06. 2012 Volkswagen Touareg
The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg is a surprising premium SUV competitor, especially given the fact that its German producer isn't known for competing against brands like Acura and BMW in terms of luxury features. The Volkswagen's Touareg provides full-size accommodations for five passengers, can stow up to 71 cubic feet of luggage and even in base trim provides equipment such as heated seats, dual automatic climate control and HID headlights.
The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg's entry-level engine is a 3.6-liter V-6 that can be counted on to produce 280 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. The Touareg TDI substitutes a 3.0-liter, turbodiesel six-cylinder engine that churns out 225 horsepower and a startling 406 lb0-ft of torque. Each of these power plants are paired with all-wheel drive and an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission.