The Touareg is VW’s flagship SUV and this second-generation model has seen subtle changes over its predecessor, with sharper looks and a less boxy shape. Can it come close to the Porsche Cayenne? Is it a better family car than the Land Rover Discovery or the Volvo XC90? Read on to find out. Performance 4.5/5 On test, we drove the 3.0-litre V6 TDI that produces 242bhp and is mated to a smooth shifting eight-speed semi-automatic tiptronic ‘box. That does zero to 62mph in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 137mph. These times are impressive and are identical to its cousin, the Porsche Cayenne, with the similar 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. However, other rivals struggle when it comes to performance: the Volvo XC90, for example, is only available with a 2.5-litre diesel unit and completes the benchmark in 10.3 seconds with a max speed of 127mph. Ride and handling 4/5 The Touareg is much better than many of its rivals, with top-notch driving dynamics, outclassing the Land Rover Discovery or the Volvo XC90. Still, the Porsche Cayenne has a better feel through the steering making it a smidgen better than the Touareg. Mixing enthusiastic driving with comfort is all in a day’s work for VW’s largest passenger car. The steering is precise, direct and well-weighted while, through the twisty stuff, there is minimal bodyroll for a car of this size. On motorways, the Touareg is uber comfortable and long journeys are made easy thanks to its refinement. There’s plenty of room both up front and in the rear making comfort levels top-class. Equipment 5/5 Volkswagen has four main trim lines on the Touareg: SE, Escape, Altitude and R-Line, Standard kit on the top-trim R-Line includes electrically adjusted and heated door mirrors, automatic headlights, front fog lights, auto-dimming rear view mirror, heated windscreen washers, parking sensors, hill start assist, six airbags and ESP. Electric windows are fitted all round, along with cruise control, climate control, multi-function steering wheel, CD stereo with digital radio, Bluetooth, air conditioning, heated front seats and leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels and restyled bumpers and side skirts for a more aggressive appearance. The spec also includes a full-length electric sliding sunroof, an electrically lifting tailgate and keyless entry and start. Practicality 4.5/5 Even though it looks like a big car, the Touareg never feels cumbersome and there are parking sensors if you get caught in a tight spot in town. With the seats in place, the car can easily transport five people in comfort and the boot has a sizeable 580 litres of space. This expands to 1,642 litres when folded. Another boon is that the boot doesn’t have an awkward lip making loading and unloading child’s play. Costs 3.5/5 Our test car was powered by the 241bhp 3.0-litre V6 TDI and it has a claimed average of 39.2mpg. In real-world driving you can get close to this figure, but feather the throttle of the V6 and they’ll be more frequent visits to the forecourt. For a car of this size, 189g/km of CO2 emissions aren’t so bad. Priced at £47,100, it’s only a touch off the equivalent Cayenne at £47,390; given the badge superiority of the latter, the Touareg seems a bit steep. Verdict 4/5 This model is a great family car, albeit a pricey one, that also allows you to mix it up on the fun front, down to its very good dynamics. So good, in fact, that it rivals Porsche’s Cayenne, thanks largely to that shared platform.
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