2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI

The Volkswagen Touareg TDI eclipses the fuel economy of other Touaregs without compromising drivability. Volkswagen has a longer and deeper history with diesel in the U.S. than perhaps any automaker beyond Mercedes-Benz, and maybe Freightliner, and the experience shows. The Touareg’s 3.0-liter TDI V-6—while smaller than the gas-fired 3.6-liter V-6 in the base ’Reg—is barely slower and decimates the gas engine’s fuel economy numbers. EPA ratings for the gas V-6 are 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway, while the TDI is rated at 17/25. We achieved 21 mpg combined over the duration of our two-week test, and on a 40-mile, 75-mph highway loop, we saw an indicated 25 mpg on the onboard computer. In vehicles other than diesels, actually achieving the EPA’s highway rating requires traveling well below real-world interstate speeds.