Think of luxury crossover SUV’s and what comes to mind?  Many will say the 2013 Acura MDX or possibly the Infiniti JX. Some will say the BMW X5 or the Mercedes-Benz M-Class.  Few, however, would say the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg because let’s face it, Volkswagen isn’t a luxury automobile line, right?

Well you just might change your mind if you test drive the 2013 Touareg. The Touareg is a combination of power, performance and comfort that will have you questioning whether you really want to spend the extra dollars for a BMW or Mercedes-Benz….yes, it really is that good.

The Touareg comes in four trims, the Sport, Lux, Executive and Hybrid levels.  All but the hybrid offer gasoline or turbodiesel.  The Touareg comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine good for 280 horsepower.  The TDI models have a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine that gives 240 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard in all trims.

The Touareg Hybrid comes with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. Combined they give 380 horsepower, and this very impressive hybrid can go from 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and that, my friends, is impressive.  EPA ratings have the Touareg at 17/23 mpg with the hybrid rated at 20/24.  Also, properly equipped, the Touareg can tow 7,000 pounds, more than any of the competition.

Safety features include antilock brakes, stability and traction controls, hill-hold assist and more airbags than you know what to do with. They received the highest crash ratings by the Insurance Institute and it can stop from 60-0 in an impressive 121 feet.

Standard features include 18-inch wheels, bi-exon headlights, foglights, roof rails, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control and an eight speaker stereo system to name just a few. The options list is as long as your arm.

The bottom line on this Touareg:  it is one impressive SUV and well worth a look if you are interested in luxury without paying for luxury.

As for replacement parts, we always recommend that you shop for recycled used parts at your local salvage yard.  The cost of car repair labor is just too expensive these days, so why not learn a little car maintenance and do the easy stuff yourself?  Check out All Import Auto Parts for all of your replacement part needs and find out why a salvage yard is the wise choice for any do-it-yourselfer.