VW Touareg hybrid a "home run"?
But what about the price?The Volkswagen Touareg hybrid, VW's first hybrid vehicle, is a "home run" and "its technology a considerable advancement for hybrids in general" according to MotorTrend. But why?
Is it the diesel hybrid technology that most impresses MT? The 375 horsepower or the 425 feet of torque? Maybe it's the 7700 pounds of towing capability?
MT never defines exactly what makes this hybrid such an "advancement". And, unfortunately, we've heard such sentiment from MT before regarding GM and Chrysler's dual mode hybrids, for instance. However, the price of dual mode hybrids has simply been too expensive, too cos-ineffective for most consumers.
The VW Touareg might be a technological home run, but if it isn't cost-effective, then it'll only be a single or double, at best, in the real world.
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, vw touareg hybrid
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:23 AM
4 Comments:
perhaps I missed it.. but I did not see MPG and I did not see MSRP.
This is why I PREFER Consumers Reports.
First - they ALWAYS report the relevant info.. and don't get cute with it.
Second, you never suspect them of being "cute" because on the other pages of their magazine is paid advertising.
Oh I don't.. what a HORRIBLE thing for me to imply ..that perhaps MT or the writer of the article might be something other than brutally objective in their assessment.
For me that's when the "home run" part becomes "oh really".
That's a good point, although there is a big difference in the style of auto reporting between Consumer Reports and MT.
For MT "cute" pieces, or fluff pieces, are common, as they are in most enthusiast magazines. Still, even fluff pieces should be a bit more objective as you point out.
In partial defense of MT, I don't think MSRP has been released, nor do I think the fuel economy numbers have been finalized, although VW has suggested a 17 percent overall improvement in fuel economy compared to similarly sized SUVs.
At that price, it looks more like a "bunt single" to me....
If you had a crossover hybrid that got great mileage and was priced so that average consumers could afford it, "that" would be a home run....
yeah, bunt-single is probably a better description.
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