Volkswagen Touareg is the first-ever sport utility vehicle from Volkswagen. Completely redesigned for the 2008 model year, it has also been rechristened Touareg2. The Touareg2 comes with more power, safety and comfort than the earlier Touareg. It is now trying hard to create a special place for itself in the luxury SUV segment.

Behind the new grill, the two engines are the same: a direct-injection, 3.6-liter V-6; and a 4.2-liter V-8, good for 280 and 350 horsepower respectively. Volkswagen Touareg2 also offers a 5.0-liter, turbo-diesel, V-10 engine generating 310 horsepower. Like other Volkswagen vehicles, its powertrain warranty is 60 months or 60,000 miles. It has a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Touareg's fuel economy range is 14 miles per gallon in the city and 19 mpg on the highway for the V-6. The V-8 ranges from 12 mpg in the city to 17 mpg on the highway. The V-10 gives 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

The Volkswagen Touareg 2 is now instantly recognizable as a member of the Volkswagen family. The new stylized front grille is chrome on the V-6 FSI and matte-chrome on the V-8 FSI and V-10 TDI. Chrome eyebrows are standard on all models. A redesigned front bumper; new side mirrors with improved airflow; and sleek new organically-shaped headlamp housings with polycarbonate-lens covers further distinguish the Touareg2 from its predecessor. The changes continue to the rear of the vehicle, where a new roof edge spoiler sharpens the look, improves aerodynamics and aids fuel efficiency. The brake light housings have an improved LED lighting visual effect and feature a sporty new dark tinting treatment. Below the rear bumper, the exhaust system tailpipes have also been given a fresh look. The Touareg2 also has blind-spot indicators, and the latest adaptive cruise control that can bring the SUV to a complete stop automatically. The revised interior features upgraded seats and a 10-speaker Dynaudio stereo.

Volkswagen Touareg2 is loaded with various advanced safety features such as the electronic stabilization program (ESP), hydraulic braking assistant, active rollover protection (ARP) to improve rollover stability, ESP dry-braking function, fading brake support, and understeer control logic to improve vehicle behavior when understeering into corners. Other standard safety features include dual front, side and curtain air bags; anti-lock brakes; traction and stability control; tire-pressure monitor; hill hold and hill descent control.