I had taken the 2019 Volkswagen Touareg high class SUV on a try over six days. It had been a 500-mile road visit to Scotland’s North Coast, producing a total distance of just one 1,700 miles. Listed below are my thoughts on the most recent interpretation of the Volkswagen Touareg.
What’s the 2019 Volkswagen Touareg SEL about?
It wasn’t particularly way back when that for just about any of your high end SUV needs, you’d decide on a Array Rover. However, today the marketplace has broadened to add an eclectic selection of selections from various marques.
One notable example getting the Volkswagen Touareg. When it initial launched, it was regarded as a rich person’s car, similar to the Phaeton. But its Volkswagen badge and unassuming appear designed that the Touareg carved its niche in the SUV market when you are the subtle high end of choice.
We now have the latest Touareg that’s serving as Volkswagen’s flagship model in the SUV market. Intriguingly, it’s posting its platform with some many pricier contemporaries.
Volkswagen’s switch to the most recent styling language is normally both modern day and slick, and it displays in the Touareg. Using its sharp and well-identified lines, it culminates in minimalistic design that’s somewhat rakish. It will be fits in well although it rolls through any landscape.
From some angles, I could visit a resemblance to other VAG products, including the Q7 in the Touareg. It ties in with Volkswagen’s global design, and looks very good.
From a length away, our Volkswagen Touareg may seem brown, but get closer and yet another depth to the paint can be unveiled – a burgundy red hue. Dubbed ‘Malbec Red Ultra Metallic’, this is a wine-motivated shade of deep, violet-red obtainable as a choice on the SEL for £850.
The automobile sits on large 19″ ‘Orsorno’ 7-twin spoke alloy tires, which add a little bit of flair to the otherwise understated aesthetics of the Touareg. In addition they come as normal on the bottom SEL trim.
If you need some massive tires, you will find a 21″ option designed for £1,850, nevertheless, you have to choose the air suspension aswell, which will come in at another £2,370. But that could be an excellent idea anyway since you’d need air suspension to properly tame those larger alloys.
How will it drive?
There are many engines obtainable, namely a petrol 3.0-litre TFSI turbo-charged V6 and a diesel 3.0-litre TDI turbo-charged V6, which powers our special Touareg. It will come in two configurations, one with 230 horsepower and the other getting 280 horsepower. Ours getting the former, and the former set-up emits 500 Nm of torque, as the latter creates 600 Nm of torque.
Irrespective of your engine alternative, you’ll get an 8-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission that delivers capacity to all wheels. With this combo, this Touareg will sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds, onto a high rate of 135 mph.
Both diesel configurations will have the ability to muster 34.9 mpg merged, while emitting 173 g/km of CO2. The petrol engine will, of study course, fare worse when it comes to efficiency figures.
Just traveling around in the Volkswagen Touareg, this drivetrain mixture feels like the virtually all pragmatic of these all. By no means does it experience reluctant or sluggish, since it provides ample torque to propel this large SUV along at a good pace.
It really is responsive aswell, available once you draw the throttle. There is enough of power offered by the midrange so that you can surge past other motorists when overtaking.
The 8-velocity Tiptronic manages the engine very well. It shifts smoothly and promptly and maintains the car in the proper gear. On the other hand, you may want to stay out of Sport mode in the event that you don’t desire to be on constant alert, since it keeps dropping the apparatus down, making the engine quite uncouth.
Intriguingly, the platform it resides on may be the innovative VAG modular longitudinal matrix, MLBevo, which can be shared across multiple Audi models, the Lamborghini Urus, the Bentley Bentayga and the Porsche Cayenne. This must translate to a significant in a position SUV around the bends, and it displays.
With smooth, mild and predictable brakes, you may be at ease your cornering way. The Volkswagen Touareg grips the bends assertively, though it exhibits average body roll, it really is quite invigorating.

While it’s nearly jaunty along the B-roads, you can coax it around sweeping bends lacking any issue. It maintains tenacious traction because of its permanent 4MOTION 4-wheel drive system, consequently it’s under no circumstances starved of grip.
Although the 2019 Volkswagen Touareg includes a alternatively low seating position and manages corners very well, it’s nearly a sporty car. It maneuvers very well around bends nonetheless it is reluctant in terms of cornering in swift succession.
This model can be comfortable with remarkable noise, vibration and harshness. I under no circumstances felt fatigued over the lengthy quest, because of the Touareg’s capability to iron out virtually all bumps, take care of undulations and drown out highway noise. Although the medial side mirrors emanate audible wind noise at swiftness, it is a minimal issue.
From what I’ve experienced on other tests, the weather suspension can help the Volkswagen Touareg absorb bumps a lot more. Other features are the active roll bars that limit body system roll and the Trailer Support package will charm to caravanners.
What is it truly like inside?
Step in the different Touareg, and you may find an extraordinary cabin that might just simply compare to its high end rivals.
Overall, it’s an excellent looking interior. This specific Touareg includes normal ‘Vienna Black’ leather upholstery, paired with optional £1,160 ergoComfort leather seats that happen to be optimised for very long distance ease. It’s heated, and permits 14-way electrical adjustment with safety brain restraints.
Of training, it’s not all basic black. Volkswagen features adorned the dashboard with some tasteful brushed aluminium effect inlays with a matt black centre gaming console. It’s quite inoffensive, and there is some satisfying attention to detail, including the faux leather stitching on the dashboard.
Exactly what will attract the virtually all attention in the Touareg’s cabin is usually its massive infotainment touchscreen, at least in the event that you choose the Tech trim using its gigantic 15″ display. Nevertheless, we have to put up with a 9″ display instead, but it is fairly an intuitive and neat program. Below that you’ll discover physical climate control controls, that your Tech trim forsake.
Without the Tech trim, you’ll also need to put up with physical dials and meters in the instrument panel. There exists a driver information display in the centre, though.
Additionally, there are some rather awesome novelties on board, like a frameless rearview mirror, the two-way sunlight visors, touch-sensitive reading lamps, 12V and a USB port. The centre cubby hole is usually small, but possesses another USB port, and the cupholders are very generous.
Seating room is certainly plentiful at the front end, with very good leg and headroom. The same could be said about the trunk, bar the centre seat that includes a raised hump. The trunk door bins are large, and there happen to be B-pillar ventilations. The trunk seats fold 40/20/40, where in fact the centre armrest folds right down to reveal cupholders.
Start the boot and you’ll reveal 810-litres of space for storage with the seats up, folding the rearmost bench down increase it to at least one 1,800-litres. The strain lip is nominal.
The knowledge
If the brand new Touareg is a home window into the Volkswagen into the future, after that the brand could just be on the right course. While it might possibly not have the top hand against some of its rivals at this time, there is plenty of tech loaded within this unit once you raise the specification and even while standard it posseses an impressive kit.
The Driver Assistance Pack Plus for £990, specifically, supplies the car with a number of the latest lively and passive safety features. Oddly though, a rearview camcorder isn’t standard, therefore is definitely keyless entry and begin. Likewise, there are no choices for a 7-seater configuration. You’ll need to consider the Tiguan Allspace for that.
It only drives perfectly, and it’s ideal for long length cruising. It will travel and leisure mile upon mile only fine, and overall this is a well-made car. Bar some applications of scratchy plastics occasionally, of course.
2019 Volkswagen Touareg SEL Expense
Being truly a car that is normally made to rival famous brands the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, additionally it is priced appropriately. A basic model SEL comes into play at £49,095, even though that does receive you a very pleasant SUV, once you change it like ours, it’ll come to £53,825.
And that’s really choosing your options that are virtually all sensible, like the seats, keyless entry, Driver’s Assistance Plus, etc. Although if you need the full experience, possibly the £2,410 Innovision Cockpit will end up being worthwhile, as it has a 12.3″ digital display instrument cluster and the 15″ infotainment touchscreen.
Verdict
Through the years, the Volkswagen Touareg provides really evolved. Although it used to end up being on the sidelines in comparison with its fully-fledged superior rivals, it has been developed into reduced SUV that’s worthy of serious thought.
It’s rapid, comfortable, able and clever – all critical features with regards to a contemporary superior vehicle. If you’re searching for a top quality SUV, you then might want to drop by a Volkswagen dealer the next time around.
Specification
2019 Volkswagen Touareg SEL Specifications
- Price : £53,825
- Engine : 3.0-litre TDI V6 turbodiesel
- Power : 228 bhp
- Torque: 500 Nm
- Transmission : 8-quickness Tiptronic automatic transmission
- 0-62mph : 7.5 seconds
- Top quickness : 135 mph
- Weight : 2,070 kg
- Economy blended : 34.9 mpg (combined)