Lux SUVs - Diesel Vs Hybrid Comparo - Part 2
Okay so we are back with our luxury SUV shootout we’ve already gone rid of the BMW
X5X Drive 35 D and the Mercedes Benz ML320 BlueTech, what we were left it is the
Volkwagen Touareg 2 TDI and the Lexus RX 450H. Join us and to figure out which one
these two is the winner.
We are now in the 2010 Lexus RX450H now this is one of their best selling hybrid
vehicles. It is very popular SUV and has been completely re-designed for 2020. It
features a 3.5 liter V6 that makes 295 combined horsepower when paired with three
electric motor generators. There is one that used to start up the car, one is runs some
auxiliary features and then there is another motor generator that runs the front wheels and
one that runs the rear wheels. Along with that there is a continuous variable transmission
a CDT so there is no gear shifting in this vehicle into smooth power delivery.
We saw the negative first, a lot people don’t like actually the styling of this vehicle. Our
jurist really didn’t like how it looks, it got some weird angles. Inside some of the guys
like that it is modern and very clean but some also said it was just kind of a mismatch.
There are some wood here, there is some metal facing and then some black plastic. But
you really can’t help but be impressed by how much technology Lexus is really jammed
in to this vehicle. Again beyond the hybrid system there are all sorts really interesting
new features including the remote touch system which is a brand way to navigate audio,
hvac and navigation screens. It is this touch sensitive – sort of like a truck ball, fix the
truck ball deal. And it falls right into the hands with really interesting to use, it features us
a feedback where the cursor you can actually you can feel the click in the place when it
hits the button.
Very interesting stuff, there is an organic LED screen here in the panel this thing has
backup cameras, LED, taillights and headlights. And that is really it the Lexus is one of
these cars that has a high feature content. Very high value but it really isn’t for
everybody, this car got some dings on the road for being a bit little too car like. Not
something that you wanted to take for any kind of serious off-roading. It doesn’t tow a lot
of weight they are going to tow about 3,500 pounds. And it is a little compromising the
back because of the hybrid system there is not a lot of cargo space. And in general just
feels a little tighter a little more compact than some of the competition.
With and average of 23.0 miles per gallon it was no surprise that the Lexus RX450H beat
all in real world fuel economy. But a fancy hybrid system, loads of high-tech features and
a little cost of entry. One enough to give the Lexus the overall win, comprises in cabin
space and overall utility keep the RX450H just out of the top spot.
Okay so we are now in the 2009 Volkswagen Tourage 2 TDI this is the second generation
Touareg. This time with a turbo diesel engine, it is a 90 degree V6 turbo diesel that
powers this car. It makes 221 horsepower and 407 pound feet of torque; it got a standard
6-speed transmission. And this one is fully loaded with a lot of off-road option we have
auto differential high and low mode. We have everything but the air suspension on this
vehicle. It has a typical steel spring suspension; it is a nice driving vehicle. Couple of
criticisms from our editors, it is kind of light the steering. It tends to sway and roll over in
corners that are partially due to the weight. It is the heaviest by far of the premium SUV’s
that we have collected. But the good thing is at when it does roll when you come to a
corner it seems to roll over and then once it get in to a set. It actually tracts and corners
quite nicely, the editors really did like a lot of the other features in this vehicle
particularly the interior.
This car really has a very classy, well lay out dash everything is in logical place. It looks
very nice, it is a very nice mixture of brush aluminum, wood and couple of black leather
grained plastic along the dash. Outside it also considered one of the most handsome
vehicles if not the most handsome of our pairing. And off-road it is very capable again it
is one of the few here that has outside differential feature in the high and low modes. And
we never get stuck with it unlike the couple of the others. It is really good off-road,
though it finished last in our real world fuel economy test with an average of 20.5 miles
per gallon. The Touareg TDI was only 2.5 per gallon shy of the economy leading Lexus.
So in the end we had to choose the Volkswagen Toeureg2 TDI is our winner. Yes you
appeal the more of the dealership and again at the pump because it is a diesel. But we feel
the Volkswagen offers more of a well rounded SUV experience. Sure the Lexus offers an
advanced hybrid drive train as well as a whole host of high-technology features. But we
feel the Volkswagen does offer a few of those as well as true off-road ability. A much
greater touring capacity more than twice as much and an interior and exterior that simply
can’t be beat, that is why it is our winner in this luxury SUV comparison test.
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