Ah, the Volkswagen Touareg. Renowned for its blend of luxury, performance, and practicality, it now stands tall in the SUV segment. But how does this behemoth fare when it comes to turning in tight spaces? Incidentally, that tiny detail called the 'turning circle' plays quite a crucial role, especially when navigating through bustling urban streets. For those unfamiliar, the turning circle is essentially the diameter of the smallest circle a vehicle can turn around in. So, how does the mighty Touareg stack up in this aspect against its internal brand mates and the external competition? Prepare for a whirlwind tour as we delve deep into the specifics.
Over the years, the turning circle of the VW Touareg has seen its share of transformations. The first-generation Touareg (2002-2006) and its facelift version (2006-2010) both sported a turning circle of 11.60 meters. Not too bad when you consider its size. The second generation (2010-2014) saw a slight increase to 11.90 meters, holding steady through its facelift phase (2014-2018). Now, here's where things get a tad interesting; the third generation (2018-2023) saw the turning circle expand further to 12.20 meters, which continues unchanged in the current facelifted model (2023-now). Frankly, as the Touareg grew ever more luxurious and feature-laden, its maneuverability took a slight hit. But do those extra centimeters really matter in the grand scheme of things?
| Generation year | Turning circle |
|---|---|
| Touareg, Model year 2002 (I) | 11 m |
| Touareg, Model year 2006 (I (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
| Touareg, Model year 2010 (II) | 11 m |
| Touareg, Model year 2014 (II (1. Facelift)) | 11 m |
| Touareg, Model year 2018 (III) | 12 m |
| Touareg, Model year 2023 (Touareg III (1. Facelift)) | 12 m |
| Variant name | Turning circle |
|---|---|
| Touareg | 12 m |
| Touareg R | 12 m |
When pitted against other models within the Volkswagen lineup, the Touareg fits somewhere on the larger end of the turning circle spectrum. Smaller, more agile models like the VW up! in its various avatars (GTI, e-up!, cross up!) all boast a nimble 9.80-meter turning circle. Even the ID family—ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5—display tighter circles between 10.30 and 10.60 meters. To put it into perspective, the Golf, known for its all-round prowess, sits comfortably at around 10.90 meters. Some mid-sized models like the T-Roc and Touran exhibit a turning circle of 11.10 meters and 11.50 meters respectively, making them more maneuverable than the Touareg. If agility was a contest, the Touareg would be at the back, watching others pirouette gracefully in tight corners.
| Variant name | Turning circle |
|---|---|
| up! | 9 m |
| up! cross up! | 9 m |
| up! e-up! | 9 m |
| up! GTI | 9 m |
| ID.5 | 10 m |
| ID.4 | 10 m |
| Golf | 10 m |
| Golf GTD | 10 m |
| Golf GTE | 10 m |
| Golf GTI | 10 m |
| Golf R | 10 m |
| ID.7 | 10 m |
| ID.3 | 10 m |
| Polo | 10 m |
| Polo GTI | 10 m |
| Taigo | 10 m |
| T-Cross | 10 m |
| ID.5 GTX | 11 m |
| ID.4 GTX | 11 m |
| Golf Alltrack | 11 m |
| Golf R Variant | 11 m |
| Golf Variant | 11 m |
| Arteon | 11 m |
| Arteon R | 11 m |
| Arteon R Shooting Brake | 11 m |
| Arteon Shooting Brake | 11 m |
| Tiguan | 11 m |
| Tiguan Allspace | 11 m |
| Tiguan R | 11 m |
| T-Roc | 11 m |
| T-Roc Cabriolet | 11 m |
| T-Roc R | 11 m |
| Passat Alltrack | 11 m |
| Passat GTE Limousine | 11 m |
| Passat GTE Variant | 11 m |
| Passat Limousine | 11 m |
| Passat Variant | 11 m |
| Touran | 11 m |
| Touareg | 12 m |
| Touareg R | 12 m |
| Tayron | 12 m |
Stack the VW Touareg against its direct competitors, and an interesting picture unfolds. For example, the Mercedes-Benz GLS comes in with a turning circle of 12.40 meters, slightly larger than the Touareg's. Meanwhile, the BMW X7 plays the outlandish showstopper with a whopping 13.00 meters! But not all heavyweights miss the mark; the Maserati Levante, for instance, boasts a nimble 11.70 meters. It’s worth noting that the Lamborghini Urus, despite sharing some platform love with the Touareg, can flaunt a neat 11.80-meter turning circle. In layman’s terms, while the additional meters might seem nominal, they can make quite the difference in city driving and tight parking scenarios. Ah, the price we pay for luxury and space!
| Car model | Turning circle |
|---|---|
| Ligier JS 60 2020 | 9 m |
| SEAT Ateca 2020 | 10 m |
| Skoda Karoq 2017 | 10 m |
| Hyundai Tucson 2004 | 10 m |
| Peugeot 4008 2012 | 10 m |
| Cadillac XT4 2020 | 11 m |
| DS Automobiles DS 7 2022 | 11 m |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC 2015 | 11 m |
| ALPINA XD3 2013 | 11 m |
| Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2013 | 11 m |
| Hyundai ix55 2009 | 11 m |
| Infiniti QX30 2016 | 11 m |
| Ford Edge 2016 | 11 m |
| Jaguar E-Pace 2018 | 11 m |
| Volvo XC60 2008 | 11 m |
| Dodge Nitro 2007 | 11 m |
| Ford Kuga 2008 | 11 m |
| Renault Koleos 2008 | 11 m |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2001 | 11 m |
| ALPINA XD4 2021 | 12 m |
| Mercedes-Benz GL-Klasse 2006 | 12 m |
| BMW X5 2000 | 12 m |
| Citroen C-Crosser 2007 | 12 m |
| NIO EL7 2023 | 12 m |
| VW Touareg 2023 | 12 m |
| Audi Q8 2018 | 13 m |
