Volkswagen Touareg review

Is the Volkswagen Touareg a good car?

The Volkswagen Touareg continues to be an impressive competitor in the luxury SUV market. With an appealing blend of solid build quality and premium materials, the latest technology from the VW Group and a decent selection of powertrains, it does a great job of offering a genuine alternative to large SUVs from the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

Since its launch in 2003, Volkswagen has applied these principles to its flagship SUV, and the latest third-generation Touareg, introduced in 2018, received a facelift in 2023 to keep it looking sharp. Previously treading a line between a suite of large SUVs from non-premium brands (such as Kia, Hyundai and Peugeot) and bona-fide premium offerings, the Touareg now sits solely as a legitimate alternative to the Audi Q7, BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE, plus the Range Rover Sport or Land Rover Discovery.

How much does the Volkswagen Touareg cost?

The Touareg shares its underpinnings with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. All three have different characters though; the Porsche is certainly the sportiest version, the Audi has the added attraction of seven seats, while the VW offers a more reserved, 'under the radar' style that serves it well amongst a pack of more brash rivals. Starting from more than £71,000 the Touareg isn't cheap; this entry point nets you the 376bhp 3.0 TSI eHybrid in Elegance specification, which is followed by the 282bhp 3.0 TDI diesel Black Edition for around an extra £1,600. To put a top-of-the-range 456bhp 3.0 TSI eHybrid model on your driveway requires almost £83,000.

Under the skin, the latest Touareg uses the VW Group's MLB evo platform, which is also shared with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and a variety of other non-SUV Audi models. In the instance of the Touareg, power currently comes from VW's 3.0 TDI V6 diesel, which used to feature 228bhp or 282bhp power outputs, although is now only available with the higher-powered version.

Used - available now

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

50,396 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £37,919

View Touareg

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

35,002 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £46,187

View Touareg

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

63,006 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £28,400

View Touareg

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

73,400 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £25,000

View Touareg

The 335bhp V6 petrol is no longer offered, while the R range-topper uses a 456bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain. A less-powerful plug-in hybrid with 376bhp joined the range during the mid-life facelift. All are linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and feature 4Motion four-wheel drive.

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There used to be up to six versions of the Touareg on offer: SE, SEL, R-Line, R-Line Tech, Black Edition and the Touareg R. Now it’s just Elegance, Black Edition and R that make up the range. All trims offer generous levels of equipment, with the entry-level Elegance better equipped than the old SE. It receives 20-inch alloys, a 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system with gesture control, front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera and adaptive cruise control. Black Edition variants bring larger 21-inch wheels, air suspension, powered seats with memory function, blacked out exterior trim, tinted windows and Volkswagen’s ‘Park Assist Pro’. 

The biggest difference with the Touareg R is the powertrain, as you’d imagine. The top-spec model does also get further upgrades with 22-inch wheels, exclusive leather upholstery, active climate control seats up front and various R badges inside and out.

The Volkswagen Touareg has evolved into an upmarket SUV that has the ability to battle premium rivals for quality and comfort. The cabin is beautifully built and laden with kit, and while there’s no seven-seat version, it’s more than practical enough for a family of five. And with a driving experience that emphasises the comfort of the cabin, it goes a long way to justifying its premium price tag. If you want a large and luxurious premium SUV with all the latest tech, then the Touareg is a smart choice. 

While the Volkswagen Touareg isn't the sharpest car in its class, it’s still a great all-rounder. In fact, by sticking with a range of tried and tested V6 engines, it remains one of the strongest and most refined cars of its class. 

The 282bhp 3.0 TDI version is a gutsy performer, with loads of power and huge torque reserves – perfect for quick overtakes or steady motorway cruising. It’s incredibly quiet, too, which takes the pain out of long, monotonous journeys. If you're after the discontinued 228bhp diesel model as a used buy, it still has 500Nm of torque available from 1,500rpm, which should be enough grunt for most. 

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But while the Touareg is based on the same platform as the Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus, it’s clear VW has prioritised comfort rather than outright driver fun - although the range-topping R model is very quick in a straight line. The latest car is an improvement on the last Touareg, but the numb and slightly unpredictable steering lets down what is an otherwise excellent package. It’s surprisingly nimble though, thanks to the nifty four-wheel-steering system, and should your car have air suspension equipped, body roll will be impressively kept in check. The DSG gearbox can feel a little hesitant at times, but it’s not a deal breaker.

The VW Touareg comes loaded with stress-saving tech, including Adaptive Cruise Control with Predictive Cruise. This system automatically changes your speed according to posted limits and we’ve never had issues with it picking up incorrect signs. Other useful semi-autonomous tech includes Traffic Jam Assist and Cross Traffic Assist, as well as Proactive Occupant Protection, which closes the windows and pre-tightens the seatbelts if it senses an impending collision.

0-62 acceleration and top speed

The Volkswagen Touareg launched in the UK with a pair of 3.0-litre V6 diesels. Badged 231PS and 286PS respectively, they have 228bhp and 282bhp, although only the higher-powered version remains in the current lineup.

A 335bhp V6 petrol was introduced in early 2019, but again has since been taken off the price list. At 50kg lighter than its diesel counterparts, it managed the 0-62mph sprint in 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 155mph. 

As you would expect, the 282bhp diesel feels strong and refined. The 0-62mph dash takes just 6.4 seconds and there's a top speed of 147mph, while the motor feels more than punchy enough, both from a standstill and in-gear. It’s relatively unstressed at motorway speeds, and incredibly quiet, too, even in the upper reaches of the rev band.

If you're after a used example of the now discontinued 228bhp diesel version; it gave the Touareg a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds and a 138mph top speed, which is by no means slow. 

Unsurprisingly, the R flagship is the fastest model in the line-up, with its powerful petrol engine and electric motor combining to give a 5.2-second 0-62mph time. However, it doesn’t get the four-wheel steering or anti-roll system of some of the other fast SUVs on the same platform, apparently due to the constraints of the bulky hybrid powertrain.

A second plug-in hybrid arrived in late 2023 with the Touareg’s facelift. It’s offered exclusively in Elegance guise and has 376bhp for a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds and a 155mph top speed. The PHEV system adds a chunky 388kg to the previous petrol V6 Touareg’s kerbweight, taking it to 2,444kg. 

Prices for the Touareg start from around £71,000 for the lower powered 3.0-litre petrol eHybrid in Elegance spec. Upgrading to the more powerful diesel costs around an extra £1,600, while the range-topping R sits at almost £83,000. 

All new Touaregs are still subject to the £40,000 road tax levy. From 1 April 2025, this 'luxury tax' will rise to £425 a year (from £410), which means when you add it to the £195 standard VED rate, that you’ll be paying a total of £620 per year from years two to six - quite a considerable amount.

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The 282bhp diesel version has a (WLTP) CO2 figure of 215g/km. On a combined cycle VW claims it will return an average of 34.4mpg, although we managed nearer the 40mpg mark on a steady cruise. The now discontinued V6 petrol produces more CO2 at 251g/km and returns up to 25.6mpg.

The most fuel efficient Touareg is unsurprisingly the new plug-in hybrid V6 petrol. Its ability to travel up to 31 miles on all-electric power means official economy figures are 113.1 to 115.4mpg, depending which version you opt for - although you'll need to make sure you're able to keep the battery topped up to achieve anywhere near these figures in real-world driving. It emits the least CO2, too, at 56-57g/km.

The downside of this PHEV setup is that you can expect both of these cars to be as thirsty, if not more so, than the V6 petrol when the battery has run out. Both versions of the Touareg plug-in hybrid can accept up to 7kW charging from a home wallbox, which will take around 2.5 hours to fully recharge its 14.3kWh battery from 0-100 per cent.

Insurance groups

The Touareg now sits in insurance groups ranging from 45 to 49. The Touareg’s improved safety kit and semi-autonomous features will help to lower premiums, although the Elegance PHEV sits in group 47 and the Touareg R sits in group 49 out of 50.

Depreciation

Volkswagen remains a strong and highly desirable brand, and manages to hold its head up amongst other prestige rivals at the top end of the luxury SUV sector. The Touareg diesel model should hold onto around 53 per cent after three years and 36,000 miles, with the higher-powered PHEV on 56 per cent over the same period. The entry plug-in hybrid doesn't perform quite so well on 45 per cent. The BMW X5 is a slightly more solid prospect, retaining 57 to 60 per cent, while the Mercedes GLE keeps 51 to 56 per cent, depending on which model you choose.

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Design-wise, the latest VW Touareg takes its smaller SUV siblings as a base and expands on them in every direction. It’s instantly recognisable as the firm’s largest model, with a wide grille and giant VW badge on the nose. It appears squatter than before thanks to its revised proportions, but this is a bulky car, whichever way you look at it. The facelift brought a new headlight and rear light signature, not to mention a light-up rear badge, plus new bumpers front and rear. 

Inside, the Touareg sets a high benchmark for its intuitive layout and quality materials. It not only looks great, but it’s packed with functional features and practical touches. There’s leather everywhere you look, with lashings of metal and high-quality plastic throughout. You wouldn’t expect much more if you were sitting in a car costing twice the price.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

There’s no denying the VW Touareg sets a benchmark for infotainment and interior technology in the premium SUV class. The seamless dual-screen set-up not only looks great, but it works beautifully – with loads of functionality and crisp responses.

The ‘Innovision Cockpit’ comprises a 12.3-inch digital driver display merging with a huge 15-inch central infotainment screen. It offers the illusion of a single pane of glass, and while it is subtly split in two just behind the steering wheel, VW tells us the only reason for this is to reduce the cost of replacement should one get damaged.

All the menus are configurable in a tile formation, meaning you can bring frequently used functions to the forefront, and push those less important to the back. It’s a remarkably intuitive set-up, and can be used alongside the standard-fit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems.

Ahead of the digital dials you can add a crystal clear head-up display for just over £1,100. This shows everything from speed and trip info to navigation directions.

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The five-door Volkswagen Touareg is a big, comfortable and super-practical family car. While it doesn't offer a seven-seat layout as you'll find in the Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90 or Audi Q7, it is still an incredibly spacious SUV with room for five tall adults.

Size

The VW Touareg is a big car, whichever way you look at it. It’s almost five metres long and 1,984mm wide, which is 44mm wider than before. This does create more interior and luggage space than the previous-generation SUV, but means the Touareg will be trickier to position on narrow city streets than before.

However, it’s still not as long as the biggest cars in this class. At more than five metres, an Audi Q7 (complete with its seven-seat layout) is almost 8cm longer than the latest Touareg.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

Whichever seat you’re in, there’s plenty of room inside the VW Touareg. By avoiding the temptation to put two seats in the boot, VW has made accommodation generous for all five passengers. Despite being 7mm lower than before, there’s loads of headroom and kneeroom, and the doors open wide to make fitting child seats nice and simple.

Boot

Again, by avoiding the need for a third row of seats, the VW Touareg has one of the biggest boots in the premium SUV class. With the rear seats in place there’s 40 litres more than you’ll find in an Audi Q7 (810 litres versus 770 litres in the Audi’s five-seat configuration), while folding everything flat offers 1,800 litres - almost as much room as in an Volvo XC90. Cars fitted with all-round air suspension can be lowered from a button in the boot, too, making it even easier to load heavy or bulky items. Choose the plug-in hybrid and the boot space unfortunately drops to 665 litres due to the battery pack taking up some space compared with the regular version.

Towing capacity

Both the V6 diesel and petrol engines give the Touareg a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes, which is similar to most of its premium SUV rivals. Plus, clever tech like Trailer Assist makes reversing your caravan or horsebox a supremely simple affair.

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Volkswagen finished 27th out of 32 manufacturers in the 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, which is a poor result, and a far cry from the brand's fifth place way back in our 2018 survey. 

Euro NCAP tested the Touareg at the end of 2018, and it earned a full five-star crash test rating. There’s loads of safety kit on board, with clever kit like Predictive Cruise – a system that adjusts your speed according to the posted limit – raising the bar in this class. Volkswagen’s engineers tell us the lane departure warning system turns on every time the car is started just to gain an extra half-star in the stringent NCAP tests. Other innovative features include Traffic Jam Assist and Cross Traffic Assist.

Warranty

Every new Volkswagen Touareg comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is broadly in line with its key rivals. While this should suffice for most buyers, the firm offers an additional two years of extended warranty cover for an additional fee.  

Servicing

As with all VW models, the Touareg has variable service intervals. If you cover less than 10,000 miles a year and do numerous short trips, then you need to do an oil change service after the first 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Then there are 20,000 miles/1 year gaps between services.

With the variable service schedule, you only need to change the oil after two years (or when the service light illuminates), and then there are 20,000-mile/annual intervals. As with rivals, VW offers various service plans that you can add to your finance arrangements within 12 months of your Touareg being registered.