Volkswagen Touareg R review

This has been the Touareg’s strong-suit since the third-generation car arrived in 2018. It very obviously shares genes with a Bentayga while possessing a far bigger screen. It’s more tech-savvy than most of its rivals, which if you like good old-fashioned buttons, might give you the heebie-jeebies. The drive modes click through a wheel (and go from eco, comfort and sport road settings into off-road options you’ll doubtless never use) but nigh on everything else is through an enormous 15in touchscreen.

Even the air con. Yet it operates more simply here than in the latest Mk8 Golf. The screen is initially discombobulating but it’s quick to acclimatise to, and those heating controls never slink away when you’re not looking. Even the stability control loosens without the circumnavigation of several menus. How the heck is that easier to do here than in the Golf R, where it’d be notably more useful?

There’s cavernous space, as you’d expect, though it may surprise you to learn the Touareg only offers five seats. Those needing an extra row have to head down the range and into a Tiguan. The seats that are in here are superb, though, the R boasting quilted leather and blue contrast stitching – which pairs nicely with the blue strip lighting that illuminates the otherwise black cabin when dusk falls.