2014 Rogue SL AWD and the 2014 Touareg TDI® R-Line®

By Darlene Donloe

You can get around car in a car, or you can drive a car that makes a statement. There are lots of vehicles from which to pick. But if you want to look good while driving down the road, test drive one of the following. I recently drove the 2014 Rogue SL AWD and the 2014 Touareg TDI® R-Line®.  Both cars make a statement!  This is my testimonial.

THE CAR: 2014 Rogue SL AWD

This is a cool SUV. It looks good, it drives well, it handles even better. The new crossover’s interior is spacious and the console is easily accessible and makes sense. The seats are comfortable and the trim is nice. There are 2.6 inches of rear legroom and an optional third row. The car also boasts an impressive navigation system and improved mileage.  A load of technologies are included for safety.  Some striking features include voice recognition, Pandora radio, you can access Facebook, Sirius XM radio, I Heart radio and do Google local searches. For safety reasons Facebook, of course, is locked while you’re driving. More features are set to come later this year and in 2015.

The 2014 Rogue SL AWD is positioned to compete against the Honda CRV, Ford Escape and Chevy Equinox.

VEHICLE AT A GLANCE:  2.5-liter DOHC I-4 engine, 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of Torque, Xtronic CVT® (continuously variable transmission) with sport mode switch, al wheel drive, 4-wheel fort and rear disc brakes, 18” alloy wheels, all season tires/temporary spare tire, hill start assist and descent control, 6-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, 4-way manual front passenger seat, 40/20/40 folding and reclining, 60/40 sliding second rows, leather appointed seats, dual-zone automatic temperature control, active ride control, hands free text messaging assistant, streaming audio via Bluetooth® USB connection port for IPod®, roof rails, power liftgate and LED daytime running lights.

MSRP: $32,990

FUEL ECONOMY: 28/32

THE DRIVE: Pleasing!

THE CAR: 2014 Touareg TDI® R-Line®

You get what you pay for! And, in the case of the 2014 Touareg TDI® R-Line®, at $58,525, it’s worth every penny.  The ride is smooth and the maneuverability is exceptional. This car looks good. The R-Line adds muscular, more manish style cues. It’s a fabulous, classy car that is a bit of a chameleon. It can ride around the city as a family car or it can be a sleek, sophisticated ride for a man or woman about town. Plus, it’s a diesel!! Yep, a diesel! So, what does that mean? Well, first it means that there is excellent fuel economy. It also means it offers excellent torque that is better than a gasoline engine of a similar size.  It doesn’t have great gas mileage, but it does have great power. This car is a winner!

VEHICLE AT A GLANCE:  3.0L, 240 horsepower, 406 lbs-ft torque TDI® Clean Diesel engine, 4Motion all wheel drive, sport suspension, 20” alloy wheels with all season tires, driver and front passenger airbag supplemental restraint system, driver and front passenger side airbag supplemental restraint system, R-Line® interior and exterior design, panoramic sunroof, touch screen navigation system with CD player, rearview camera system, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, media device interface with IPod cable, Bluetooth® mobile telephone connectivity, keyless access with push button start, dual zone climate control, automatic headlights, power liftgate, power adjustiable and folding and heatable exterior mirrors with memory.

MSRP: $58,525

FUEL ECONOMY: 23/29

THE DRIVE:  Dazzling!