The Ultimate Volkswagen Road Trip: Unveiling the Allure of the Viloran and the Touareg’s Untapped Potential

Volkswagen Vietnam brought three of its latest models to the 300km-plus journey: the Volkswagen Teramont X, Viloran, and Touareg. I was fortunate to experience the Viloran and Touareg, arranged by the organizers, on the outbound and inbound journeys, respectively.

What Makes the Volkswagen Viloran So Enticing?

Since its debut, this German-branded MPV has received an unexpectedly warm welcome from domestic consumers. Several celebrities, including MC Tran Thanh, Miss Vietnam Small Planet, Miss Spring, and model Diep Lam Anh, have chosen to travel in the Viloran.

The VW logo used to be a rare sight on Vietnamese streets, but thanks to the Viloran, the German brand has become more accessible to local consumers.

To satisfy my curiosity about this “sales phenomenon,” I chose to sit in the back of the Volkswagen Viloran instead of the driver’s seat. After all, the second row of seats is the essence of this MPV and offers the most enjoyable experience.

As I approached the car, my colleague sitting in the driver’s seat pressed the button on the center console to open the rear door. I got in, pressed the button, and the door closed, signaling the start of our journey.

My first action was to slide the seat all the way back, recline the backrest, raise the leg rest, and instantly achieve the most comfortable relaxation posture imaginable. Perhaps only specialized massage chairs at home could rival this level of comfort.

The initial sensation upon sitting in the “captain’s chair” was one of spaciousness due to the large and wide seat, luxuriously upholstered in soft leather. The armrests on both sides of the seat are independently designed to be within easy reach for people of Asian stature.

The German automaker goes above and beyond for second-row passengers by providing additional heating/cooling and massage functions with three programs and three intensity levels: strong/medium/gentle. This is also an advantage over the Kia Carnival, which only offers heating/cooling options.

As we cruised along the Hanoi-Haiphong highway, which is known for its rough surface, at a speed of 120 km/h, I and the other passengers on board fell asleep without realizing it, thanks to the Viloran’s impressive sound insulation. With the music turned off, one could hear a faint breeze and tire noise from the road, but it was not enough to disturb the relaxing mood of the occupants.

The comfort experienced while seated is not only due to the chair but also the influence of the suspension and chassis. The Volkswagen Vilora is equipped with MacPherson struts in the front and multi-link suspension in the rear, but its ability to dampen oscillations is comparable to that of vehicles using air suspension, as everything feels as smooth as flying on a “magic carpet.” The vehicle’s MQB chassis, with its many load-bearing steel points, contributes to a sturdy feel and excellent absorption of oscillations during operation.

Based on these experiences, I believe the Volkswagen Viloran excels as a vehicle for passengers traveling in the back on long journeys. This explains why this German-branded model has become a popular choice for celebrities in such a short time since its introduction in Vietnam.

Of course, no car is perfect. While the Viloran’s dimensions are slightly larger than the Carnival’s, the space for the second row of seats is more limited. When the Viloran’s second-row seats are fully reclined, taller individuals, particularly those around 1.8 meters tall, may find their feet touching the back of the front seats. In contrast, the Korean model offers more room and includes a “zero-gravity” chair for better reclining.

Volkswagen Touareg: A Car for Those Who Enjoy Driving and Embracing Uniqueness

As I shed my identity as a successful businessman and embraced my inner youth, I longed for a car that would provide a sporty and exhilarating driving experience. For the return trip to Hanoi, I had the pleasure of driving the Volkswagen Touareg, the German brand’s most luxurious SUV currently available in Vietnam.

The vehicle I tested was the top-of-the-line Luxury variant, priced at nearly VND 3.1 billion. This price is lower than that of its competitors, the BMW X5 (from VND 3.9 billion) and the Mercedes-Benz GLE (VND 3.89 billion). To achieve this competitive pricing, Volkswagen Vietnam has opted for a 2.0L turbocharged engine for the Touareg, while the two German rivals are equipped with 3.0L turbocharged engines.

In terms of power, the Volkswagen Touareg available in Vietnam delivers a maximum output of 251 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. In practice, this engine is more than sufficient for the majority of consumers, neither too powerful nor underwhelming.

When the driver presses the accelerator, there is a slight delay of about 1-2 seconds due to the use of a turbocharged system, but once the pressure is sufficient for operation, the car immediately “revvs” up and surges forward. Passengers will experience a sense of being pushed back into their seats while still feeling smooth and gentle.

If this SUV were equipped with the optional 3.0L turbocharged V6 engine, the driving experience would be more thrilling and sporty. However, such an upgrade would significantly increase the price due to the higher tax rate applied to larger displacement engines.

The Volkswagen Touareg’s steering wheel exudes a sense of solidity characteristic of German cars, even in Comfort mode. Traveling at a speed of 120 km/h, each lane change demonstrates confidence and excellent control. Furthermore, the Touareg shares the MLB EVO platform with renowned vehicles such as the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and Audi Q8, contributing to its sporty feel and reassuring handling.

The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system of the Volkswagen Touareg performs smoothly and efficiently. I executed a “U-turn” at a speed of 70 km/h and continued to accelerate, but the car maintained excellent road grip without any signs of skidding or loss of control.

The Luxury version of the Volkswagen Touareg in Vietnam is equipped with an air suspension system that can adjust the ride height or adapt to different driving modes. This feature also sets it apart from its domestic competitors, the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. Typically, I am not a fan of air suspension systems as they tend to make the car too soft for my personal preference. However, with the Touareg, German engineers have finely tuned the stiffness to provide stability during lane changes, rapid oscillation damping when encountering speed bumps or bridges, and no “ripples” of bouncing when driving on the Hanoi-Haiphong highway. In fact, after driving it, I felt addicted to it!

If I had to mention one aspect of the Volkswagen Touareg that I found less than satisfactory, it would be the lack of advanced safety features. While this could be acceptable in the base model, I expected more from a vehicle priced at nearly VND 3.5 billion with Hanoi license plates. I would have liked to see features such as adaptive cruise control, emergency braking assistance, pre-collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance.

In conclusion, considering the strengths and weaknesses of the Touareg, I find it unfortunate that it has not achieved more impressive sales figures in the Vietnamese market. It is undoubtedly a worthwhile option for car enthusiasts who have already experienced BMW and Mercedes-Benz models and are seeking a vehicle that offers a fresh, unique feel and stands out from the crowd when on the road.

Here are some detailed images of the Volkswagen Viloran and Touareg: