Luxury SUV gets interior tech tweaks, revised suspension and a fresh plug-in hybrid option On sale Now Price from £67,780
Dan Jones dan.jones@haymarket.com
USB FLASH drives and phones with built-in cameras are just a few of the products launched in the year 2000 that went on to sell in big numbers. Volkswagen’s Touareg SUV made its debut in that year, too, and its first three generations have racked up more than 1.2 million sales globally since then.
Now the brand hopes this updated version will continue that success. VW’s flagship SUV, which still shares its underpinnings with the luxurious Bentley Bentayga, gains fresh tech, revised suspension and some styling tweaks – namely updated front and rear lights and a backlit VW badge on the rear.
Engine-wise, the entry-level 228bhp 3.0 diesel makes the most sense for private buyers. It’ll effortlessly sprint from 0-62mph in 7.7sec and happily tows up to 3500kg; it even has a trailer assist system that makes reversing with a trailer child’s play. There’s also a 282bhp version or a smoother 335bhp 3.0-litre petrol engine for those after more power – not that that’s really necessary.
More in tune with the times, though, is the new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, which can officially cover up to 31 miles on electric power alone. Badged eHybrid, it combines a 3.0-litre petrol V6 with an electric motor for a total of 376bhp, and it’s mighty fast, sprinting from 0-62mph in 5.9sec. It’s the Touareg to go for if you’re a company car driver, but the BMW X5 eDrive50e’s longer official electric range means that rival attracts even lower monthly tax bills.
Non-PHEV versions of the Touareg come with an air suspension set-up that does a fine job of soaking up lumps and bumps, if not quite as well as the X5. The eHybrid, meanwhile, isn’t quite as plush; it goes without air suspension as standard and its ride is firmer as a result. It doesn’t thud over potholes, but you’re jostled around in your seat more. You can, though, add the air suspension as a £1705 option.
For such a big machine, the Touareg handles neatly, with a better sense of connection between the steering wheel and the road than the Volvo XC90 can offer. However, while there’s masses of traction and body lean is kept nicely under control, the Touareg feels less nimble than the X5.
Inside, you’re treated to a high driving position and all-round visibility that ranks among the best in the class. Standard front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view
