Review: Volkswagen Touareg
Volkswagen Touareg Review
Volkswagen’s Touareg was one of a new breed of upmarket, more road-focused SUVs. Sitting atop the same platform as the then-new Porsche Cayenne, the Touareg took a place right at the top of Volkswagen’s high-riding models and, as a result, had a good deal of the brand’s latest features of the time.
Move forward to the present day and while the Touareg may still take the top spot in Volkswagen’s SUV range, it is up against a far more varied network of competitors from all walks of life. So has the Touareg still got what it takes and can a recent update make the deal even sweeter? We’ve been finding out.
What’s new?
Volkswagen hasn’t completely changed things up with the Touareg, instead taking a ‘tweaking’ approach to this facelifted model. It’s why the exterior does, largely, look the same as before, though a key new feature is the now illuminated Volkswagen badge at the rear - something you’ll soon start seeing on a lot of the brand’s cars.
At the front, Volkswagen has integrated its new IQ.Light HD LED matrix headlights which contain an impressive 38,432 individual LEDs to deliver top-notch illumination that splits intelligently, allowing you to keep full beams on without dazzling oncoming road users.
What’s under the bonnet?
There’s a good range of engines to choose from with the Touareg, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. There’s a traditional 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, or you can get that same engine with an electric motor and battery attached in the plug-in hybrid version. There’s also a pair of diesel engines, one of which we’re testing here.
The 3.0-litre turbocharged unit kicks out 282bhp and 600Nm of torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. You should get around 34mpg combined while the Touareg’s 6.2-second 0-60mph is more than sprightly enough for a car of this size.
What’s the Volkswagen Touareg like to drive?
With a traditional diesel engine under the bonnet, it’s not surprising that the Touareg feels a bit old-school. However, sometimes that’s not a bad thing and with its high driving position giving a commanding view of the road ahead, the Touareg is a good reminder of how not messing with the formula can be a good thing sometimes.
Diesel might not be a popular choice these days but it’s a fine option for the Touareg and suits the car’s easy-going nature. Combine it with the car’s comfortable ride - the Touareg gets air suspension as standard - and you get a car which really does feel at home chewing through the miles. For long-distance trips, you’d be very happy in the driver’s seat of the Touareg.
How does it look?
As we’ve touched upon, Volkswagen has taken a more evolutionary approach to the Touareg’s design for this new version. There are new alloy wheel designs, however, in sizes ranging from 20- to 22-inches but there are still the same blocky proportions as you’d find on the older model.
There are, however, new light bars at front and rear which give the whole car a slightly more futuristic appearance and when combined with that light-up rear badge do make the Touareg stand out a little stronger than it did previously.
What’s the Volkswagen Touareg like inside?
The Touareg has always incorporated an interior which is both luxurious and hard-wearing and it’s the same story in this new version. There’s plenty of space throughout - the Touareg is a strict five-seater - so those in the back can stretch out and get comfy easily. The material quality is good, too, and everything has a nicely robust quality to it.
There’s a huge boot to use up too. At 810 litres it’s a vast amount of space and you don’t have to deal with an awfully high load lip, either. Fold the seats down and you can extend this to 1,800 litres. Just bear in mind, however, that plug-in hybrids do suffer a spaciousness penalty with boot space falling to 655 litres due to the fitment of the battery.
What’s the spec like?
All versions of the Touareg get more equipment than you can shake a stick at, with 20-inch wheels, four-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof included from the off. Black Edition cars are particularly stand-out due to their - you guessed it - black accents across the exterior, accompanied by 21-inch wheels.
You can step up to the range-topping R version for a sportier take on the Touareg recipe but, in truth, you’re getting more than enough equipment in the ‘regular’ versions so there’s little reason to opt for it unless you really need to.
Verdict
Though Volkswagen hasn’t rocked the boat with the new Touareg, there’s something quite comforting in how old-school it feels. The ride is good, there’s loads of space inside and this diesel-powered version has a true ability to thunder through the miles without breaking a sweat.
The option of a plug-in hybrid means there’s something for people who want lower around-town running costs but, whichever version you go for, the Touareg will deliver a well-rounder experience that’ll make day-to-day driving as easy as can be.
