The Touareg’s high-tech gadgetry can be breathtaking and confusing at the same time, but it is all-purposeful. The four-wheel drive includes offroad gearing and up to 100 per cent of the engine’s power can be sent to either the front or rear wheels.

In the present version, the Touareg’s 240 HP, 3.2-litre V-6 engine has been replaced with a 3.6-litre V-6 one that turns out 280 HP. A 310 HP, 4.2-litre V-8 is also available, and the turbo-diesel 5.0-litre V-10, which generates 310 HP is top of the lot.

All engines team with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. A Touareg can tow up to 7,716 pounds when properly equipped.

Constructed of galvanized steel, the unibody structure makes the Touareg more carlike in appearance than many SUVs. The hood wraps down to a horizontal-bar grille that’s similar to the one on Volkswagen’s luxury Phaeton sedan.

Rounded body shoulders and sculpted wheel arches complement short overhangs. Built on a 112.4-inch wheelbase, the Touareg stands 68 inches tall.

Ground clearance can reach 11.8 inches with the available air suspension, and wading depth is 22.8 inches. The Touareg can drive at a 35-degree lateral offset angle and has a 45-degree side-tipping angle. Alloy wheels are available in 17, 18 and 19 inch diameters.