The 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 is a midsize sport utility vehicle, first cousin to the Porsche Cayenne. Poor first cousin, as it happens, though this is not a reflection on the Touareg 2. It's also a second cousin to the Audi Q7. It must be tough having so many rich relatives and coming from a family noted for its austerity, but Touareg 2 is keeping up with the Joneses better than one might think.

As a midsize, Touareg 2 goes up against such domestics SUVs as the new Dodge Journey, GMC Envoy, Cadillac SRX and Lincoln MKX. The boys from overseas include Acura MDX, Infiniti FX, Nissan Pathfinder and Xterra and Volvo XC90.

Touareg 2 is pushed by either a 280 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 or a 350 horsepower 4.2 liter V8 mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. Touareg 2 gets fourteen miles per gallon highway and twenty miles per gallon city with the V6 engine. The V8 engine drops that to thirteen city and eighteen highway.

There is also a 310 horsepower 5.0 liter V10. Towing capacity for any of the engines is almost eight thousand pounds.

It's hard to put a finger on just why, because nothing about it really stands out, but the Touareg 2 is truly a sharp looking car. Positives for the Touareg 2 are the performance of the V8 (which is no hot rod, but gets the job done), cargo room and interior workmanship and materials. Negatives include performance of the V6, which is simply underpowered for the weight of the vehicle (especially when towing), gas mileage of the V8 and the navigation system.

Touareg 2 comes in only one trim. It's a nice one, though, including standard leather, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with mounted controls; heated front seats; twelve-way power driver's seat; split, folding rear seat; heated, power mirrors with turn signals mounted on them; power everything; remote keyless entry; sunroom; CD player/radio/satellite radio; trip computer; universal garage door opener; heated windshield washer nozzles; cooled glove compartment; power rear gate; rear window defroster and automatic headlights. Optional equipment includes wooden interior trim; twelve-way power passenger seat; navigation system; backup camera; premium sound system; iPod adapter; and six-disk CD changer (trunk mounted). .

Safety on the Touareg 2 is what you would expect from Volkswagen. Five-star NHSTA ratings everywhere except rollover, where it is four-star. It doesn't come any better for an SUV. Also as you would expect from Volkswagen, all the standard safety features are available including antilock brakes, anti-skid system and airbags all around, just to name a few.

Base price for the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 is $39,300. Not bad at all for what it is. Volkswagen has been a popular brand name since the first "bug" came to America. Nothing about the Touareg 2 is likely to change that.