Volkswagen Axes Touareg SUV From The 2018 Model Year

Shockingly yet unsurprisingly, Volkswagen’s North American division made the call to axe the Touareg for the 2018 model year. Remaining 2017 stock will be the U.S. market’s final taste of the mid-sized overlander, described by its creator as being the “people’s premium SUV.”

The bad news comes courtesy of Motor Trend, and according to the cited publication, the exit “comes as Volkswagen begins a major overhaul to its lineup.” This, in turn, leaves the long-wheelbase Tiguan and seven-seat Atlas as indirect replacements for the Touareg in this part of the world.

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vdiv - 7/12/2017 9:22:43 AM

-1 Boost

We can't make it compelling so we'll just scrap all of it?

Forget shocking and unsurprising, it's disappointing.

mre30 - 7/12/2017 9:31:39 AM

-2 Boost

The failure of the Touareg and the gigantic failure of the Phaeton will hopefully send a crystal-clear message to the folks at Volkswagen corporate that VW really is just a German Toyota or Hyundai, at least in the US.

Welcome to commodity motoring!

TheSteve - 7/12/2017 10:23:44 AM

0 Boost

VW should refocus on being a reputable, reliable, affordable *economy* brand, positioned perhaps above Hyundai and Kia, but below mid-market cars. Let your Audi arm compete in the mid-market and luxury space.

In the US, VW has a reputation for:
- Higher than average initial defects
- Higher than average failures
- Relatively expensive repair costs
- In many cases, service departments that don't treat their customers all that well.

These are some numerous and serious "off brand" issues you would not expect from someone who tries to position themselves as a mid-market and luxury brand.

Vette71 - 7/12/2017 2:26:57 PM

+1 Boost

VW also has a reputation as a "fun to drive" vehicle. Ask any GTI owner. There is a market segment that likes this and will put up with the negatives.

cidflekken - 7/12/2017 2:40:58 PM

+2 Boost

I wonder if Audi will pick up a 2-row SUV to make up for the gap between the Q5 and Q7. Or is the Q6 already supposed to fill that gap (though I thought that was going to be a coupe).

Or will the next gen Q5 move up in size and price?

dumpsty - 7/12/2017 3:03:17 PM

+1 Boost

a lot of good questions. i cant imagine it being easy to just drop the Touareg.

MDarringer - 7/12/2017 4:16:58 PM

+4 Boost

@dumpsty The Touareg DOESN'T SELL why would it be so inconceivable for it to be dropped easily and not to be replaced?

dumpsty - 7/12/2017 3:09:45 PM

+1 Boost

only if the existing Touareg sits on the old platform which is being phased-out, then the decision to kill the model for next year makes sense. I miss the W10 & W12 versions. If they still made an 8-cyl version, I would have gotten 1 a couple years ago.

Most VWs have always been some pretty nice vehicles in the recent decade. It's just when it comes time to sign, I either don't like the higher pricing or the price is good, but it's missing a must-have feature or gadget.

MDarringer - 7/12/2017 4:14:45 PM

+2 Boost

The Touareg is wrong-sized and wrong-priced for a VW and terrible competitor in the SUV wars. The less-than-stellar Atlas is wildly better for VW than the truly inadequate Touraeg. It needs never to come back.

vdiv - 7/12/2017 7:12:31 PM

0 Boost

The Atlas is a minivan, the Touareg was a true off-roader. Guess no one need one, or they get a Disco nowadays...

MDarringer - 7/13/2017 4:24:11 PM

+2 Boost

@vdiv The Touareg is NOT a true off roader. VW claims that, but they also claimed their diesels were clean. No serious off roader thinks of a VW Touareg first.

vdiv - 7/12/2017 7:35:29 PM

+2 Boost

The winner of the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge for driverless vehicles crossing a 132-mile off-road course was a Touareg. Many others failed, not only with the autonomous guidance, but also with actually surviving the terrain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_(vehicle)

Vette71 - 7/13/2017 9:37:09 AM

+2 Boost

The problem the Touareg has/had is that does a lot of things in an average manner but doesn't excel at anything. And cost wise it isn't a good value compared to other choices the segment buyer has.