Lets discuss because its interesting to consider for design philosophy. So VW launched Touareg in 2002 and has managed to sell 17,000 of them since then. The same number of Ford Explorers that ford sells every month.
Now this isn't a terribly devastating number for VW because VAG sells the Q7 and Cayenne from the same platform, though the platform is modular and so they are different, particularly suspension and the Q7 has larger wheel base. The intent of the platform is to make an SUV that can drive like a sports car.
Regardless Touareg is dead in the USA. It was deemed 'too european' to sell here and the few US designers employed at VW were consulted on designing the Atlas, the American only version of the Touareg.
What are the differences?
Touareg is AWD only. Touareg is sold as a luxury SUV starting at $49k. Has mostly leather interior with a little VW plastic. Touch screen and bluetooth are standard. The engine is 250 hp V6 and does 0-60 in 6.8 seconds. Just slightly faster than the Civic SI and the same speed as a Fiesta ST (LITERALLY KILL YOURSELVES VAG MEME POSTERS). It seats 5 comfortably and can easily tow a boat. The styling is almost the same as the Q7 (they start at the same price) mostly sleek and smooth.
The Atlas is FWD 4cyl turbo or V6 with AWD. It has leather with plastic wood that looks decent enough. It starts at $30k but top trim with full Luxury trim comes in at $49k. The atlas seats 7 comfortably or if you you luxury seats 6 as the middle seats are captain seats. Comes with the dope Fender audio.
The Germans dramatically changed the style between the Touareg and the Atlas. The Atlas has these contours that emphasize the wheels and a GIANT grill that melds with the headlights. Its basically copying a F150 or Silverado. I'm sure Germans in their steriotypical pea-brains just assume Americans want BIG AND POWERFUL AND FREEDOM. Otherwise, aside from offering downgrades its basically a slightly bigger and boxier Touareg.
Americans getting what Americans deserve. Big, brash, cheap, trashy.
Also you forgot to mention that the Touareg hat optional V8s, W12s, I5 diesels, V6 diesels, V8 diesels and V10 diesels over the years, though I'm not sure which of these were offered in the US.
Luke Carter
They're both overrated crap
Kayden Clark
too bad the atlas looks like its from 2005, inside and out
Mason Gutierrez
this, VW is the biggest meme in the industry
Dominic Mitchell
I'm really trying to understand WHY Americans didn't like Touareg and what about the Atlas would actually make it appealing. Clearly the Germans thought Americans didn't want VW Luxury vehicle. Which is fair because an informed buyer would realize the Audi Q7 is made on the same line and starts at the same price with the same engine.
However, is anyone going to care to buy a FWD only boxy Touareg just because its cheaper?
I bought a Touareg for my wife in 2012. ITs a good wifemobile as it is 4wd and has all the idiot proof features to scream at her if shes about to fuck up.
It also has the 'command seating' which makes her feel big and safe on the road. Otherwise I'm trying to figure out why else people buy SUVs.
Granted the Touareg would smoke you faggots in your FiST STs and Civic SIs but its not really fast so they dont care about that. AWD means they dont have to buy tires to drive in snow (in their minds anyway). It rides super smooth and absorbs most bumps.
Atlas itself to me seems like an ugly version of the Touareg with FWD to trick people who don't know better. Which is essentially what I think was the eternal krauts ultimate philosophical move here.
Americans dont care about power or safety. They care about the car LOOKING powerful and safe and big. Thus by adding big boxy design contours they were able to keep the wheel base slightly smaller than the Q7 and sell FWD to Americans to boost sales while making the car cheaper and lowering performance which in their minds will boost sales.
Josiah Harris
Heres the two US biggest SUV in terms of Sales both sell more per month than the Toureg or atlas have ever sold combined.
Oliver Scott
>FWD only boxy Touareg There's a very major difference between the Atlas and the Touareg, and that's the platform. The Touareg has a longitudinal engine like all "proper" Audis. The Atlas, meanwhile, uses the MQB platform, which uses a transverse engine and also form the basis of cars like the Golf, Passat and Tiguan. Basically the Touareg looked like a mombomber but was surprisingly capable offroad, the Atlas looks bigger and tougher but it's nothing but a pavement princess.
Lucas Taylor
the 2017 SI is billed at 6.3 seconds in independent tests and a 2012 does it in 6 flat :)
you sound really butthurt btw. VAG is trash and americans aren't stupid enough to buy either the toureg or the Q7
Thomas Lewis
>implying anybody actually took their touareg off-road
Jonathan Lewis
Here's the top selling Ford Explorer interior for comparison. The wood in both is really plastic btw.
I'll also add as a bonus that even with all the beeping and cameras and bullshit my wife still drove it into a light pole in a parking lot.
Leo Richardson
>I bought a touareg
why not a honda? cheaper better built and actually reliable and has all the nannies your wife needs
Connor Gonzalez
>that abysmal hard plastic lining the entire dash and center console is this that VW """"""""quality"""""""" people always praise so highly?
Zachary Hill
The Touareg was a detuned Porsche Cayenne, with all the problems associated with it.
Carter Reed
The Atlas is cheaper than the Touareg That's the only thing that matters to Americans
Ryan Jenkins
Literally have not had one problem with our VW at 68k miles.
I've also just read that the Atlas is wider and....has wider seats.
Isaiah Peterson
>fuckhuge suvs >barely mud capable what the fuck is point, i never understood this
Jordan Reed
Muh safety, gotta think of muh chilluns
Samuel Williams
Americans are fuckhuge
Eli Cook
>easier to get in and out of >sitting higher soothing the inferiority complex >bigger = safer >bigger = better soothing the inferiority complex >""more"" space
Women are a mistake
Charles Cox
The problem with the touareg is that it is complex and expensive to produce has audi maintenance costs for a vw and does have a third row and most Americans are retarded and want a 3 row crossover instead of just getting a minivan
Henry Gray
Minivans fell out of style so CUVs and SUVs took their place.
Noah Butler
You're a fanboi, you can't judge anything without prejudice.
Easton Williams
nah, I almost traded it this week for a BMW but I decided it was too comfy and big and my wife didnt need anything else.
I really couldnt find a better SUV.
Sorry I dont give a shit about your 'ecoboosted' shit box with a stick.
Civics and Fiestas are slow as fuck and arent even sporty. Deal with it faggot.
Austin Hernandez
>I'm really trying to understand WHY Americans didn't like Touareg and what about the Atlas would actually make it appealing.
It's $20k cheaper, makes a big difference when we're talking economy brands. The people in the market for a $50k+ crossover are going to look at BMW/Lexus/etc.
t. burger
Brandon Scott
lel fat americunts
Xavier Cooper
>30k more than a FiST
Samuel Allen
They only sold 17k last year in Germany from a peak of 44k in 02. Why don't germs want them either? My guess why americunts don't is the people that can afford one, had a vw in college or as a young professional, and found out what German quality and repair bills are really like. I really don't know, I liked the diesel version. Maybe vw just didn't market it like they did with all those quirky ads in the 90s that explodes sales. Da-da-da Am I advocating for an explorer? Or a civic? It's exactly like I said before, you can't think clearly.
Chase Reyes
why are you so triggered by civics and fiestas in particular, cars that arent SUVs?
Blake Butler
>tfw drive a civic and get shit on for no reason
what the hell man.
Justin Davis
it's a pointless car. people who want a luxury SUV will just go buy an X5/LX/Land Cruiser/Land Rover. and none of those come with the stigma associated with VW. which brings us to another point. VW is known for cheap cars, and the touareg is overpriced for what you get. even the phaeton couldn't sell and that one was actually pretty decent value
also many americans are distrustful of VW/audi because they have a bad track record there.
and anyone with sense will pick a highlander or 4runner over it if they want a cheaper SUVs. those coming from a brand well known around the world for bulletproof quality
now tell us why you are so triggered by the civic and fiesta
Evan Rodriguez
given his particular interest for a non popular VW SUV he insists is.. sporty, writing style and inarticulate hate ,OP is probably on the spectrum
nothing wrong with that tho autism can be great power when you aren't concerned with what why a pos isn't selling
Chase Allen
> economy brands Eh? VW isn't an economy brand. We're talking upper middle class here. If you want an economy brand, try... Dacia?
Cooper Clark
>literally called the people's car
it's as economy as they come
Julian Flores
In burgerland it is. Unfortunately we don't have Dacia here.
Nolan Powell
There's hardly any Touareg's in the US and Exploders aren't that popular either. Keep in mind most the ones from 2002 have fallen apart already. The Burban/Escalade ratio is still like 9-1. People here aren't going to spend $70k on a VW when they can go and get a Audi for $80k.
It looks like a rebranded Grand Cherokee.
Blake Martin
>OP will never tell us why the civic and fiesta bother him so much
it's actually really really interesting desu
Lucas Wilson
the Explorer is the best selling suv since it's inception
Asher Bailey
The expedition/Tahoe/explorer/suburban are bigger, more comfortable, actually have big engines unlike your anemic shit and look better all while probably in the same price range
Jose Ortiz
>>literally called the people's car The design was stolen from the jew
James Perez
come on now i love vw but just because they made two high-ish end cars doesn't mean they're not an economy brand deep down things like mqb just make sure that you get the most amount of car for the money,the jetta being the best example of this
Cameron King
you mean tatra? I love how Veeky Forums is finally getting redpilled on this
Jeremiah Gomez
based ferry outjewed the jew? madman
Oliver Brooks
Still called the people's car, I really don't understand what point you're trying to make.
Julian Gomez
USA, aaaaaaand zero fucks given.
William Mitchell
I work at a VW dealer so I can add a thing or two to this, because I have had alot of thoughts on this topic as well.
The Touareg is literally just a Porsche Cayenne just with a different badge. As a consequence, it also has the reliability of the Cayenne, which is atrocious. The Touareg is THE most unreliable VW on sale today and its owners also have to bear paying out the ass for parts because of how much is shared with the Cayenne. We have a few new ones on our lot and haven't sold any new ones in almost a year. Because it is spaced about the same as the Tiguan, everyone will just buy that since it doesnt cost an arm and a leg. Having driven alot of them though, I can say the Touareg IS the nicest driving car VW offers. Everything feels very premium and it has a nice ride.
The Atlas is based off the Passat and drives like one. Very tall and spacious with materials that are a noticeable step down from the Touareg but nice on their own accord. They still offer all the cool features the Touareg had like the 360* camera and a fully digital dash. We are selling these like crazy and the new Tiguan with the 3rd row has completely overtaken any consumers wanting a smaller SUV like the Touareg.
Eli Evans
Why the fuck do Europeans care so much about what we like? Holy fucking shit
Jayden Murphy
Because we (Americans) pay too much for cars we don't need.
Isaac Harris
Next-gen Touareg. It looks nice desu.
Caleb Martinez
...
Blake Allen
...
Dylan Mitchell
>we (Americans)
Charles Walker
...
Nathaniel Smith
Remember Americanized Passat? It works for awhile. This tells that most Americans want cheap, large car.
Jaxon Cox
In Australia we get the only get diesel Touaregs, currently the V6/V8, at one point we got the V10 but those weren't known for reliability.
So, jeuros want real cars, and americans want computer renderings?
Noah Lopez
>jeuros want real cars huh They already have the real one.
Jose Miller
You know the Toureg was offered in a 6l W12 with 450hp and both a 750nm 5l V10 diesel(from 2002) and an 800nm 4.2l V8 diesel(from 2010) which puts most of the cars you mentioned to shame.
Logan Foster
The Diesel was really good. Thanks LIbshits.
I just didn't want my thread to get filled with LOL VAG THERES YOUR PROBLEM stupid badge war memes that ruin everythread so I laid a pre-emptive strike against the FiSt and CivicSI faggots who are obviously the only people who spend all day making VAG memes.
It worked too.
Aiden Murphy
This guy is right. I love them too
Austin Green
VW is an economy brand, always has been, always should be. The atlas is in line with this reality, the Touareg was not...end of discussion
Julian Evans
>68k miles
Nicholas Gray
We don't keep out shit stock here. Any of those with a supercharger would put those unreliable pieces of shit to shame.
Grayson Williams
How much you selling new Touaregs for these days?
The Atlas isn't based off the Cayenne anymore??
Kevin Moore
Ofc you don't, because the stock shit is wheezy 200hp fuckboxes. >Imagine having to modify every car you buy because it's that bad
Brandon Green
>>The Atlas isn't based off the Cayenne anymore?? Not anymore. Just stretched Tiguan
John Cooper
You know it was the other way round right?
Christopher Sullivan
>i want to be the only survivor in a car crash >i need to be bigger than you
Tyler Richardson
sounds like your avg midsize SUV
good riddance
Logan Carter
THE FERD FISTO STD IS A SPROTS CAR SO FUN TO THRO ON THE TWIZZTYS
VAG, THERES UR POBLEM
Jacob Perez
Americans may be stupid, but still not stupid enough to spend $50k on a Volkswagen (unless they put a Porsche, Audi, or Lamborghini emblem on it). Same story with the Phaeton.
Evan Barnes
Wouldn't this make them more stupid user, given that they're then paying badge tax and getting less car for the $
Austin Harris
isn't not buying a nice car because of the shape of the badge actually the stupid move?
Aaron Stewart
>$50k VW crossover >nice car AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
No
Dominic Martinez
The Phaeton was a fucking steal for the level of car you got though.
Jace Carter
Name a better crossover faggot
Wyatt Thompson
literally anything not made by VAG
Camden Myers
almost worked
Charles Butler
rekt
Owen Martinez
The 2 we have are 47k and 58k
And the Atlas was never based off the Cayenne, the Atlas is using a modified Passat platform. The Cayenne and the Touareg are the sisters
Colton Long
So Atlas is a giant Passat.
The AWD shit too?
Leo Wright
Hey volkswagen! Stop trying to ask Veeky Forums for advice.
Ethan Ortiz
Yeah, Americans still won't buy it no matter what you name it.
Elijah Wood
I remember riding in my neighbours one as a teenager and I was shocked at how fast it was for an SUV, up until that point I had always associated diesels with slow pieces of shit
Thomas Moore
Was designed as an offroad rally car.
Zachary Anderson
Diesel Touaregs are one of the more reliable Volkswagens, as they have neither the shitty TSI engines nor the stupid dual clutch transmissions.
Brandon Anderson
Yeah I remember a V10 getting dyno'd at work in about 03, just about fell over when it got over 700nm, absolutely unheard of at the time, second best diesel I'd seen was an FTE Landcruiser at about 480nm.
Tyler Robinson
Landcruisers would be more powerful if Toyota didn't understress them so much. Any of the big diesel Landcruisers are gutless compared with European diesels of the same size/cylinder count. But then again Landcruisers are built to last forever, not just until the lease runs out.
Gabriel Morgan
Nah, we've modified FTE cruisers, the engine can handle some grunt but the turbo snaps turbine heads off if you push some boost and that was Toyotas best output turbo ever, hence them going to Garrett for the V8. Now the TT V8 does make some grunt but it's not reliable.
Jason Wood
In my experience with the 4.5 twin turbo they haven't been overly unreliable, but they do seem consume an awful of oil.
Tyler Wood
And turbos and have injectors and fuel desu.
Logan Carter
They don't look anything alike. One looks like a Porsche and the other looks like a Kia
Bentley Brooks
VW's reputation is ruined in my eyes as basically it's the brand of the numale mcbeard soymaster, or the brand of the basic bitch that's prissier than a Mazda3 driver (Jettas).
It's sort of like how certain Cadillacs and Nissans are for black people. VWs are for the Soylent. Naturally none of these type of people have real jobs so it has to cost 30k or less.
Jace Diaz
So if VW is for regular issue soylent does that mean Porsche is for Soylent red?
Joseph Taylor
This user gets it. The Touareg hasn't made sense for VW in years.
The market was different in 2002. People still throught that mainstream consumers wanted offroad capability, and much of the SUV market was still truck-based. Every carmaker was coming out with some kind of SUV. The Touareg made sense at the time- plus they were able to co-develop it with the Cayenne and later the Q7.
Now, the features offered on the Touareg are pretty nice compared to much of the SUV and crossover market, and people who want those features are most likely going to get a Cayenne or Q7 anyway. Those who actually want to drive on dirt are going to opt for something American or Japanese because they're going to be more robust and abuse-tolerant than a fiddly German car.
The Atlas isn't something I would want to drive, but it's a perfect fit for Volkswagen- a relatively inexpensive people-mover.
Though I really wish they'd find a way to resurrect the Bus without making it atrociously expensive and/or electric-only.
VW is seen as economy-level in the United States- though maybe not to the extent it once was (A lot of modern-day drivers don't remember the Beetle being the stereotypical broke person car). VW is also the "lowest" brand that VAG offers in the USA- we don't get Skoda or Seat.
We are still getting the best though, and the cars we get are cheaper and better features than VW ever trying to get into the Luxury scene with only standard features. The Toyota 4runner does better and VW is trying to compete against Ford of all people? It sounds worse than Cadillac trying to be a better sports car than a BMW when a Benz has better high end luxury options then both.