Volkswagen recently put on sale the second generation of its midsize sport utility vehicle, the 2011 Touareg. Sitting at the top of the Touareg line is the $61,385 Hybrid, a vehicle that is eminently capable and well-executed.

Yet, with a single exception, almost every argument you can make for buying the Hybrid may be called into question by Volkswagen’s other two Touaregs, the base V-6 and the V-6 turbo diesel (TDI).

Like your appendix (or even your wisdom teeth), the existence of the Touareg Hybrid is largely superfluous.

Its only advantage? Raw power.

The goal of the Touareg Hybrid is to give buyers V-8 power with V-6 fuel economy. It does this in spades. (Good thing, since a V-8 isn’t available on this generation Touareg.)

To move this hybrid, VW rummaged around the corporate parts bin and found a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 used in various Audis. The automaker paired it with an electric motor and got a total output of 380 horsepower and a whopping 428 pound-feet of torque.

With a 0-60 acceleration time of 6.2 seconds, this is not so much a “save the whales” hybrid as it is a “you’re crowding my on-ramp” hybrid.

On all 2011 Touaregs (named after a nomadic tribe in Northern Africa), an eight-speed automatic transmission routes power to all four wheels. (In VW parlance, the all-wheel-drive system is known as 4Motion; Audi calls it quattro.) The handling is taut, with average steering feedback, though at 5,135 pounds, a sports car this is not.

The transmission features a Sport mode, and it can be shifted manually. VW says the final two gears are essentially overdrive gears for increased fuel economy.

Also boosting the Touareg Hybrid’s efficiency is its unique ability to shut off the engine completely any time you take your foot off the accelerator, at speeds of up to 99 mph. VW calls this “coasting,” and it happens by way of a clutch that decouples the engine from the transmission.

It’s quite a thrill to watch the tach drop to 0 rpm the moment you take your foot off the gas, be it on the freeway or coming up to a stop sign. The instant you tap the accelerator again, the engine kicks back to life without any discernible hesitation. It also makes for a very quiet and smooth ride.

But this feature is not enough to make the Hybrid the most efficient Touareg in the lineup, and power remains its only advantage.

The Hybrid is rated at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. During my week with the vehicle, I averaged 19 mpg. This shows the Hybrid’s advantage over a V-8; last year I tested the Touareg’s close cousin, the Porsche Cayenne S, and averaged 17 mpg.

But the efficiency badge goes to the $48,770 Touareg TDI. Its 3.0-liter, 225-horsepower, 406-pound-feet, oil-burning motor is rated at 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. I averaged 23.8 mpg over four days.

Finally, the Hybrid isn’t lighter or cheaper. Nor are there any distinguishing exterior features, save for small Hybrid badges, to denote that your $61,385 Touareg Hybrid is not the $45,270 base Touareg V-6 (which comes with a 3.6-liter engine good for 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque).

In fact, all new Touaregs look the same regardless of the trim line. This is a good thing, as visually this Volkswagen is better-looking than the first generation. Volkswagen firmed up the lines and hardened the Touareg’s edges. This contemporary, refined look is enhanced by chrome roof rails and trim around the windows and standard LED daytime running lights and alloy wheels.

Inside, the refinement continues. This Volkswagen is basically an Audi hiding behind a VW logo.

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

Base price: $61,385As tested: $61,385

Type: Midsize sport utility vehicle.

Engine: 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 supercharged, with AC synchronous electric motor assist; eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode.

Mileage: 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway.