Volkswagen AG (VAG) has developed a vivid portfolio of SUVs, catering to different tastes. From basic to luxury, from economical to sporty, all needs can be fulfilled by SUVs based on MQB and MLB platforms. By exploiting the modular architecture, VAG is trying to cover different customers at the lowest cost.
This article discusses the MLB-based models only. Contrary to the transverse MQB, the longitudinal MLB is meant for the traditional luxury market. I categorize MLB SUVs into four groups: Compact, standard, spacious, and sporty. Below I will talk about them individually.
The compact: Audi Q5, Porsche Macan
This is the entry-level VAG luxury SUV. While some may claim that the smaller Q2 and Q3 should be on the list, I personally do not regard the transverse chassis as a proper layout for the luxury class.
Q5 and Macan share the major power trains, namely the 2.0L R4 and 3.0L V6 petrol turbo, but only Q5 comes with diesel now. On the other side, Macan is expected to get the Porsche-origin 2.9L V6 under the badge “Macan turbo”, while the top model of Q5 stops only at SQ5 TFSI with Audi-origin 3.0L V6 turbo petrol. In terms of design, Q5 is more of a normal boxy SUV, while Macan features a sleek coupe-like roofline in the sacrifice of rear seat space. They are actually catering to different customers within the compact luxury SUV segment — the traditional taste (e.g. BMW X3) and the alternative feeling (e.g. BMW X4). Although called PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung), the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox on Macan is actually the Audi S-tronic (spec number DL501) under a different badge. The real PDK on Panamera, 911, and 718 is from ZF.
The standard: VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne
Besides Q5 and Macan, the chassis used on other models is called “MLBevo”, denoting a higher level. The standard model is a 5-seated Touareg and Cayenne, which hit the market in the early 2000s as the SUV pioneer of VAG. While the Cayenne was considered bold and revolutionary at the time, Touareg was more of a standard luxury SUV.
In the beginning, VW equipped Touareg with full coverage of powertrains — ranging from petrol VR6, V8, and W12 to diesel R5, V6, and V10. However, the market did not respond well, and only 6-cylinder petrol and diesel, and V8 diesel were offered in the 2nd generation. As for the Cayenne, Porsche consistently offers the Cayenne, Cayenne S, and Cayenne turbo with occasional GTS and Turbo S. Due to the “Diesel-Gate” incident, however, no diesel will be offered in all Porsche models since the 3rd-gen Cayenne.
Currently, in the 3rd generation, Touareg comes in 3.0L petrol, 3.0L diesel, and 4.0L diesel. The only overlapping engine with the Cayenne is 3.0L V6 petrol. High-performance power is only seen on Cayenne S with 2.9L V6 and the Cayenne turbo with 4.0L V8. Again, a complementary marketing strategy is seen in Touareg and Cayenne. Their main rival would be BMW X5, all the way from base models to X5 M.
The spacious: Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga
With a slightly longer wheelbase, Q7 has been featuring third-row passenger seats since its debut to be differentiated from its more slender cousins. It is mostly considered a comfort-oriented people carrier though it was once equipped with a 6.0L V12 diesel from the Le Mans race car. Currently, the popular engine options of Q7 are 3.0L V6 diesel and petrol, and SQ7 TDI gets a 4.0L V8 diesel.
The first-ever Bentley SUV, Bentayga, is equipped with three high-performance engines — 6.0L W12, 4.0L V8 diesel, and 4.0L V8 petrol. While the two petrol engines are also applied on other Bentleys, the diesel from SQ7 TDI would be the only kind of brand. The 4.0L V8 petrol is actually from Porsche. Similar to its siblings, Bentayga can be offered third-row seats. Most importantly, it bears the long-lasting Bentley design on both exterior and interior.
The lineup of Q7 and Bentayga forms a complete coverage of the full-size luxury SUV segment. Their best enemy should be the future Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class together with its Maybach and AMG variants.
The sporty: Audi Q8, Lamborghini Urus, (Porsche Cayenne Coupe)
Similar to the comfort-oriented Q7 and Bentayga, Q8, and Urus are the answer to the growing SUV-coupe market. Considered the coupe version of Q7, Q8 is now equipped with similar 3.0L V6 petrol and diesel. Urus gets the Porsche-origin 4.0L V8 turbo with 650PS, which is the largest output of this engine so far. The overall sizes of both sit between Cayenne’s and Q7's, but Urus actually has the longest wheelbase among all (3003mm). Q8 and Urus acquire the newest full-touch-screen cockpit of Audi, whereas the current Q7 still gets the older one. That makes the interior of Q8 and Urus analogous, though the designers of Lamborghini already tried hard to reshape everything.
Although rivaling SUV coupes like BMW X6, neither of them is marketed as a coupe. Q8 looks more like an enlarged hot hatch, and Urus is referred to as a “super SUV”. Nevertheless, Q8 and Urus are targeting BMW X6, the creator of the trend, from its 6-cylinder models to X6 M.
The Cayenne Coupe is coming soon, though, and it will be even more like a jacked-up 911. It is expected to fill in the gap between Q8 and Urus with Cayenne S and Cayenne turbo. Ironically, the Cayenne was once regarded as the rule breaker that combined a sports car with an SUV, but it is now forced by its followers to get even sportier. By adding Cayenne Coupe and the rumored SQ8 TDI and RS Q8 to the family, VAG would form a comprehensive lineup in the SUV-coupe segment.
