In 2002, Volkswagen decided to create a car capable of competing in the premium and aspirational segment with a large, powerful, technologically advanced, and refined SUV with a monocoque chassis and permanent all-wheel drive system capable of competing with rivals such as the BMW X5, the Range Rover Sport, the Jeep Grand Cheroke Cayenne, and the Audi Q7, models with which it shared many modular elements. The model quickly gained popularity thanks to its performances in competitions such as the Dakar Rally and the Baja California Race, among others.