For The Touareg Hybrid offers hot hatch pace and comparatively low running costs for a large, petrol-engined 4x4. Bi-xenon headlights and electric front seats are standard.

Against It’s nowhere near as clean or fuel-efficient as Lexus’s RX450h. The cabin doesn’t feel special enough and resale values won’t match the class best.

Volkswagen Touareg 4x4

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

Fine if you want a fast, petrol 4x4, but it doesn’t make much sense as an eco model because the CO2 emissions are only fractionally lower than the entry-level diesel’s.

What Car? readers say

4.333333


Key facts

0–60mph
6.5 secs
Top speed
149 mph
Average mpg
34.4
Tank range
643 miles
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Features

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Size

View the whole Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 range

Cheaper

More expensive

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The full Volkswagen Touareg review


Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

The cheapest VW Touaregs use a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. There are two versions with two different outputs, but the more powerful is our favourite thanks to its strong performance and decent economy.

You can also have a hybrid model that combines a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol unit with an electric motor but, although this offers hot-hatch pace, it costs a lot more to buy and is nowhere near as clean as the rival Lexus RX450h. A 4.2-litre V8 diesel that’s even faster – and even more expensive – completes the line-up.

All Touaregs leather upholstery, climate control, automatic lights and wipers, satellite-navigation, cruise control and parking sensors.

Escape spec adds locking centre- and rear differentials and extra underbody protection, while Altitude swaps these for larger alloys, Bluetooth and fancier interior trim. V8 and Hybrid cars also get bi-xenon headlights and electric front seat adjustment.

Reader test team says:

Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 3.0 V6 TDI 245 Escape 5dr

Refined, powerful and well assembled from high quality materials - as it should be, given the thoroughly upmarket price. The interior is a serene…

David Forbes

4 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 4.2 V8 TDI Altitude 5dr

Looks better than any Land Rover, it's more powerful & comfortable than a BMW X5 and it's cheaper than a Porsche Cayenne. Mileage is more than decent…

Cosmin Grapini

5 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 3.0 V6 TDI 240 Altitude 5dr

I have had my Tuareg from new for 5 years and now covered 80k miles It is actually the 2.5 D altitude. It was originally my company car and I bought…

bernard simkins

4 out of 5 stars
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