Name: New Volkswagen Touareg models and Specifications
Brand: Volkswagen

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This is our recommended engine if you’re a private buyer. It’s a V6 diesel unit that allows for 0-62mph in a respectable 7.7 seconds, and delivers reasonable fuel economy.

3.0 V6 TDI 4Motion 286

The entry-level petrol plug-in hybrid will be the least expensive version to run as a company car, but its 29-mile electric-only range makes it more expensive to tax than most rivals.

3.0 TSI eHybrid 4Motion

3.0 V6 TSI eHybrid 4Motion

This is our recommended trim, mainly because it comes with the 3.0 TDI V6 diesel engine and air suspension. It gets the same high level of equipment as Elegance.

Black Edition

The entry-level trim, which comes with the 376bhp PHEV petrol engine, is well equipped, with heated front and outer rear seats, four-zone climate control, an electrically operated tailgate and a panoramic sunroof.

Elegance

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

TOUAREG

3.0 V6 TSI eHybrid 4Motion R 5dr Tip Auto

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3.0 V6 TDI 4Motion 286 Black Edition 5dr Tip Auto

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3.0 TSI eHybrid 4Motion Elegance 5dr Tip Auto

Volkswagen Touareg

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

If you buy the VW Touareg outright as a cash purchase, it’ll cost you more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a> and pretty much the same as the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport</a>.&nbsp;

The Touareg is predicted to depreciate faster than the X5 but at about the same rate as other rivals. That can have an effect on monthly <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163">PCP finance</a> payments and should keep the amount you pay competitive (you can check for offers on our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>).

You get plenty of equipment regardless of which Touareg you go for. The cheapest Elegance trim, which is tied to the&nbsp;376bhp petrol PHEV engine,&nbsp;comes with 20in wheels, heated front and outer rear seats, four-zone climate control, an electrically operated tailgate and a panoramic sunroof.

The Black Edition, which comes with the diesel engine,&nbsp;is a very reasonable step up in price and gets 21in wheels&nbsp;plus black styling elements. It also gains <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/types-of-suspension-adaptive-suspension-explained/n27085">air suspension</a> as standard (something that’s an optional extra with Elegance).&nbsp;

The R&nbsp;ticks every box and gets a more powerful petrol PHEV engine but is not exactly cheap, costing almost as much as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne S</a>, and is hard to recommend. To read more about it see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touareg/4x4/review/n22838">Touareg R review</a>.

Official CO2 emissions from the diesel Touareg is higher than some rivals'. In terms of fuel economy, it’ll manage around 34.5mpg, officially – on par with equivalent versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>.

The Touareg Elegance's&nbsp;disappointing 29-mile electric-only range means that if you get one as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a>, you’ll pay more in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-guide/n9352">BIK tax</a> than you will with most rival PHEVs. On the plus side, it's officially capable of 126mpg – although you won't get near that without keeping the battery charged up all the time.

Speaking of which, the PHEV has a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">maximum charging speed</a> of just 7.2kW. It’ll charge from 0-100% in around two and a half hours from a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-home-ev-chargers/n25830">home wall box charger</a>.

The standard Touareg received a five-star <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> safety rating in 2018 – the rating has since expired. There were issues over chest injuries for adults in the front, which gave it a lower adult occupancy score than many rivals, including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>.

Still, it is a very safe SUV and comes with automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), driver attention monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and lane-keeping assistance to help you stay out of trouble in the first place.&nbsp;

The Touareg wasn’t included in the 2024 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> but VW as a brand was. It came in 18th place out of the 31 included manufacturers, above Audi and Land Rover but below Lexus, Volvo and BMW.

For some peace of mind, VW offers a three-year/60,000-mile standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/best-new-car-warranties/n26485">warranty</a>, which is pretty standard for the class.

“The PHEV's&nbsp;poor electric-only range would put me off recommending it to company car users.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, Reviewer</a>

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The most affordable VW Touareg is the Elegance&nbsp;plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>), which combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and a battery pack for a total output of 376bhp.

That power makes the entry-level Touareg pretty quick – it can sprint&nbsp;from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds – and it has enough instant oomph to mitigate any hesitation from the standard eight-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a>. It's official electric-only range is&nbsp;29 miles, which&nbsp;falls well short of most PHEVs.

We think most buyers would be better off making the small price jump to the Black Edition diesel, which comes with the 3.0-litre TDI V6 engine. With&nbsp;228bhp, it allows for 0-62mph in a still-respectable 7.7 seconds. However, more importantly, it comes with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/types-of-suspension-adaptive-suspension-explained/n27085">air suspension</a> as standard (as does the 456bhp <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touareg/4x4/review/n22838">VW Touareg R</a>).

As well as improving ride comfort, the air suspension allows you to increase the ride height for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">off-road driving</a>. The diesel Touareg is impressive off-road, tackling much trickier&nbsp;obstacles than you might expect given that it looks less rugged than some 4x4s.

Instead of air suspension, the PHEV&nbsp;gets traditional springs that make the ride a bit firmer. It doesn’t thud over road imperfections, but you’ll find your head is tossed from side to side more as you drive along. Even with air suspension added as&nbsp;an option, the Touareg Elegance doesn't ride as well as the equivalent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>&nbsp;(the xDrive50e).

The Touareg's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a> changes smoothly, but can be hesitant when you're trying to accelerate briskly away from a standstill, even in the sharper Sport mode. That's not great when you're overtaking, and the effect is nost&nbsp;obvious in the diesel.

For such a big machine, the Touareg steers neatly, with a better sense of connection between you and the front wheels than you get in a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>. Combined with the masses of traction from the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel drive</a>, the Touareg feels more nimble than the XC90, especially with the Black Edition’s optional four-wheel steering.&nbsp;

You’re still very conscious of its weight during fast changes of direction though. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a> handle even better.

“A V6 diesel engine is a bit old school by today’s standards, but I found it made driving the Touareg a refreshingly simple, smooth experience.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/will-nightingale/n1020">Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor</a>

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

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OUR PICK

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The Volkswagen Touareg offers buyers of big, posh&nbsp;SUVs a less ostentatious alternative to the premium-badged rivals.

Indeed, the Touareg shares lots of parts with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/bentayga/4x4/review/n17228">Bentley Bentayga</a>&nbsp;but costs much less, so it&nbsp;promises the best the VW Group has to offer but without the hefty Bentley price tag. You'll find the same <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-car-platform-and-chassis/n27195">car platform</a> under a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/urus/estate/review/n17868">Lamborghini Urus</a>&nbsp;too.

This third-generation Touareg&nbsp;should be the most compelling&nbsp;version to date because Volkswagen has updated the tech, adding features never before seen on a VW. For example, you can even park it using your smartphone. You can't, though, have it as a seven-seater (if that's what you're looking for, check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tayron/estate/review/n27491">VW Tayron</a>).

<h2 dir="ltr">Volkswagen Touareg video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/evDD28uHCO4?si=aNcKUTtRNCEMVwf1" width="560"></iframe>

The latest Touareg also gets upgraded suspension and a choice of two 3.0-litre V6 engines:&nbsp;a petrol <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> and a diesel. Unless, that is, you go for the "hot" R version, which you can read about in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touareg/4x4/review/n22838">VW Touareg R review</a>.

As a pricey and luxurious <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>, the VW Touareg is up against some impressive rivals. You might also, for example,&nbsp;be considering a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a>. Is it a better buy than those cars? Read on to find out...

Finding a comfortable driving position in the VW Touareg is pretty easy. The Elegance version gets manually adjustable seats, while Black Edition electrically adjustable front seats, adjustable lumbar support and a handy memory function.

You sit high up in the Touareg, with a great view out in all directions. Meanwhile, parking is made easy by standard-fit front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, and the option of Parking Assist Pro, which allows the car to park itself whether you’re sitting inside it or not (using a smartphone app).

The third-generation Touareg is the first <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">VW car model</a>&nbsp;to get the brand’s new Innovision Cockpit, which combines a 15in touchscreen with one of the best digital driver's displays we've seen. It's a good size – 12in – and is&nbsp;clear and very customisable.

Likewise, the touchscreen is really crisp and has large icons to make hitting them on the move easy. Annoyingly, though, the physical knobs and dials that are used to control the climate control have been replaced by on-screen controls – they’re pretty easy to use, but we’d still rather have physical controls.

VW <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment systems</a> have been a bit of a sore spot in recent years, with a lot of systems proving buggy and unresponsive, but the Touareg is definitely an improvement. For the most part, it responds to your prods really quickly and rarely pauses as you switch between each bit of the system.

Every Touareg comes with DAB radio, built-in HD <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a> plus <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring.

Interior quality is quite impressive, with all surfaces covered in leathers and glossy plastics, and any scratchy plastics hidden low down. However, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport</a>&nbsp;are even plusher inside.

“In terms of opulence, the Touareg feels like a clear step down next to some alternatives.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/lawrence-cheung/n23691">Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor</a>

The Touareg has loads of space&nbsp;but is limited to five seats&nbsp;and far less polished than an Audi Q7

The VW Touareg is a five-seater only&nbsp;so it can't carry as many people as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seaters</a> including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>.&nbsp;It is very spacious though. Front space is verging on palatial and even the tallest and broadest driver and passenger pairing won’t have any complaints.

In terms of places to store oddments, the Touareg has two big cupholders and storage under the front armrest, as well as a big cubby in front of the gear selector that can include wireless phone-charging.

Rear space is very impressive too. There's enough rear leg room for six-foot-plus adults and head room is equally generous, even with the standard-fit panoramic roof. There's a wide hump in the floor in front of the middle passenger, but it's not as big as in some <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-suvs/n17036">luxury SUVs</a>.

The Touareg’s rear bench can be reclined to three angles, ranging from upright (to prioritise <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">boot space</a>) to seriously chilled – useful if your rear-seat passengers fancy a snooze. You can slide the rear bench backwards and forwards, depending on how much cargo you’re carrying and how long your rear passengers’ legs are.

The vast boot can swallow up to 10 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">carry-on suitcases</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;the same number as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a> and two more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle/4x4/review/n145">Mercedes GLE</a>. The load area is a square shape with virtually no loading lip, and on models with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/types-of-suspension-adaptive-suspension-explained/n27085">air suspension</a> (most Touaregs), there’s a function that lowers the back of the car to aid access.

If you fold down the 40/20/40 split rear seats, you’ll have 1,800 litres of storage capacity. To put that in context, think of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-vans/n20723">small van</a>.

“If you want seven seats, you’ll have to look at the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tayron/estate/review/n27491">VW Tayron</a> instead.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/dan-jones/n23433">Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer</a>

elegance

black-edition

The VW Touareg has plenty of luggage space and rides well with air suspension equipped, but it lacks the flexibility of seven seats and its interior quality isn’t quite as good as rivals'. If you decide the Touareg is for you, we recommend the Black Edition and its 3.0 diesel engine – or, if you're a company car user, the Elegance PHEV.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £70,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

Luxury SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Usefully long electric-only range</li> <li>Exceedingly frugal</li> <li>Cheap company car tax rates</li> <li>Smooth switching between electric and petrol power</li></ul>

If you're not ready to commit to a fully electric vehicle&nbsp;but have the capacity to charge your car at home or at work, a plug-in hybrid could be the perfect compromise. Electric batteries paired with a petrol or diesel&nbsp;engine means you'll never be left short of charge&nbsp;but can capitalise on cheap running costs, thanks to a surprisingly long electric-only range.

There's plenty of choice, too, whether you're after a sporty saloon like the BMW 3 Series, the 330e variant of which providing up to 36 miles of electric-only driving on a full charge, or a large load-lugging large SUV, including the Volvo XC90 T8, which claims an extraordinary&nbsp;113mpg.

Throw in competent handling and driving prowess, despite the added weight of the electric batteries, and a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;makes a compelling case for frugal buyers.&nbsp;

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