Easy does it

The road leading to the Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh from Nagpur is actually quite a nice one. No, it isn’t four-laned (at least not for the most part, it isn’t). And no, it isn’t well surfaced either. But, closer to the MP side, it’s devoid of habitation for most part, and there’s not much traffic coming your way on this two-laned road either. It’s also mildly twisty and with tall trees lining both sides of the road, it’s quite picturesque as well. The best bit - there are no boards specifying speed limits!

Talking about interiors, these are actually quite nice. There's an aura of solidity everywhere. The design and garnishing is tastefully done too. Then there's enough equipment and more to add to convenience and comfort. There's decent stowage, adjustable front armrest, rear AC with two separate climate zones, keyless entry and start and a rear view camera as well. The seats both front and back are reasonably large, cushy and supportive as well.

The only thing that stood in the way between us and a real quick dash to Pench then, was some seriously poor road surface. But, within minutes of driving on it, it was clear; this too wasn’t going to be a problem. And the credit for this goes to our steed, the new Touareg. Yes, the ride is absolutely fantastic on this Volkswagen. No matter how deep the potholes were, how long the rumbler strips lasted and how undulating the road got, the Touareg just glided over everything, almost like a hovercraft would.

It comes with an air suspension, adjustable for height as well as damping. But, even in Sport mode, the ride never got uncomfortable; it was firmer, noisier and with tighter body control, but never harsh or jumpy. In that sense, the new Touareg feels like an old school SUV.

This feeling stays with you at slow speeds too. The steering for one has very poor communication skills. And though it’s quick, it still conveys to good effect that you are driving something that’s large and heavy. But, when you are riding the huge torque being hammered out by the engine and getting to speeds way above the 100kmph mark within seconds, the Touareg doesn’t feel heavy or lethargic at all. In fact, it feels wonderful; and fast. And then at this speed, when a langur decides to hop into your path with its long tail up in the air, you have two options – one, slam on the brakes and take out the langur but watch less of its innards splattered all over the road and the car. Two, take evasive action and swerve hard away from it and then quickly swerve equally hard back into your lane to avoid the oncoming truck; much like an Elk test... and pray.

We did the latter, and that I am still writing about it means it went quite well. The Touareg, much like its more expensive cousin, the Audi Q7, handles its size and bulk very well. It’s not as sharp as...say the X6, as it does roll about a bit, but on the long sweeping corners we encountered, it did hold its line and maintain its body composure quite well. Add to this the torquey engine, the adjustable suspension and comfortable interiors, and what you have in the making is quite a competent companion for long distance travel.

The Touareg is more about function than form. It does have presence but it’s not a flamboyant or overtly towering looking SUV like many other SUVs often are. Even on the inside, it’s more about being comfortable and ergonomically sound than being a display of endless switches and gadgets and bling. It has a good engine, fantastic ride quality and decent handling in its favour too. It does have its downside, though, like no third row seating. But if your line of work does take you to places where roads are still a distant dream, well... the Volkswagen Touareg might just seem like the ideal car for you.