Towing with a 3.0 L Touareg TDI diesel

FishOnOne wrote:
I thought u were an expert on these vehicles. Why are u asking this forum

I tow 4000 pounds wet, and get 16.5 to 19 MPG. Does that answer your question? Personally, if I was getting 9.5 MPGs with a 3.0 Liter turbodiesel, my thoughts would be severe overload. German vehicle makers and TUV rate the chassis tow capacityat 7700 pound, with 5000 # of vehicle, not the motor or drive trains.

An Audi Q7 weighs 5500 pounds, and its tow capacity, due to chassis, is rated at 5600 pounds.


An Audi Q5 with the same 3.0L TDI motor and 8 speed gearbox is rated 4400 pounds of towing.

TUV rates chassis capacity, not motor capacity or ability to tow.

VW sells the same chassis in Europe with a 4.2L V8 TDI rated at 335 HP and 590 ft lbs of torque. It too is rated at 7700 pounds towing capacity.

So TUV in Germany (our DOT) rates the chassis's capacity, not the motors realistic towing capacity. VW and Audi throw this 3.0L motor in the Audi Q5, A6, A7 and A8L luxury sedans. Perhaps thats a better end use for the motor, and not towing 7700 pounds of non aerodynamic TT.

product testing in germany

I am seeking others towing opinions of such use in mountainous states, Rockies, Sierras, Appalachians, etc, with a low displacement motor and drive train under heavy or max load of the chassis, and is something missing in the load capacity of such a small displacement motor, since a motor acts as a pump.

I do get 33-37 MPG driving down the road empty in this AWD 5000# VW diesel SUV, when not towing with ambient temps over 70F here in the South West. Set the cruise at 65MPH and go.