a button.

There were two ports in front to charge our devices simultaneously. We rocked to Taylor Swift, our toddler’s chosen music through the eight speaker stereo system.

Fuel Efficiency

2015 VW Touareg

Though the Touareg runs on diesel, the mileage during our city driving was an average of 20 MPG. That is likely more economical compared to a gasoline option for a luxury SUV.

Storage needs an upgrade

2015 VW Touareg

This is one area where the Touareg needs to improve on as the trunk portion just had enough room for our luggage for a long weekend.

What we loved:

  • Push button start
  • Leather seating
  • Dual climate control along with heated front seats
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • 360 degree camera with optical parking system
  • Lane assist with blind spot monitoring
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Bluetooth connectivity and electronic charging stations
  • Navigation system that also displays the speed limit
  • 8 speaker sound system
  • Garage door opener linked to headliner (up to three programmable buttons)

What you need to know:

  • Seats five
  • All wheel drive
  • Airbags front & rear
  • Uses diesel fuel
  • 23MPG combined city/highway
  • New vehicle warranty & road side assistance (3 years/36,000 miles-whichever occurs first)
  • Lux Driver Assistance package with Adaptive Cruise Control, with lane departure warning system and heating steering wheel is an extra $2,500
  • Base price of the model we tested: $56,670; price of the model we tested, $60,080

2015 VW Touareg

 Note: Volkswagen provided the Touareg for my review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Anuja De Silva is a contributing writer for TravelingMom.com. She also works fill time in semiconductor technology development. She ... More about Anuja De Silva
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