Volkswagen Touareg V6 Executive 2017

Although it might be sold alongside pedestrian Jettas, the Volkswagen Touareg looks and feels nearly like a full-on luxury SUV at a (slightly) cut-rate price.

The Touareg is attractive inside and out, but it is very conservative and cautious.

With just one engine on offer, Touareg is down on power compared to rivals. However, it rides and handles very well.

The Touareg's interior is a massive step above other VWs, but not quite luxury-grade.

Expanded availability of Touareg's collision avoidance tech is a plus, but it has not been tested by NHTSA.

Although it lacks some things buyers might expect at this price, the VW Touareg impresses with an overall high-end feel.

At just 19 mpg combined, VW's Touareg pales against many rivals.

Pros
Over-engineered feel inside and out
Composed, refined driving experience
Rarity; you won't see yourself coming or going

Cons
Mercedes money, VW warranty
Light on high-tech options
No third row

The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is the German brand's flagship SUV, but its $50,000 starting price makes it as awkward a fit in its segment as its name is to pronounce (try "tour-egg"). Ostensibly this 5-passenger SUV is more luxurious than a Ford Edge or Jeep Grand Cherokee but not quite as fancy as a BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE or even its cousins the Audi Q5 and Q7, and Porsche Cayenne. In reality, we'd recommend just about any competitor over the Touareg. This VW SUV has much going against it beyond a high price and aging platform. The Touareg's brightest aspect -- a strong and efficient diesel engine -- is gone due to VW's emissions-cheating scandal, leaving a tired and overburdened V6 as its only motivation.

A year after the hybrid powertrain was put out to pasture, the once-loved diesel option is gone, too, in the wake of VW's scandal. Base models get active safety features and driving aids like active cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. The mid-trim Wolfsburg model replaces the Lux trim.

Pros
Reasons to buy a Touareg in light of far better rivals are few. But this VW does offer some premium appeal and active safety features even in its base model, and there's no arguing that it is ruggedly handsome and offers confident traction on snow and dirt thanks to its full-time all-wheel-drive system.

Cons
The Touareg offers only one engine, and its $50,000-plus starting price is hardly a value. You can do far better in everything ranging from a Ford Edge or Lincoln MKX to a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus RX or Mercedes-Benz GLE.