The Touareg 2 comes in two fairly self explanatory trims; the VR6 and V8FSI. The two models sport 280 hp 6,200 rpm and 350 hp 6,700 rpm engines respectively. Unlike most VW’s these engines are explosively powerful, perhaps overly so, but they are also beautifully tuned.

The Touareg 2 fits into the “light truck” EPA classification, but would be more commonly recognized as a crossover SUV. That means there’s plenty of space inside, with a dash of luxury furnishing and entertainment fixtures and fittings. The Touareg 2 isn’t as well suited to being a family car as VW’s Tiguan or Routan, though.

What the Touareg 2 excels at is off-roading. Though Volkswagen has dropped the massive V10 engine this year, the Touareg 2 still generates massively more power than it could conceivably need. In standard trim, VW’s suspension provides 8.3 inches of ground clearance. This is the standard position, but their air suspension system allows variations between 7.3 and 11.8 inches.

In all, it’s an extraordinary off road vehicle, easily giving Dodge’s and the British Land Rover a run for their money, but it lacks the family friendliness of the previous two, making it a bit of an outside runner.

The Tiguan is built from a mixture of VW’s Golf, Jetta and Passat cars, hopefully taking the most suitable bits from all of them. It also has the GTI’s engine: A 2.0 liter, turbocharged, intercooled and direct injected wunderbar which produces 200 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. This might seem low powered if you compare pure numbers with American compact SUV’s but it fulfils the Tiguans requirements with ease. And it really does purr.

As should be expected with a VW, the suspension and steering were exceptional. The Tiguan takes corners with ease, and handles bumpy uneven surfaces with aplomb. Inside, the car feels comfortable and well built. Surfaces are leather clad or finished in high quality metals and plastics. The included media center will help long drives fly by.

Overall, the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is a very competent entry into the compact SUV market. VW has learned a lot from their rivals and haven’t skimped or saved on the finer features of the build. All this comes at a slight premium, but it’s worth it if you’ve got the cash spare.

In all fairness, VW went to Chrysler for help building the Routan. VW has been out of the minivan business for a few years, and they need the Routan to be a great start to their new line. The questions is, then, does the Routan do justice to VW engineering and minivan requirements?

While the Routan took a lot of its basic design from Chrysler’s drawing boards, it’s got the VW touch. Significant reworking of suspension and steering and transmission results in a more ëEuropean’ drive, with tighter steering and less body roll.

Unfortunately The Routans V-6 engine options; with either a 197-horsepower 3.8 liter or 251 horsepower 4.0 liter engine felt a little underpowered for the American market. That said, the 251 hp drive is perfectly capable of everything you should ask from it.

The 2009 Volkswagen Routan is finished with high quality interior, with lots of cleverly situated storage space and a decent seating arrangement. There’s also a high end entertainment system available for a few thousand extra, which we highly recommend if you want the journeys to fly by!

The Passat boasts a 1.8 litre 20 valve DOHC, 4-cylinder engine which provides performance that surpasses most wagons in its category. The basic model engine generates a respectable 170 horsepower @ 5900 rpm and torque of 166 ft-lbs. @ 1950 rpm which is enough to give it some reasonable get up and go.

Uniquely, the Passat Wagons drive train and suspension offers a 5-speed manual transmission with front wheel drive, and four-wheel independent suspension. This makes the ride immensely responsive and smooth. Suffice to say, travelling in the Passat Wagon is comfortable and relaxing.

Safety features are not lacking, the usual selection of ABS, traction control and others make a welcome appearance. It’d be nice to have the option of Bluetooth connection, GPS and such built in, though. In all, it’s hard to fault the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon for missing a few luxuries. The overall build quality is exceptional, and it’s a decent drive, particularly for a large family car.

The SportWagen comes with three different engine choices, the lowest; a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine boasts excellent fuel economy with 21-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. The inclusion of a hybrid drive would improve emissions more considerably, so it’s a shame VW hasn’t taken this route to make their economy a real standout.

Looks wise, the SportWagen is a fairly unassuming, unoriginal design. It fades into the background on any suburban street and is barely visible on a highway, but you don’t buy a SportWagen for its Dodge lines.

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is a classically built VW, with good build quality inside and out, luxury fittings are available, but you’ll have to pay a premium for all but the most basic features. Having said that, the SportWagen does include a well realised sound system, comprising 10 decent quality speakers. A classically high quality build, and good fuel economy make the SportWagen ideal for families with environment and budget in mind.

The ‘09 MkV GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which creates 207bhp and 206lb ft of torque to get the GTI up to 6mph in around 7 seconds, that’s 10 horses more than the last version thanks to the GTI’s induction system, which also reduces carbon emissions. Buyers have the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or Volkswagen’s DSG gearbox.

The new GTI looks great too, though its body is taken wholesale from the Golf, the designers at Volkswagen have made subtle changes to beef up the image of the GTI. Headlights are set wider apart, and the grille has been stretched vertically to create a menacing grin, which looks great on the GTI.

The usual cavalcade of safety features and utilities are available, though VW doesn’t spec their interiors out with quite the bling of other manufactures, they are well built with durability in mind. ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front and rear side airbags are included as basic safety features with all models of the 2009 Volkswagen MkV GTI.

The GLI blurs the line between sporty compact sedans and more luxury models by combining power, comfort and control into one persuasive package. The GLI comes with only one power option; a turbocharged four-cylinder, 2 litre engine putting out 200 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque, which propels the GLI up to 60mph in under 8 seconds.

The second part of the equation; the handling, is taken care of by firm suspension and extremely responsive steering which relays a huge amount of data to the drivers finger tips.

The trinity is completed by a complete set of luxury fixtures and a wealth of safety features. Antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, stability control, traction control and full-length head curtain airbags are all standard.

The 2009 Volkswagen GLI starts at roughly $25,000 but you’ll want to grab the optional 6 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to get the best out of every drive.

The Eos takes its name from the Greek goddess of the sunrise. Which seems like a suitable moniker, considering it’s a convertible with a sunroof, a feature set which is surprisingly rare in combination. It carries 5 people with ease and the retractable hardtop works like a dream, leaving a reasonable quantity of space in the trunk, even when it’s tucked away.

The most notable change in the 2009 Eos is that VW’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is now standard on both trim levels. The expensive V6 option has been dropped as it provided limited advantage over other models.

The 2009 Volkswagen Eos is beautifully fitted with luxury finishes on any surface you care to examine, and includes a wealth of utility, entertainment and safety features. All this luxury and power does not come cheap though, the basic Eos will set you back $30,000 with a collection of upgrades pushing the price up considerably. It is an excellent convertible though, and worth every penny.

The Rabbit is largely unchanged from last year’s version, but some tune-ups and extra gadgets have been thrown in to sweeten the deal. One of the most popular features of the Rabbit is how it is budgeted with top-level features, even for the basic level car. These include: heated seats, 6 CD changer and a Sirius radio amongst other things.

Safety is also not compromised as the Rabbit includes a host of standard and not so standard safety functions, including antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, stability control, and head curtain airbags. It achieved 4 and 5 star impact ratings from federal tests.

You might be thinking that the basic 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit model cuts down on cost with an optional engine and wheels, but there’s a reasonable power stowed under the hood in the form of the 2.5-liter, 170-hp 5-cylinder block and decent tires and breaks. Overall it’s a very worthy car, perhaps a little on the small side for some, but if space is not a concern then it makes an excellent little run-about.

Unfortunately the New Beetle did not have the re-design that many hoped for 2009. Of course, the iconic shell was no small design challenge when it was conceived, but some were hoping for a moderate re-design to keep the brand trendy. Still, it looks as good as ever, but don’t expect to be turning nearly so many heads as the model did when it was first released.

Both New Beetles run on a 150-horsepower 2.5L inline 5 cylinder engine. In the coupes, it is complimented with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic.

Safety features include: thorax side airbags, anti-lock brakes, and an electronic stabilization program. Of particular note is a clever system to protect convertible drivers by deploying two spring-loaded posts behind the rear-seat headrests to help protect passengers in a rollover.

In all, it’s a welcome return for the 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle. While some were hoping for more radical changes, they simply aren’t necessary. The New Beetle remains one of the most reliable and noticeable cars on the road.

The CC shares it’s basic design with the Passat and Jetta, but goes oh so much further than them. Unlike it’s parents, the CC has a coupe-like roofline and seats four instead of five. The CC is available in four versions; Sport, Luxury, VR6 Sport, and VR6 4Motion trim. VR6 Sport and VR6 4Motion versions are powered by a 280-hp, 3.6-liter V6 with 6-speed automatic transmission.

The CC has a host of safety features, which include: ABS, antiskid system, traction control, front side airbags, curtain side airbags and rear side airbags. It’s got an excellent finishing features, including leather upholstery, a navigation system, front and rear obstacle detection, a power pop-up-only sunroof, and a navigation system with rear-view camera.

The most remarkable thing about the 2009 Volkswagen CC though, is its overall (and frankly, extraordinary) value for money. I can’t help but think VW is taking a loss on this car in order to build a better value image, but that might be wishful thinking.

Volkswagen’s objective with the Passat was to create a full sized luxury sedan with the handling of a sports car. Certainly no mean feat, but Passat’s four models; the GL, GLS, GLX, and the standard W8 do achieve this goal to varying extents.

The W8 comes with a 1.8L DOHC inline 4 cylinder engine with 20 valve turbo, which creates a satisfying 200 hp and 207 ft-lbs of torque. Breaking and ride are as you’d expect from a German made car; excellent. Higher end models push the horses up to around the 300 mark using turbo chargers and a V6 engine.

The Passat isn’t perfect though. Just when you begin to think it’s genuinely got the whole mix, VW reveal that certain safety and entertainment features which are standard in most US luxury sedans will not be included with the Passat, at least at launch.

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat makes a good case for your money, and can sit alongside the American classics with pride, but silly decisions with safety features and extras relegate it to being purely a driver’s car. A fairly expensive one, at that.

The engine specs range from a 2.5L 170 horsepower, 177 lbs-ft. torque, 20 valve, DOHC, in-line 5 cylinder engine in the S model, up to a 2.0L 140hp, 236 lbs-ft. torque, in-line 4 cylinder turbocharged clean diesel engine with common rail direct injection in the TDI. Note the lower base hp which is offset by the turbocharger and direct rail injection technology to create an extraordinary 236lb’s of torque.

The Jetta looks good, typically European stylings are offset by a bolder front grille and large alloys which will tough alongside any dodge. Interior finish is sound, though not flashy, and there are plenty of optional extras to enjoy.

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta is looking like a game changer for VW in the states, and certainly makes a good case for the use of the new breed, cheap and powerful diesel engines that Europe has been enjoying for many years.

The 2009 Volkswagen CC comes standard with AFS (Adaptive Front Lighting System) and the bi-Xenon lamps turn 15 degrees in the direction you’re headed while driving at highway speeds. The 2009 CC also comes with other handy features like heated washer nozzles, exterior signal mirrors, rain sensing wipers, and a drop-dead gorgeous power glass panoramic tilt sunroof.

The CC comes in 4 different models:

• Sport
• Luxury
• VR6 Sport
• VR6 4Motion

The Sport and Luxury models share a 2.0T, inline 4 cylinder engine — while the VR6 and VR6 4Motion have a 3.6L power plant under the hood.

Owners of the ’08 Tiguan will love the fact that the German engineers at Volkswagen designed the car with obsessive compulsive disorder in mind. There’s literally a place for everything. There are a ton of standard and optional bins and binnacles.

Drivers that like to rock out to their own soundtrack while cruising down the interstate will dig the various musical options found in the cabin. From regular AM/FM radio to satellite and CD, there’s almost nothing beyond the sound system’s capabilities. There’s even an MP3 Aux jack to hook and iPod into!

As for the engine, to say that it’s award winning almost doesn’t seem like enough.
The Tiguan has a 2.0 TSFI four-cylinder that can get as much as 207 pounds per foot of torque, eclipsing every other four-cylinder SUV in its class. It even has 2200 pounds of towing capacity, adding to the Tiguan’s considerable versatility.

Drivers who loathe parallel parking find themselves constantly roaming around in search of a lot will love the rear backup camera. The camera isn’t the only intelligent new addition to the Volkswagen, however. In fact, the navigation system has also been redesigned with the driver in mind and now features a 6.5-inch wide full color touch screen.

That said, the ’08 Volkswagen Tiguan is also an extremely safe car to drive. It also leads its class in fuel efficiency, getting more than 20 miles per gallon on the highway (although exact EPA estimates are not currently available).

To be sure, VW designed the New Beetle Convertible with passenger safety in mind. Unlike a lot of other convertibles on the road today, this car has automatic rollover protection hidden underneath the headrests in the backseat. These two secret steel beams are pneumatically deployed as soon as the car detects a rollover. Similar to the way airbags are deployed, they go up extremely fast and help to minimize injuries in the event of an accident.

Integrated mirrors act like little blinking alerts to ensure that other drivers on the road can easily spot when a driver intends to switch lanes or make a turn. They also are easily visible to the driver of the New Beetle Convertible, so that the turn signal isn’t unnecessarily left on for extended periods of time, giving cars behind the Beetle the wrong idea.

Still, there are several design features that have sport, not just safety in mind. A perfect example of this is the “whale tail shape” of the rear. When the top is down on the ’08 New Beetle Convertible, it automatically folds into a spoiler, giving it the look and feel of a vintage racecar. With a top speed of 126 miles per hour, the extra drag that the spoiler provides might just come in handy.

All three of the ’08 VW Jetta models have a 2.5 liter, 5-cylinder, in-line engine that has a lot of power. In fact, it’s got 170 horsepower at 5700 rotations per minute and a maximum torque of 177 pounds per foot at 4250 rotations per minute. All this adds up to zero to 60 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 127 miles per hour. Fuel efficient, it gets 21 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highway, no matter if the car has a manual or an automatic transmission.

Still, this year’s Jetta is more that just a powerful compact car. It has also been designed with comfort in mind, with plenty of room to seat up to five passengers. There’s 41.2 inches of legroom, 16 cubic feet of cargo volume and 38.5 inches of headroom.

Arguably, the most striking thing about the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta is how sporty it looks. The SE and SEL models come standard with a power sunroof and all three models have a chrome front grille and dual exhaust tips. Protecting all of this is the alarm and anti-theft system that covers the doors, hood, radio, starter and trunk lid with a warning LED, visual and audible activation.

As far as comfort goes, the Jetta has drivers covered. The air conditioning system has single zone climate control and is CFC-free. Also, each model comes with a standard non-smoking package that features a power outlet and storage receptacle.

Available in two models, the S and the SE, the ’08 New Beetle starts out at $17,365 and comes standard with a ton of standard features. A classic example of such standard features is the anti-intrusion beams that the New Beetle comes enforced with. These work to redirect and absorb energy upon a side impact collision. Drivers can think of it as their own personal roll cage that protects them in the event of an accident.

Speaking of impact safety, the New Beetle’s round shape does more than just look pretty and add a lot of interior space. In fact, it gives the car a ton of additional rigidity and strength. As an added bonus, it provides amazing acoustics to help passengers enjoy the high quality sound system.

Despite the compact size of the 2008 New Beetle, it’s amazingly safe. Besides the anti-intrusion beams and round shape working to protect all aboard, it has a third brake light in the rear. Mounted high enough for everyone to see, vehicles following the New Beetle are sure to know when the driver is braking so that they can adjust their speed accordingly.

All in all, the 2008 VW New Beetle is a great little car to own. As safe as it is cute and fun to drive, it makes an excellent addition to anyone’s driveway.

Despite the fact that the ’08 VW Eos is a convertible, it’s amazingly safe and sturdy. The steel reinforcements that Volkswagen uses in the doors are specially designed to redirect and absorb energy in the event of a side impact collision. It’s similar to the roll cages seen in NASCAR vehicles and should make everyone aboard feel a bit safer.

As for the rest of the body design, laser seam welding technique gives the ’08 Eos a seamless look. This technique also provides for a more rigid car, meaning that there’s less flex, the ride is safer and the car is easier to handle on the open road.

Still, the 2008 Volkswagen Eos has plenty of other safety features that go beyond the body design. The automatic door locks that come standard in the Turbo, Lux, Komfort and VR6 models are a great example. Once the car reaches eight miles per hour, the doors automatically lock themselves. To unlock the door, passengers only have to pull the handle twice (or they can push the unlock button). Also, integrated mirrors that have the blinkers built into them helps other drivers to see when the Eos is turning or changing lanes.

This year’s Passat is also technologically advanced. The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) is a standard feature with the Bi-Xenon headlamp option. This system drastically increases visibility by turning the headlamps up to 15 degrees in the direction that the car is headed, even when the car is traveling at highway speeds. When the car is moving at a slower pace, the AFS automatically turns on a special additional bulb in the direction that the car is moving whenever the blinker is engaged.

The Diversity Antenna ensures that as many radio stations as possible are picked up by engaging two separate physical antennae. The car then automatically chooses the antenna with the best reception, helping to make the reception of the radio station is crystal clear. The first antenna is located on the top of the car, the other is built into the trunk or windshield.

In icy conditions, drivers will love the Passat’s heated washer nozzles, a standard feature in the VR6 and VR6 4Motion. This prevents the nozzle that dispenses the windshield washer fluid from freezing over and becoming useless.

Another windshield feature are the rain-sensing wipers that come free of charge with the Lux, VR6 and VR6 4Motion. This prevents the driver from having to keep switching the speed of the windshield wipers. No matter if it’s lightly drizzling or raining cats and dogs, the small sensor in the windshield will adjust accordingly.