Item: Used Volkswagen Touareg 2010-2018
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/used-review/n839">BMW X5</a> is a large SUV that manages to be good to drive and comes with a range of powerful yet efficient engines. The interior is classy, helped by the excellent iDrive infotainment system, and it’s spacious and practical. It's a good-value used buy.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle/estate/used-review/n989">Mercedes-Benz GLE</a> is a large and plush SUV of commanding stature. It’s not the greatest to drive, and you’ll need to specify air suspension for the best ride, but it’s comfortable and fairly refined, as well as being spacious.

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If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/touareg?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">used Touareg</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Most parts, engines and transmissions are shared with a number of other cars in the Volkswagen Group, so replacements are easy to source. A number of cars have suffered from clogged diesel particulate filters and some from oil leaks. Sensors have been known to cause problems, while starting issues have been reported in older cars.

The Touareg has an excellent record in our reliability surveys and in the most recent one in which it appeared it finished in first place&nbsp;in the luxury SUV class. Most of the examples aged up to five years old had no faults, while of those that had problems no owners were charged for repairs. Volkswagen as a brand finished in a disappointing 20th&nbsp;place out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers, though.

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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

The second-generation Volkswagen Touareg is a large and practical SUV that is better to drive than you might think

Used Volkswagen Touareg 2010-2018

On paper, the 3.0 TDI should be the most economical, with a claimed average 42.8mpg, under the older NEDC tests,&nbsp;and corresponding CO2 emissions of 174g/km. The hybrid model, which is hard to find, manages only 34.4mpg, while the V8 diesel musters only 31mpg.

Tax for cars registered before April 2017 varies depending on CO2 output, but all Touaregs are pricey. Cars registered after that date will be taxed at the new flat rate, currently £150 a year, but will carry an additional surcharge if they cost more than £40,000 new, currently £325 a year.&nbsp;

Servicing is on the pricey side. You can take out a Volkswagen Servicing plan for most used cars and, by doing so, budget for the next two services and spread the cost via direct debit payments.

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The second-generation Volkswagen Touareg is a large and practical SUV that is better to drive than you might think

You can pick up a Touareg of this generation now for under £9000, but it'll be likely to have a high mileage. You’ll need around £10,000 to get one of these Touaregs in good condition, probably a 2011 or 2012 car, although&nbsp;that will still buy you one with around or more than 100,000 miles on the clock. If you up the ante to between £10,000 and £12,000&nbsp;you’ll find a selection of 2013/14&nbsp;cars with an average mileage for the year and a full service history, while £13,000 to £15,000 will secure good 2014/15&nbsp;cars with the same criteria bought from an independent dealer. Between £16,000 and £20,000 will net you a good 2016&nbsp;car with an average mileage for the year, and maybe even a 2017 one bought from an independent dealer. Figure on nearer £20,000 for one of the end-of-the-line 2018 models.&nbsp;

The 3.0 TDI 272 is the diesel we’d go for. It’s punchy enough for a car of this bulk and yet relatively economical. We’d stick with entry-level SE trim, because it’ll help keep the costs down on the forecourt. It has most of the kit you’ll need.

Our favourite Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI 272 SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

This is a large SUV that will have been used in tight urban supermarket car parks, so it’s worth checking the extremities for any scuffs and dents, as well as the alloy wheels for any kerb damage. Ensure the seats fold and slide as they should, and that any electric tailgate, seats or sunroof works.

Launched at a time when the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family-suv">SUV</a> was merely at the beginning of its growth spurt, the original <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touareg/4x4/review/n199">Touareg</a> was an instant success, selling in large numbers.

This is the second-generation version, launched in 2010 and not replaced until 2018, and while it retained all the attractive features that made the first one such a big hit, it was also lighter, roomier and more economical.

This generation of Touareg shares its underpinnings with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/4x4/used-review/n907">Porsche Cayenne</a>, the doyen of the sporty and rather well-off family man. The Touareg may offer similar internal space and practicality, but it’s cheaper than its distant cousin and not quite so divisive in the looks department.

Under the bonnet, there’s the choice of a 3.0-litre TDI V6 diesel (the best-selling model in the range), a 4.2-litre V8 diesel or a 3.0-litre V6 hybrid, with a petrol unit mated to an electric motor.

Equipment levels are reasonably generous, with three trims to choose from: SE, R-line and R-line Plus. Entry-level models get 19in alloy wheels, permanent four-wheel drive, xenon headlights, lots of chrome exterior details, a rear diffuser, electric windows, electrically folding and heated door mirrors, cruise control, parking sensors and automatic wipers as standard. Inside, there is dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, manually adjustable front seats and Volkswagen's 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system complete with sat-nav, a DAB radio and Bluetooth.

Upgrade to R-line and you'll find 20in wheels, a sporty bodykit, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and start, sports suspension and a heated steering wheel, while range-topping R-line Plus includes 21in wheels, a 360deg camera and electrically adjustable front seats.

On the road, all Touaregs get along very well indeed, despite the car’s weight. The popular 3.0 TDI has plenty of low-down torque and its acceleration times are surprisingly good for such a large SUV; it’s able to polish off the 0-62mph sprint in just 7.3sec – a time that would shame some sports cars.

The same continues in the corners; the Touareg feels much lighter than it actually is and, for a car of this type, takes bends with considerable aplomb, feeling both nimble and agile. Its steering is good, too, being light enough not to cause undue effort but accurate enough for you to be able to place the car precisely.

The interior is a fairly simple design, but a solidly luxurious one. The dashboard and its surroundings are clean and functional, and the driving position is multi-adjustable and an easy one in which to find the right set-up. Up front, there’s more than enough space, while the rear bench slides backwards and forward to prioritise leg room or boot space, and there's room for three abreast. The boot is capacious, with an impressive 1642 litres of space with the rear seats down.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/touareg?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">used Touareg</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Volkswagen Touareg 2010-2018 review

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