The VW Touareg is a luxury SUV representing a less fussy alternative to its premium-badged rivals. The latest version includes features never before seen on a VW—not least the ability to park the car using your phone.
Equipment, options and extras
The entry-level engine is in fact the one we recommend: the 3.0 TDI V6. With 228bhp, it gives all the oomph you’ll need, making 0–62mph in 7.7s, and able to tow up to 3,500kg. But if you need more power, the 282bhp 3.0 TDI 286 diesel isn’t much slower than the fastest Touareg model.
If you’re looking for a petrol engine, you have two choices: the 335bhp 3.0 TSI 340 V6, or the eHybrid, a plugin hybrid. The former has the smoothest engine in the Touareg range, and it’s surprisingly fast, making 0–62mph in just 6.1s. Among its petrol competitors, only the BMW X5 40i is significantly stronger. The eHybrid combines a V6 petrol engine and an electric motor, creating an output of 376bhp, rendering it as fast as you’d expect: 0–62mph in 5.9s. And thanks to its battery, the eHybrid can travel up to 31 miles on electricity alone.
Non–plugin hybrid Touaregs come with air suspension, which is brilliant for comfort, and they’re remarkably good offroad, too, taking on harder obstacles than you’d expect from a car with comfortable seats and a heated steering wheel. That being said, you’re still conscious of the Touraeg’s weight during rapid changes of direction, which its rivals the BMW X5, Porsche Macan and Porsche Cayenne handle better.
Costs, insurance groups, mpg and CO2
As a cash purchase, the Touareg costs more than its rival the Volvo XC90, and pretty much the same as an equivalent Audi Q7 and BMW X5. It’s predicted to depreciate faster than the X5, but at roughly the same rate as its other competitors.
Non–plugin hybrid Touaregs have higher CO2 emissions than some of the model’s rivals, but most of them are in the same BIK tax bracket anyway. (The eHybrid is in the 15% bracket.)
When it comes to fuel economy, both diesel versions manage 35mpg, while the petrol promises a less impressive 26mpg. These figures mirror those for the equivalent versions of the Audi Q7.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the eHybrid manages up to 126mpg, but you won’t get anywhere near that unless you keep the battery charged at all times. Its maximum charging speed is 7.2kW, meaning it charges from empty to 100% in 2.5h from a home wall box charger.
Safety and security
Euro NCAP awarded the Touareg a full five stars for safety back in 2018. It’s an extremely safe SUV, and comes with traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and driver attention monitoring.
Reliability
VW offers a 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty for the Touareg, which is standard for the class.
The Car Planet verdict
The VW Touareg is a classy, comfortable and capacious luxury SUV, although its interiors don’t quite match up to those of its competitors. Our standout recommendation is the entry-level 3.0 diesel engine.
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