Volkswagen Touareg Review 2022

June 2018

Volkswagen Touareg goes on sale in the UK

Debuting with V6 turbocharged engines the Touareg comes with an eight-speed automatic Tiptronic gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

In the UK, the car will initially be offered with a 286PS 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel unit or, from the autumn, a 231PS version of the same engine. A 340PS 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged petrol engine joins in 2019.

In addition there is a plug-in hybrid drive with a system power of 367PS.

With a torque peak of up to 600 Nm, the 286 PS 3.0 V6 TDI also showcases the new Touareg’s extensive towing capacity. Capable of hauling braked trailer weights of up to 3.5 tonnes, the new car also boasts the latest iteration of Volkswagen’s handy Trailer Assist technology to facilitate simple slow-speed manoeuvring.

The 3.0 V6 TDI with 286 PS (2,967 cc) generates its punchy torque peak of 600 Nm from only 2250 rpm, and offers 42.8 mpg on the combined cycle. 0-62 mph takes 6.1 seconds.

The new third generation Touareg is equipped with permanent all-wheel drive (4MOTION) mated to an eight-gear automatic Tiptronic gearbox with ‘shift by wire’ functionality.

A centre differential lock with asymmetric dynamic torque distribution acts as a transfer box for the flow of forces between the front and rear axle. A maximum of 70 per cent of the drive force reaches the front axle and up to 80 per cent can be sent to the rear axle.

Offered here in three comprehensively specified trims: SEL, R-Line and new R-Line Tech, the five-seat Touareg sits on the Volkswagen Group’s modular longitudinal matrix (MLB).

Wider and longer than before, the luxurious new SUV’s dimensions are 4,878 mm long (+77 mm); 2,193 mm wide (including wing mirrors, +44 mm) and 1,702 mm high (-7 mm). Together these create significantly more dynamic proportions and, allied to all-new styling, endow the Touareg with an imposing yet lithe style.

The five-door, five-seat Touareg offers a 1,051 mm load length and maximum load capacity of 810 litres (seats up) or 1,800 litres (seats down). Kerb weight is 2,070 kg for the launch car.

One of the many technical innovations in the new Touareg is the option of the Innovision Cockpit. The 12-inch digital instrument cluster – Active Info Display – merges with the 15-inch TFT touchscreen of the new Discover Premium infotainment system to form a new digital operating, information, communication and entertainment unit.

The car’s flexibility is demonstrated by the flexible rear seat system. The position of the rear seats can be shifted by 160 mm fore/aft to create more space in the rear if required. Meanwhile the angle adjustment of the rear seat backrests is also variable in three stages, and by up to 21 degrees.

August 2018

Lower power 3.0 TDI added to range

The 3.0-litre TDI unit has an output of 231PS and comes in Touareg SEL, Touareg R-Line and Touareg R-Line Tech trims.

The 231PS engine delivers maximum power from 3250rpm to 4750rpm. Peak torque is 500Nm from 1750rpm and the new engine maintains the same CO2 figure (173g/km) and the same towing capacity (3500kg) as the 286PS unit.

All Touaregs are equipped with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox and all feature 4MOTION four-wheel drive and a limited slip differential.

March 2019

340PS petrol V6 added to Touareg range

Range-topping 3.0-litre V6 produces 340PS and 450Nm, taking Touareg to 62mph in 5.9 seconds. Prices start £49,095 with deliveries expected from April.

September 2019

Volkswagen Touareg 3.0-litre V6 TDI 286 PS R-Line Tech with folding towbar won Caravan and Motorhome Club’s annual Towcar of the Year Award in the ‘Caravan Weight over 1,700 kg’ category: the heaviest category in contention. The judging panel praised the Touareg’s smooth and powerful diesel engine, labelling it “nothing short of outstanding”, while further applauding the SUV’s stability when towing.

October 2019

Updates for 2020 Volkswagen Touareg

The Touareg gains Volkswagen’s new Park Assist Professional system, which combines Area View with Park Assist for the easiest assisted parking experience anywhere in the Volkswagen range. A new optional Air suspension with automatic self-levelling suspension, height adjustment and electronic shock absorption control will also be offered on all trim levels of the Touareg.

December 2019

New trim levels for Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen has expanded the line-up for its Touareg SUV, adding entry-level, mid-range and high-end specifications with a focus on technology to double the number of available variants on offer.

The Touareg is now additionally available in SEL Tech and Black Edition trims – both new to the third-generation model – with a focus on technology, and the Black Edition also focusing on design. An entry-level SE trim is also now open for order, taking the starting price for the luxury SUV down to £45,445.

Entry-level SE trim sits beneath SEL trim in the Touareg range. The new start point for Touareg ownership gets 19-inch Osorno alloys, a Discover Pro 9.2-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Gesture Control and integrated voice control, front and rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise control amongst its standard equipment. For the SE, most of the SEL’s standard-fit equipment has been kept, with luxury fittings like leather upholstery being reserved for the higher-end models to enhance the value of the entry-level car. The 231PS and 286PS 3.0-litre V6 TDI engines are available on this trim.

Mid-range SEL Tech trim builds upon the popular SEL, boosting the technology on offer by adding Volkswagen’s acclaimed Innovision Cockpit system, with 15” integrated control panel and 12.3-inch digital cockpit, an electric tailgate with electric opening and power latching. Identifiable by 19-inch Tirano alloy wheels, the SEL Tech also benefits from heat insulating, 80% tinted glass from the B-pillar backwards. This trim starts at £50,995 and is available with both diesel engines, as well as the powerful 340PS, 3.0-litre V6 TFSI unit. The R-Line, R-Line Tech and Black Edition also share this engine range.

Topping out the Touareg range is the Black Edition, priced at £58,745 in 231PS 3.0-litre V6 TDI guise. This car builds upon the R-Line Tech trim, adding a black finish to the 21-inch Suzuka alloy wheels, as well as an assortment of black trim pieces to the car’s exterior, including the radiator grille, roof rails, mirror housings, side window trims, and air intake fins.

The Black Edition features a panoramic sunroof and IQ Light matrix beam headlights as standard. As individual options, these would cost £1,260 and £1,420 respectively. The Touareg’s air suspension with automatic self-levelling function is also standard on the Black Edition, while an Easy Open function for the tailgate, and Park Assist package with Area View, further add to its technology arsenal for the Black Edition.

February 2020

Volkswagen Touareg R priced from £71,995

Capable of both impressive performance as well as ultra-low emissions, the Touareg R features a petrol plug-in hybrid system producing 462PS and 700Nm of torque. The model, which starts at £71,995 RRP OTR, is available to order now for UK customers.

The high-performance SUV is the most powerful production Volkswagen to date. Its 0 to 62 mph sprint time of 5.1 seconds accelerates the Touareg R into the territory of the brand’s other R models, and is within half a second of the Golf R’s 4.7-second figure. Like the aforementioned Volkswagen performance champion, the Touareg R’s top speed is limited to 155mph. A maximum of 70% of the car’s torque can be transferred to the front wheels, and up to 80% to the rear axle, via a centre differential lock with asymmetric torque distribution (Torsen) acting as a transfer box.

At the heart of the Touareg R is a sophisticated 3.0-litre V6 TSI eHybrid plug-in powertrain. Not only is it powerful, but it is also smooth and refined and, moreover, is frugal enough to make the R the most running-cost-friendly model in the Touareg range, with fuel economy and CO 2 emissions of 94.2 mpg and 67 g/km (WLTP combined cycle) respectively. A 28-mile electric-only range accessible in the Touareg R’s E-MODE adds to the model’s low-CO 2 credentials, with the 14.3 kWh (net) battery reducing running costs for this versatile performance SUV.

The new R bolsters the standard Touareg's equipment list, and adds a number of extra luxuries as standard, with black ‘Puglia’ leather-upholstered, diamond-quilted ergoComfort seats finished with contrasting blue stitching and piping, and active climate (heating and ventilation) function for front occupants. The R also benefits from a unique heated leather sports steering wheel with R logo and DSG shift paddles, 30-colour interior ambient lighting, and a keyless locking and starting system. The interior is further stylised with illuminated, R-branded scuff plates, diamond-quilted leather panels in the door cards, and blue highlights on the carpet mats.

The standard equipment list builds upon that of the Touareg Black Edition, which means the Touareg R also features an air suspension system with automatic self-levelling function, height adjustment and electronic shock absorption control. A Park Assist package with 360-degree Area View camera adds to the convenience offered, while the intelligent IQ. Light LED matrix headlights – first introduced on the Touareg in 2018 but now offered on multiple models including the Golf – use information from the car’s front camera, navigation data and GPS information, steering angle and speed of travel to optimise lighting for numerous driving situations. The system also incorporates LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights with dynamic turn signal, and Dynamic Light Assist high-beam control. Like the Black Edition, the Touareg R also counts a panoramic sunroof among its vast list of standard-fit equipment.

This luxurious specification also features items from across the generously-equipped Touareg range, with dynamic road sign display, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist as standard . Meanwhile, tinted glass, six interior USB ports (four front, two rear) and 4-zone electronic air conditioning are all included on R-Line models and above. The Touareg’s acclaimed Innovision Cockpit, which incorporates a 15-inch central infotainment screen and 12.3-inch Digital Cockpit display, is factory-fit from R-Line Tech models upwards.

In addition to all the aforementioned kit, the Touareg R, as part of the R stable of models, boasts exclusive styling with specifically designed front and rear bumpers, a gloss black rear diffuser, and 22-inch ‘Estoril’ diamond-turned wheels shod in 285/35 R22 tyres. R badging within the front grille, on the wings, and in the centre of the tailgate further designate the Touareg R as the performance-oriented flagship in the luxury SUV range, while darkened tail lights and a black grille, mirror caps and window trim add further visual impact. A mode 3, 32 A / 7.2 kW charging cable is also included to top up the battery from public charge points. Charging an empty battery in this way will take two and a half hours, while using a household three-pin socket will take eight and a half hours.

Options for those who wish to further bolster the equipment list of the Touareg R include the Driver Assistance Pack Plus, which in addition to Emergency Assist, Front Cross Traffic Assist, Predictive Pedestrian Protection, Side Scan and proactive occupant protection systems, brings Travel Assist – a camera and sensor-controlled system with the capacity to steer, brake and accelerate, providing Level 2 driving automation at speeds of up to 155 mph (where permitted). A Head-up Display can bring further innovation and convenience to the Touareg R’s technology-loaded interior, and a Night Vision system can also help drivers to see hazards in the dark that they might not have spotted with the naked eye. Those wishing to take advantage of the Tourareg R’s 3.5 tonne towing capacity can opt for a power-folding tow bar installed with the Trailer Assist system.