Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Touareg TDI

SUV has been refined in all areas – so we deliver our verdict

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£4,923 off RRP*
Find your Volkswagen Touareg
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

There wasn’t much wrong with the old Touareg – but this fresh version is still a huge leap forward. The restyle is a great success, creating a sleek and attractive vehicle with a luxurious interior. Thanks to a drastic weight-loss programme and new engines, the car offers improved fuel economy, emissions and performance. VW has paid realattention to the details, too: the cockpit feels intuitively laid out, there’s much more space inside and added features such as the Area View cameras are very welcome. All in all, the new Touareg is a capable and desirable premium SUV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Leaner, meaner and greener... it’s the all-new Touareg! But Volkswagen’s popular SUV is still recognisable, despite a number of styling updates.

At the front it features the same family face as the Golf and Polo, with the addition of a U-shaped line of LEDs around the headlights. The model is bigger than before – 41mm longer and 12mm wider, with a wheelbase extended by 38mm – yet it seems smaller, more muscular and more focused.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the VW Touareg

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"69261","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

Sharper lines and concave side panels help create a more agile look, as do the lower roof and the fact the body sits 12mm closer to the ground. VW has put the Touareg on a serious diet, too: thanks to the use of aluminium and a lighter powertrain, the SUV has shed more than 200kg.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Touareg

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

45,972 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £30,995
View Touareg
Touareg

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

66,513 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £28,800
View Touareg
Touareg

2023 Volkswagen

Touareg

51,179 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £25,995
View Touareg
Touareg

2015 Volkswagen

Touareg

92,674 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £10,995
View Touareg

The leather and wood interior is luxurious and comfortable, while the chrome and aluminium flourishes finish things off nicely. Redesigned seats make long-distance driving a breeze, and that extended wheelbase gives a real sense of space in the back – something the old model lacked.

Eye-catching

The version we drove had an eye-catching seven-inch colour centre screen. However, this doesn’t come as standard on all variants – most get a smaller five-inch monochrome unit.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The menu system is intuitive and the attractive black console sits neatly in a hi-tech, logically laid-out cockpit. Kit also includes all-direction Area View cameras, which offer a 360-degree scan of the Touareg’s surroundings on the centre console, while the bird’s-eye view set-up is a bonus.

VW is keen to stress that it has added stop-start on all engines, as well as regenerative braking and a newly developed eight-speed automatic box. As a result, fuel consumption is improved by around 20 per cent. The base 236bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel – the most economical variant – offers 38.1mpg. Other engine options comprise a 335bhp 4.2 V8 and a 375bhp 3.0 petrol hybrid (driven opposite), which promise 31mpg and 34.4mpg respectively.

We tried the V6 turbodiesel, and were impressed with its punchy and smooth performance. It covers 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and reaches 135mph. The auto shifts faster than in the old model, and the lighter kerbweight and excellent handling mean the Touareg feels like a much smaller and more nimble vehicle. It is comfortable and refined, too.

Rival: Mercedes ML300 CDI
Now that the new Touareg has headed upmarket, the M-Class is in its sights. The Merc certainly has class and quality, as well as amazing comfort and refinement. Latest BlueEFFICIENCY models such as the base 201bhp 3.0-litre diesel can return 33mpg and do 0-60mph in around eight seconds. At £40,165, the ML 300 CDI is more costly than the VW, though.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen Touareg

RRP £60,430Avg. savings £4,923 off RRP*Used from £20,361
Audi Q7

Audi Q7

RRP £65,820Avg. savings £9,953 off RRP*Used from £31,920
Volvo Xc90

Volvo Xc90

RRP £53,770Used from £18,495
BMW X5

BMW X5

RRP £66,455Avg. savings £8,966 off RRP*Used from £27,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet

The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range
Road tests
11 Jun 2025
Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results
Driver Power 2025 - header

Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results

The best new cars to own in the UK right now according to the people who already do. It’s the 2025 Driver Power results!
News
10 Jun 2025
New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai
Renault Symbioz hybrid - front angled

New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai

The Renault Captur has also been fitted the new full-hybrid powertrain, which gets a bigger battery for more pure-electric driving
News
12 Jun 2025