Currently reading: Volkswagen Touareg gets 335bhp V6 petrol engine

New UK flagship for third-generation SUV joins existing diesel models and cracks 0-62mph in under six seconds

Volkswagen has added a new flagship V6 petrol engine to the Volkswagen Touareg line-up, bringing petrol power to the third-generation car for the first time.

The V6 becomes the fastest model in the range, with a 155mph top speed and 0-62mph time of 5.9sec. The engine produces 335bhp and 332lb ft of torque and sends those reserves to all four wheels through VW's 4Motion four-wheel drive system.

It is also 50kg lighter than the existing diesel version. Towing capacities remain the same across all models.

Order books are now open for the £52,635 SEL model, with first deliveries due in April. The top-spec R-Line Tech version is set to cost £59,235.

When it first arrived, the third-generation Touareg was over £6000 more expensive than its predecessor – a reflection on VW's efforts to push its top model further upmarket. The brand justified the price hike by stating that the new Touareg represents the “biggest leap forward” in the history of the SUV.

The third-generation model, which was unveiled in Beijing during the spring of 2018, has been redesigned with new technology, road-focused styling and a revamped interior that is dominated by VW’s new Innovision Cockpit.

Volkswagen touareg gains 340 ps petrol v6 2

This Touareg is the first to have such a clear focus on the Chinese market because, aside from being the largest new car market in the world, it's seen rapid growth in SUV demand in recent times. SUVs accounted for 8% of the Chinese market in 2007, but by 2017 this had skyrocketed to 45%.

​VW boss Herbert Diess said: “The new Touareg sets a new benchmark at the top of the automotive world and shows what VW can do in terms of design and technology. It is a reflection of our brand.”

Three trim levels are offered at launch and the UK starting price applies to the entry-level SEL. Prices for the plusher R-Line variant, which comes with sportier bodywork details, start from £55,095, while R-Line Tech sits atop of the launch range with more standard kit (more on that below) and a starting price of £58,195.

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The 3.0 TDI V6 top-end diesel produces 282bhp and 443lb ft of torque from 2250rpm, enabling the SUV to sprint from zero to 62mph in 6.1sec and reach a top speed of 146mph. A 228bhp diesel is also available.

New VW Touareg: should the people's car be a premium car? 

The Chinese line-up includes a 362bhp plug-in hybrid that will arrive in late 2019. That variant is likely to go on sale in Europe, although no date has been set. A 415bhp, 664lb ft 4.0 V8 diesel will be offered in some markets, although no UK date has been set for its arrival either.

All of the engine options are powered through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with standard all-wheel drive featuring a centre differential lock, with five standard and four optional drive modes.

To aid the driving dynamic, the Touareg features electromechanical active roll compensation, which adjusts the anti-roll bars to smooth the ride when cornering. It also has air suspension to boost ride and all-wheel steering to aid handling.

Volkswagen touareg gains 340 ps petrol v6 4

Oliver Müller, the Touareg’s vehicle development boss, told Autocar: “We wanted to combine a sporty drive with comfort. The focus in on on-road handling, but it was important to make sure it was still good off road. It’s part of the DNA of the car. The look is more on-road now, but it’s still an off-roader at heart.”

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The exterior design of the new Touareg moves further away from the off-road styling of the original, with a bold front grille designed particularly to appeal to the Chinese market. While built on the same VW Group MLB platform as the new Porsche Cayenne, the only exterior part the two now share is the front windscreen. Exterior designer Frank Bruse told Autocar: “The key difference is that we were allowed to do our own door panels; before, we had to share with the Cayenne. That gave us more freedom.”

Q&A: Frank Bruse, Volkswagen Touareg exterior designer 

At 4878mm, the Touareg is 77mm longer than before. It is also 44mm wider (1984mm) but 7mm shorter (1702mm). With the rear seats up, the boot has a capacity of 810 litres, 113 litres more than the previous model. The aluminium and steel body helps to make the car 106kg lighter than before.

The dashboard is built around VW’s new Innovision Cockpit, which merges a 15.0in infotainment touchscreen with a 12.0in digital instrument cluster. The customisable infotainment screen also controls features such as smartphone integration, air conditioning and seat massage functions, while analogue controls remain for the volume and other frequently used switches.

A range of driver assistance features come as standard, including traffic jam assist, lane assist, autonomous emergency braking, a night vision camera and a driver fatigue warning.

New touareg   blue 12

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Standard equipment includes all-round LED lighting, multicoloured interior LED lighting and a 1270mm-long sliding panoramic roof.

The Touareg is designed with a range of customisation options based on three optional trim levels: the wood-dominated Atmosphere; Elegance, based on metal colours; and the stand-alone, sporty R-Line. All three will feature spoilers and side sills, with R-line also gaining wheel arch extensions.

The Touareg will be able to tow trailers of up to 3.5 tonnes. 

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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Integralista 7 March 2019

Porsche Cayenne Coupe production site

Dear Autocar team,

this car will be produced in VW Bratislava, not in Germany. So, it is made in Slovakia, same as Audi Q7, Audi Q8, VW Touareg...

Car will be produced on the same production line as Porsche Cayenne SUV.

Those cars are for VW and for whole VW Group more than golden eggs. Production in Germany will ne much less profitable.

Big Boys in Volfsburg know that better.

Jimbbobw1977 7 March 2019

Why has this article been

Why has this article been rehashed and produced again from last year - just to tell us that it has a new engine? We then need to know all about the car again... slow sales by any chance? Not surprised overpriced and dull inside
xxxx 22 June 2018

FROM £51.5k

May the Lord have mercy on their souls. That's CRAZY CRAZY especially as the out going version looks way better.

289 22 June 2018

xxxx

...agreed xxxx, but the price will not be sustainable, so it will inevitably have large discounts as its predecessor had and due to epic depreciation make a superb 3 yr old buy.

Pleased to see a V6 Petrol coming in the line-up, but the styling is terrible compared to the great understated looks of the outgoing model.