2012 X5 35d vs. 2012 VW Touareg TDI

[jacb1301]

I have mentioned this in some other posts, but I have not seen a thread on this. I have been looking at BMW since April for our next vehicle. First we thought about the X3, but for the past few weeks we have been set on the X5, specifically the 35d. Continue to read great things about diesel overall. I have read good things about the new Touareg also, and just saw one in person for the first time and I was very impressed.

Any one else considering the VW? The owner of the Touareg said that he picked it over the X5 because X5 is due for a refresh any year now and that the VW is running a brand new 8 speed diesel that out performs the BMW. Sure, this is one guy talking and he is going to favor his vehicle...but I have not driven either one. I am very limited on my options to test drive anything where I am. I have driven the X3 28i, that was all the dealer had at the time we were making our decisions.

I love the body styles of both and the diesel engines both get you close to if not more than 30mpg hwy...we can get the BMW for a good $4,000 less and it can ship back to the States for free throuhg BMW. So I continue to lean towards the BMW...but got to admit that VW is a sweet looking vehicle that seems like a for real contender. I am sure if it was an "Audi Q6" instead of a "VW Touareg" it would have different appeal as a true "lux" SUV/Crossover.

[jacb1301]

Very good points! I really think the X5 is aggressive and sharp with it's exterior...and yeah not a fan of shiny flashy interiors. Agreed on the lights...

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

Refresh of X5 is about 2-3 years away.

As you said, X5 is cheaper. Toureg doesn't get any better fuel economy really, performance numbers are close. I found the styling of the X5 better in my opinion and interior-wise, if you like shiny bits inside your car, then Toureg is the better choice, I don't, so it wasn't for me inside either.

I like the options better on the X5, an available, but someone useless 3rd row on X5.

Don't get me started on the use of LED lights on the Toureg, or any other VW/Audi/Porsche product. Not a fan, don't get it and think it looks weak with rows of little dots on the front of my car. Think "bedazzler" and that's what makes me throw up in my mouth when I see those kinds of lights.

[jacb1301]

I completely agree, SUVs are for the most part not designed well. We had a Saturn Outlook...could not stand it-bad on gas and was like driving a boat. Sold it a few months ago. I am really looking forward to owning a diesel. The X5 has been on the top of my list for years. We drove the X3, Q5, even the new Ford Explorer...which is way over priced, and just felt that the X5 would be best. How are you doing on gas mileage?

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

don't want to seem like a hater, as I do like some VW/Audi products (actually looking at a 4dr Golf TDI as my car to visit local client sites with and to ditch at the airport off-site parknfly when I travel) and we looked at a ton of SUVs before we picked up our X5.

Just that none did everything we wanted them to, plus had decent fuel economy and weren't the size of a large yacht or hadn't been styled by Ray Charles.

[jacb1301]

Very good numbers for an SUV. I would imagine we will get about that. On long trips we average about 70mph. I see you are looking to put the JBD on yours. Let me know how that goes. I am thinking of adding it to ours too. Someone said they got about 40mpg with the JBD.

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

depends on whose driving it.....it's my wife's vehicle, so when she's driving she averages 22-23 mpg on mostly light city travel, when I'm driving, not so good, maybe 20 mpg on similar routes. When we do long trips, so largely highway driving, 25-28 average, with almost 30 mpg peaks if we cruise at 70-78 mph.

It just depends on how heavy your foot gets, obvious but just saying....LOL.

Now, when I drive my car, different story, but also a case of purpose-built vehicles and those purposes being entirely unique.....I'm lucky if I average 15 mpg in my M3 and maybe 21 on the highway, with a tailwind, down a hill and no more than 80 mph. Shoulda got a Prius....J/K!

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

Now, when I drive my car, different story, but also a case of purpose-built vehicles and those purposes being entirely unique.....I'm lucky if I average 15 mpg in my M3 and maybe 21 on the highway, with a tailwind, down a hill and no more than 80 mph. Shoulda got a Prius....J/K!

Wrong, Top Gear tested a Prius on track with an M3 following it. The M3 got better mileage!!! Since the Prius was at its limits and the M3 loafing.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

you do understand what j/k means, right? as in just kidding.....and yes I did see the "test" on Top Gear, that was almost 2 years ago, maybe more.....hopefully your post was kidding too, but can never tell with some folks out here.....

also, it was a "test" of the Prius under it's worst possible operating condition, flat-out gas only, no electric intervention possible. I personally don't like them, which was part of the premise of the whole J/K reference.....sigh.

Yes I do understand j/k. Whether you saw the episode or not, and whether your reference to the Prius was in jest, I just brought up the comparison as a conversation starter.

[kugasman]

I don't have adaptive drive, but I would guess an X5 with SAP and adaptive drive would be a whole different animal than the touareg. I like the new vw style, but if you can get the X5 for less I think it's a no brainer.

I'm getting about the same as mentioned above although I just got my car so time will tell. It's crazy to have 1/2 a tank and 300 miles to empty.

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

Just that none did everything we wanted them to, plus had decent fuel economy and weren't the size of a large yacht or hadn't been styled by Ray Charles.

You obviously didn't look at the new Cayennes.

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by jacb1301

I have mentioned this in some other posts, but I have not seen a thread on this. I have been looking at BMW since April for our next vehicle. First we thought about the X3, but for the past few weeks we have been set on the X5, specifically the 35d. Continue to read great things about diesel overall. I have read good things about the new Touareg also, and just saw one in person for the first time and I was very impressed.

Any one else considering the VW? The owner of the Touareg said that he picked it over the X5 because X5 is due for a refresh any year now and that the VW is running a brand new 8 speed diesel that out performs the BMW. Sure, this is one guy talking and he is going to favor his vehicle...but I have not driven either one. I am very limited on my options to test drive anything where I am. I have driven the X3 28i, that was all the dealer had at the time we were making our decisions.

I love the body styles of both and the diesel engines both get you close to if not more than 30mpg hwy...we can get the BMW for a good $4,000 less and it can ship back to the States for free throuhg BMW. So I continue to lean towards the BMW...but got to admit that VW is a sweet looking vehicle that seems like a for real contender. I am sure if it was an "Audi Q6" instead of a "VW Touareg" it would have different appeal as a true "lux" SUV/Crossover.

A couple months ago I was in your shoes. Looking at the VW, it was nice, but way over priced for the size and the options. I'm 6'4 and my wife is 6' tall so for us to sit comfortably up front you'd have to be a circus clown or dwarf to sit in back. Features like top view and multi contour seats and the premium sound and BMW apps as well as the styling and performance and mire cargo room won us over the VW. According to the manufacturers posted numbers. The 35d is faster. With the JB tune I'm sure it will be a lot faster than the VW. I ended up with a petrol instead of diesel cause I really like the M Sport package. Just my .02

[jacb1301]

Well I think my wife and I have both made up our minds that we are completely going with the X5, especially after hearing that the 8sp trans is coming on the 2012 35d. Also the local VW dealer had some not so nice comments after hearing our decision, which further sold me on the BMW. He said basically car buying is emotional more than logically, which is why people want a BMW emblem on their 50K+ cars...and not to be suprised when I see VW Touareg drivers with that smug smile on their faces because they have the better, more "logical" vehicle. So yeah...all I can say is can't wait to have that X5 on the open road!

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by jacb1301

Well I think my wife and I have both made up our minds that we are completely going with the X5, especially after hearing that the 8sp trans is coming on the 2012 35d. Also the local VW dealer had some not so nice comments after hearing our decision, which further sold me on the BMW. He said basically car buying is emotional more than logically, which is why people want a BMW emblem on their 50K+ cars...and not to be suprised when I see VW Touareg drivers with that smug smile on their faces because they have the better, more "logical" vehicle. So yeah...all I can say is can't wait to have that X5 on the open road!

You should've told them that BMW = Fahrvergnügen. Now that's logical!

[JSpira]

In case this is helpful to the discussion, I spent a week with a Touareg TDI earlier this year and it was fun to drive and very responsive. An excerpt from my review and link are below.


2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Review and Road Test

The all-new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg is the second generation of the SUV built on a shared Volkswagen Group platform in Bratislava, Slovakia alongside its platform cousins, the Audi Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne.


The Touareg, pronounced “twah-reg”, gets its name from the nomadic Tuareg people in North Africa, believed to be descended from the ancient Saharans.


The 2011 model was introduced in 2010 with a sharp, aggressive looking exterior and several technology firsts, including Dynamic Light Assist, a glare-free high-beam system that constantly and gradually adjusts the pattern and range of the high to minimize illumination of any vehicles in front while focusing the light on the area surrounding them. Unfortunately, this option is not offered in the U.S.
<SNIP>

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by atlanta2004m3

Well, you'd obviously be wrong then.....we needed more room so wasn't on our short list, plus they aren't exactly in the same price range.........and on top of that I'm not a huge fan of them, but thanks for the assumption.....you know what they say about assumptions....so feel free to make more LOL.

LOL!

There isn't a thing that the X5 has on the Cayenne....except being less expensive.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

LOL!

There isn't a thing that the X5 has on the Cayenne....except being less expensive.

I disagree. I much prefer the X5 interior over the monochromatic, way too busy interior of the Cayenne. Plus the X5 multi-contour seats are much nicer than the Cayenne sport seats. I didn't like the Cayenne enough to consider a test drive.