Volkswagen Touareg

Overview: Is the Volkswagen Touareg a Good SUV?

The midsize Volkswagen Touareg delivers plentiful power and luxury appointments. Offered in a traditional SUV body style, the five-passenger Touareg focuses on balanced performance and off-road capability. Generous standard features, even in base trims, combined with available cutting-edge technology (for the period) to create a compelling tech-forward luxury hauler. First appearing in the U.S. in 2004, the Touareg was discontinued here after 2017 (the 3rd generation VW Touareg is still sold overseas).

Note: Equipment, features, and trims can vary by model year. Always confirm these details when looking for used Volkswagen Touareg cars for sale.

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Related: The Volkswagen Touareg Years To Avoid

Key Features

The Volkswagen Touareg offers:

• Five-door SUV body style
• V6 and V8 gas engine options, with a V10 turbodiesel offered for select years
• Automatic transmission
• 4Motion all-wheel drive
• Up to 7,700 pounds of towing capacity

Trims

Initially, VW Touareg trims were differentiated by engine (V6 or V8). A V10 TDI trim was also offered. More conventional trim designations (like Sport, VR6, Hybrid, Lux, and Executive) were used in later years.

Comfort, Technology & Cargo

Thanks to a spacious cabin, there’s not a bad seat inside the Touareg, while an available air suspension makes for an even more comfortable ride. Navigation, a multi-speaker audio system, and other technologies elevate the Touareg to near-luxury car status. Cargo space is ample, especially when the second row is folded.

How It Drives

Even base versions supply strong acceleration, while higher-output turbodiesel and V8 models deliver more vigorous thrust. The Touareg is all about composed handling, no matter the road surface.

Safety

Only the 2004-2010 model years underwent testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These VW Touaregs received a four- to five-star (good to great) rating in specific crash tests.

Reviews

First-generation (2004-2010) Volkswagen Touareg reviews average 4.1 out of 5.0, with owners praising the SUV’s styling and comfort. Feedback improved to 4.7 for the second generation (2011-2017) as consumers were positive about reliability, performance, and quality.

Learn More: Which Years of Used Volkswagen Touaregs Are Most Reliable?

FAQs

Is the Touareg bigger than the Tiguan?

Yes, the midsize Touareg significantly outsizes the compact Tiguan SUV in terms of interior room, cargo space, and overall footprint.

When was the VW Touareg discontinued?

Due to slow sales, Volkswagen discontinued the Touareg in America after the 2017 model year. It was replaced by the three-row Volkswagen Atlas SUV in the automaker’s U.S. lineup.

What does Touareg mean?

Touareg translates to “Free Folks” in the Berber language, referring to the North African nomadic people.

Which Touareg engine is best?

The V6 strikes an appealing balance between performance and fuel efficiency for most Touareg buyers. However, the V8 has its charm despite poorer EPA ratings. The V10 turbodiesel is an engineering marvel but negatively affects the reliability of the VW Touareg.

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