Volkswagen Touareg - long-term review

The Top Gear magazine road test led with the line “The VW faces an uphill struggle against brand-laden rivals, but is actually just as good”. After spending a month with the car, it’s hard to disagree. It shares its underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Audi Q7, so some quality DNA is in the mix. However, while its pricier siblings all boast distinctive styling and brands that will impress the neighbours, the Touareg is remarkably understated – to my mind, that’s no bad thing.

That said, the new model does feature a fair bit of exterior chrome, so it’s not entirely bling-free. But, inside the car, you really notice how far the Touareg has come. It’s 77mm longer and 44mm wider than its predecessor, which makes for a spacious and well-laid-out cabin featuring excellent rear legroom – our panoramic sunroof (£1,260) adds nicely to its airy feel. The interior is beautifully finished with excellent materials; the centrepiece is a 15in infotainment screen, which blends seamlessly into the 12in digital instrument display to give the impression of a massive single piece of glass. This is standard on the R-Line Tech, but a £2,410 option on other models.

The driving experience is extremely refined and, with 281bhp and a 0–62 time of 6.2 seconds, it’s quicker than you’d expect of a car of this size. To my mind, that’s plenty quick enough, but, with more powerful engines due to be introduced down the line, it will soon compete with all but the most spritely of rivals. They say the Chinese car market demands three things: lots of chrome, good rear legroom and huge screens. The Touareg ticks all these boxes, and I’m sure that VW has one eye on that market. But could it also be the unpretentious option for those in the market for a luxury SUV here.