How cheap is car insurance for a Volkswagen Touareg?

If you’re thinking of buying the Volkswagen Touareg, take a moment to read about this midsize luxury crossover SUV before entering your zip code to compare insurance quotes. We’ll let you know about exciting changes for 2011, as well as reviews, safety features and other factors affecting the cost of insuring a VW Touareg.

Accolades and Features

The Volkswagen Touareg shares a production platform with the Porsche Cayenne and the Audi Q7 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Since it was first introduced in 2002, the Touareg has received accolades from Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and numerous other reviewers. The substantially redesigned 2011 lineup is no exception: US News Rankings places it at the top of their list of luxury midsize SUVs, ahead of impressive performers such as the Acura MDX and the Lexus RX 350.

Read more: Cheap Porsche Car Insurance

What sets the Touareg apart in 2011 is a complete redesign of the lineup, including a classy and dynamic new exterior, more cabin space and an all-new Touareg Hybrid. The hybrid model sports a smooth 3.0-liter V6 engine with electric motor that yields 375 horsepower, while the base 3.6-liter V6 and the 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel are continued from 2010. New for all three models in 2011 is an eight-speed automatic transmission for an optimally smooth ride.

Positive reviews for the newly-designed interior cite comfort, high-quality materials, navigation standard on all models, more rear seat room, more leg room in front, and reclining, moveable rear seats. However, consumers should remember that the Touareg no longer offers third-row seating as of the 2010 model.

Prices for the base and diesel models are reasonable for their class, starting at around $41,000 and $45,000 respectively. The Hybrid is relatively pricey, starting at around $51,000. Reviewers praise the roomy and luxurious cabin in all models, as well as the excellent fuel economy in the diesel and hybrid models. Several express concern because the 2011 Touareg has dropped permanent four-wheel drive in favor of a lighter all-wheel drive system. The Touareg has long been a favorite for off-road driving, so this change is a concern for some reviewers; they speculate, however, that a Terrain Tech package for rugged driving will be made available.

Safety First

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet tested the 2011 Touareg according to its new, stricter standards. However, Touareg models from previous years have received four- and five-star ratings, the two highest, according to the old system. Consumers interested in learning more about the new rating system or following updates on vehicle crash test results can do so at the NHTSA’s website www.safercar.gov.

The other major crash-testing organization, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), awarded the Touareg excellent evaluations and named it a “Top Safety Pick.”

As with all SUVs in the luxury range, safety is a serious selling point. The Touareg’s impressive list of safety features includes ABS brakes, front and side air bags for front passenger and driver, Anti-Slip Regulation, front and rear side-curtain head air bags, Engine Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Pressure Distribution, a rearview camera and a rollover sensor. In addition, there is an option for a lane departure warning and blind spot detection package. While one reviewer praised the discreet signals of this warning system and detection package, another commented on its over-sensitivity in tight urban driving.

Insurance Costs and Considerations

Given the Touareg’s many fine attributes, how does it fare in terms of insurance costs? The Touareg turns out to be reasonably priced in comparison to other luxury midsize SUVs. With a national average for the base and diesel models around $1500 per year, the Touareg is comparable to an Acura MDX, which has a range between $1422 and $1572 per year depending on the model. The Lexus RX 350 insures within a similar range, while the Lincoln MKT SUV and Land Rover LR4 are both more expensive to insure.

Of course, the national average is only a preliminary consideration in determining your cost to insure a Volkswagen Touareg. Other variables affecting the premium quotes you personally will receive include the state and town in which you live, the age and driving record of the driver(s), the annual mileage driven, your credit history, any multiple-policy discounts, and whether or not the Touareg will be a daily commuting vehicle.

Any of these variables can cause your insurance premium to vary widely. For example, the average cost to insure a Touareg in Vermont is $962; in Wyoming, it is $1945. A young driver, even with a clean driving record, can cost thousands of dollars a year to insure, whereas a middle-aged driver will cost much less.

In addition to such variations, cost for insurance is affected by the heavy competition between insurance companies for your business. Now more than ever, it is important to compare quotes in order to get the best price you can for insuring a Volkswagen Touareg. Simply enter your zip code in the box and begin comparing insurance premiums in your town.

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