2024 Volkswagen Touareg: Updated SUV range detailed for Australia

Volkswagen has detailed its updated Touareg range for Australia, set to arrive in the second quarter of 2024 topped by the plug-in hybrid R.

While Volkswagen hasn’t released pricing for the full range yet, it has confirmed it will offer six SUVs in the $60-90,000 bracket, with one of those being the Touareg 170TDI.

The pre-update range opens at $89,240 before on-roads.

The updated range is set to arrive in April or May, and Volkswagen has indicated there will be a “repositioning” of price as it intends to offer a “more sophisticated and premium SUV” than upstart rivals from Genesis and Mazda.

At the other end of the lineup, it has previously confirmed the new flagship R – belatedly arriving in Australia – will be priced at $129,990 before on-roads.

The R features a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 plug-in hybrid drivetrain with total system outputs of 340kW of power and 700Nm of torque, good for a 5.1-second 0-100km/h sprint time.

Volkswagen also quotes an electric driving range of 51km on the WLTP cycle.

The 170TDI and 210TDI stick with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engines, with outputs of 170kW/500Nm and 210kW/600Nm, respectively.

All models feature an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Standard safety equipment across the range includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Emergency Assist
• Front cross-traffic assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Travel Assist
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Adaptive lane guidance
  • Traffic Jam Assist

The entry-level 170TDI also picks up standard Manoeuvre Braking, traffic sign recognition and a surround-view camera as part of the update.

The base model also comes standard with the following equipment:

• 19-inch ‘Coventry’ diamond turned alloy wheels (NEW)
• IQ. Light matrix LED headlights with Dynamic Light Assist (NEW)
• Illuminated rear logo and logo projection from mirrors (NEW)
• Park Assist Plus (NEW)
• Power tailgate
• Power-folding exterior mirrors with memory, passenger mirror lowering function
• Innovision Cockpit (NEW)
  • 15-inch Discover Premium touchscreen infotainment system
  • 12-inch Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster
  • Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Cargo management system (NEW)
• Soul Black Vienna leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable front seats with driver’s memory
• 30-colour ambient lighting
• Dual-zone climate control
• Fine grain ash inlays
• Wireless phone charger
• 3 x USB-C outlets (front)
• 2 x USB-C outlets (rear)
• Illuminated sill plates

The 210TDI Elegance adds:

• 20-inch ‘Braga’ alloy wheels in Dark Graphite
• Soul Black Varenna leather upholstery
• Ventilated front seats
• Massaging front seats
• Air suspension with auto self-levelling and height control

Mistral Grey Varenna leather upholstery is available as a special order.

The 210TDI R-Line adds:

• R-Line interior and exterior styling
• 21-inch ‘Leeds’ alloy wheels in black
• Rear privacy glass
• Rear-wheel steering
• Electromechanical active roll stabilisation
• Heated sports steering wheel
• Alarm
• Brushed aluminium inlays
• Black headliner
• Pantera Black Puglia R-Line leather upholstery
• Brushed stainless steel pedals
• Stainless steel sill plates with illuminated R-Line logo

The flagship R adds:

• R interior and exterior styling
• 22-inch ‘Estoril’ alloys in gloss black
• 19-inch front disc brakes
• 18-inch rear disc brakes
• Blue brake calipers
• Black mirror caps
• Blacked-out grille
• High gloss black roof rails and window surrounds
• Darkened tail lights
• Direct tyre pressure monitoring
• Electronic engine sound
• Pantera Black Puglia R leather upholstery
• Power-latching doors
• Four-zone climate control
• Night Vision
• Panoramic sunroof
• Head-up display
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Brushed dark aluminium inlays
• Dynaudio sound system

All Touareg models get refreshed exterior styling, with revised headlights and tail lights and new wheel designs among other changes.

There’s a new roof load sensor that detects if a roof box is fitted and transmits information to assist systems such as the electronic stability control to compensate for the additional weight. This only works with Genuine Volkswagen Roof Bars.

Inside, Volkswagen has finally added padded surfaces to either side of the centre console. The top sections of the interior door panels also have double decorative seams.

Volkswagen says the Touareg’s Innovision Cockpit now has the latest hardware and software. It continues to use a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system, situated in the same assembly for a wraparound effect.

Improvements to the infotainment system include lane-level navigation and high-resolution HD map data, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Smartphone mirroring now takes up the full screen.

MORE: Everything Volkswagen Touareg