The 282 bhp V6 diesel is the only engine available from launch, with a lesser-powered 228 bhp diesel and a 336 bhp petrol set to be introduced in the autumn – both 3.0-litre V6 units. A 4.0-litre V8 diesel pinched from the Audi SQ7 will arrive towards the end of the year, while a date for the arrival of the 362 bhp plug-in hybrid model has not yet been set.
The Touareg is available in three trim levels. Entry-level SEL is predictably still very well equipped for its £51,595 asking price. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and has a seven-inch infotainment display with navigation. Leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity all come as standard, alongside a wide variety of safety and driver assistance features.
R-Line trim is pitched at those who like a dynamic and sporty look – it was the best-selling trim for the previous Touareg, and towards the end of its life it was in fact the only trim available. For the new model, it gets 20-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, quad-zone climate control, a panoramic glass roof and a sporty bodykit. It costs from £55,095.
Step up to range-topping R-Line Tech for £58,195 and you get the Touareg’s real flagship feature – Volkswagen’s latest Innovision Cockpit. This upgrades the seven-inch screen to a 15-inch one – giving over four times more viewable area – and melds it slickly with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. VW’s latest LED lighting tech also features, as do special ‘ergoComfort’ front seats.
First deliveries of the new Touareg will start this summer.
