Volkswagen Touareg Review (2018-present)

What is the Volkswagen Touareg?

The Touareg has long sat at the top of the Volkswagen range. The big SUV was first launched in 2002, and has always shared parts with its more illustrious stablemates in the Volkswagen Group portfolio; underneath the skin of every VW Touareg since has lurked the same mechanical bits as the Audi Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. All that meant that while Volkswagen sits towards the volume end of the market, the Touareg SUV could offer something with genuine luxury pedigree.

The current, third generation Touareg was launched in 2018 and received a mild midlife facelift in late-2023. It’s still not exactly a Lamborghini Urus when it comes to outrageous looks (another car that shares its mechanical bits, by the way), but behind the big chrome grille is the largest and most luxurious Touareg yet. It is available in a number of trims and with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The range kicks off with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel, and goes all the way up to the flagship plug-in hybrid Touareg R, which combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery to give an EV driving range of around 30 miles.

How practical is it?

Inside the Touareg, you’ll find an interior that feels pretty classy for a Volkswagen, but not quite as special as the more premium brands when it comes to material quality. There is plenty of space though, with loads of room for tall adults in the back, even in cars with a panoramic sunroof. The rear seats recline and slide forward for extra comfort or to prioritise boot space over legroom (or vice versa).

One thing the Touareg doesn’t have, despite its size and practicality, is seven seats. If you need extra passenger space we’d steer you towards Volvo’s XC90 or the big BMW X7.

Boot space, by the way, is massive and easily a match for any rivals. Non-hybird models offer a caverous 810 litres of boot space, which drops to 655 litres in plug-in hybrid versions. You can fold the rear seats down individually for extra space if needed.

What's it like to drive?

Engine-wise, the Touareg launched with one choice – a 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesel with 282bhp, attached to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. A 228bhp version of the TDI engine was added later in 2018, and in 2019 a 3.0-litre V6 TSI petrol model with 335bhp was added. A plug-in hybrid Touareg R also joined the line-up with a V6 petrol engine and a battery large enough to give an EV range of around 30 miles.

These engines were carried over for the 2023 facelift, with VW also making a less powerful version of the R's PHEV powertrain available on Elegance trim. All engines are strong and powerful, as they need to be to pull what is a big and heavy car. They’re designed for comfort rather than eye-widening acceleration, so while they’ll get the Touareg up to speed in good time, they do so in an effortless, quiet fashion rather than a blast of exhilaration.

As for which one to chose, the entry-level diesel engine really does everything you need it to, as well as having more torque and a smoother power delivery than the plug-in hybrid, which can sometimes feel hesitant.

The Touareg's relaxed character is mirrored in the handling; it’s impressively nimble through the bends, especially considering its size and weight, but you won’t be seeking out country roads for enjoyment. The ride quality on normal suspension is a little bit firmer than you might hope for, but the air suspension option fixes that nicely. We think it’s well worth having.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

At launch in 2018 the Touareg was available in three generously-specced trim levels. SEL features 19-inch alloy wheels and full LED headlights, as well as leather seats, a 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satnav and a DAB radio, and adaptive cruise control. R-Line has 20-inch wheels, as well as a sporty bodykit and stiffer sports suspension. R-Line Tech upgrades the infotainment system to a huge 15-inch touchscreen and the satnav has a more sophisticated routing function, which takes live traffic conditions into account. The R-Line Tech also gets upgraded, electrically-operated seats.

In 2019 Volkswagen added several new trim levels. The SE became the entry-level model, below SEL, but still boasts 19-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise control. SEL Tech adds heated leather seats, full LED headlights and a 15.0-inch touchscreen that merges into the driver instrument display. Meanwhile the Black Edition sits at the top of the range, and comes with air suspension, 21-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and, as the name suggests, black styling elements on the outside.

As of the 2023 facelift, there are two main price points for the Touareg. The first is just under £70,000, for which you can choose a plug-in hybrid model in Elegance trim with 20-inch wheels, IQ Light Matrix LED headlights and a panoramic sunroof, or a petrol or diesel model in Black Edition trim with 21-inch wheels, air suspension and more aggressive styling. Above that, costing just over £80,000, is the flagship Touareg R PHEV, which includes 22-inch wheels, a more power PHEV powertrain with 456bhp, and upgraded seats among other things.

Volkswagen Touareg running costs

While you could in theory make a plug-in hybrid Touareg into a very frugal car, it'd mean plugging it in every 20 or so miles, which isn't terribly practical. That EV range is also dwarfed by what rivals such as the BMW X5 offer. Once the battery is depleted you can expect fuel economy of around 25mpg.

The standard diesel and petrol engines aren't particularly frugal either, due to their power and the size of car that they have to haul. The most efficient engine is the lower-powered diesel, with an official fuel consumption figure of 34.4mpg according to the latest WLTP testing rules. Impressively, the more powerful 282bhp diesel matches this figure. The petrol-powered TSI engine manages 25.7mpg.

A Touareg will depreciate in value more than its more premium rivals, which isn’t great news for new buyers, but does mean you get more for your money on the used market. In fact, it's as a used buy that the Touareg arguably makes most sense. Just remember that insurance premiums will be fairly substantial, albeit in line with rivals like the Audi Q7.

The Touareg has variable service intervals, and the car’s dash will flash up a message when it’s time to have your car looked at. Generally, you’re looking at every year or 20,000 miles. VW will sell you a service plan to cover the next two services, and prices differ depending on how old your car is.

Volkswagen Touareg reliability

Volkswagen has a fair-to-middling reputation for reliability as a brand. It came 22nd out of the 32 brands featured in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. Should anything go wrong, it comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty from new, which is a little lacklustre even compared with rivals such as the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne, which boast unlimited mileage warranties.

We haven’t heard about any patterns of common faults on the Touareg, which isn't terribly surprising given it sells in small numbers relative to VW's other models. If you're buying a used model be aware that there were some recalls issued to correct problems early in the car's life. These include substandard seatbelt buckle holders, gearbox oil leaks, incorrectly tightened bolts on the steering and defective shock absorber components. Affected cars should have been fixed by now, but it’s worth checking with a Volkswagen dealer to make sure the car you’re looking at is up to snuff.