Access, on the other hand, is a bit of a challenge. You see, the Touareg 2 boasts a high ground clearance, meaning that front and rear passengers have to climb to get on board. In the back, things aren't much better with an equally high cargo threshold that makes loading heavy items harder. You can expand the trunk to accommodate longer or awkward objects by folding the rear seats forward. However, the folding mechanism clearly needs to be improved as I was unable to fully exploit the whole cargo area.

The instruments and controls are readily accessible and they offer lots of possibilities.

Responsive powertrain
Generally speaking, luxury equals performance. The VW Touareg 2 is no exception. Its 350-hp V8 allows strong, convincing accelerations. Also, when you need to tow reasonable loads, it really is the perfect vehicle: even with two snowmobiles on my trailer, I never felt that the Touareg was struggling. The powerplant is competent and it's backed by a buttery-smooth transmission. Fuel economy is fairly decent considering the potency and girth of this SUV.

The steering is easy to control, offering sweet handling on any type of surface, including snow. Road-holding capacity can be enhanced by the four-corner air suspension (optional) offering six adjustable ride heights and continuous damping control. Likewise, the brakes prove effective at maintaining the vehicle in check.

Conclusion
The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 is a solid performer in every respect. It might not come without a few flaws, particularly with regard to access, but once on board, you can't help but enjoy its many qualities. The design sure is unique, but that's what it takes to stand out in the premium SUV segment. Starting at $44,975, the Touareg 2 also offers great bang for the buck.

Its 350-hp V8 allows strong, convincing accelerations.