Volkswagen Touareg — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Volkswagen Touareg overview

With 42,220 currently licensed in the UK, the Volkswagen Touareg is one of Britain's well-known cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Touareg 5 stars in 2018, with 94% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.

Annual running costs are estimated at £4,909 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £409/month or 61p/mile.

NCAP Safety

2018

Monthly Cost

£409

est. annual total

New From

£70,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Touareg in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

94%

Child Occupant

87%

Pedestrian

71%

Safety Assist

71%

Safety recalls

There are 15 known DVSA recalls affecting the Volkswagen Touareg. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2026/001

On Touareg vehicles with hybrid drive systems and of a limited production period there may be deviations on the high-voltage battery system. A measure is necessary because on individual battery modules deviations with important technical parameters were established. Over the life of the vehicle these can cause a fault in the affected battery modules. As a result charging the high-voltage battery can cause a danger of fire with the risk of severe to life threatening injuries for persons in and/or outside of the vehicle as well as severe material damage. NOTE: Until the check of your vehicle has been completed we ask that you do not charge the high-voltage battery externally. In hybrid mode select the setting “battery hold” at a charge level of max. 50%. Also avoid pure electric driving.

Build dates: 2023-08-24 to 2024-09-18

R/2023/356

On certain vehicles the side airbag fitted in the seat (front left) may not have been correctly secured onto the seat frame.

Build dates: 2023-08-17 to 2023-10-23

R/2021/391

If the rear lid is opened and manually pushed up too far the electric spindle drive can suddenly separate and expand.

Build dates: 2019-01-15 to 2019-01-29

R/2021/237

Nuts of deviating material quality were fitted in the bolted connection of the right and left transverse link on the bottom of the multi-link rear axle.

Build dates: 2020-09-22 to 2020-11-03

R/2020/132

A welded connection of the gearbox oil pipe can cause a leak of gear oil.

Build dates: 2019-09-01 to 2019-11-30

+ 10 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Volkswagen Touareg are estimated at around £4,909 per year, or £409 per month.

Fuel

£1,232

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£2,827

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Fuel economy

The Touareg achieves a combined fuel economy of around 42.8 mpg (37.2 mpg urban, 47.1 mpg extra-urban).

VariantFuelCombinedEngine
TOUAREGDIESEL30.7 mpg2.5L
TOUAREGDIESEL40.4 mpg3.0L
TOUAREGPETROL HYBRID34.4 mpg3.0L
TOUAREGPETROL/ELECTRIC29.4 mpg3.0L
TOUAREGPETROL23.2 mpg3.2L
TOUAREGPETROL20.9 mpg3.2L
TOUAREGPETROL28.5 mpg4.1L
TOUAREGDIESEL31 mpg4.1L

Depreciation

Starting from £70,000 new, a Volkswagen Touareg typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year75%£52,500−£17,500
2 years64%£44,650−£25,350
3 years56%£39,250−£30,750
4 years50%£35,350−£34,650
5 years46%£32,500−£37,500
6 years43%£30,250−£39,750
7 years41%£28,450−£41,550
8 years39%£27,000−£43,000
9 years37%£25,650−£44,350
10 years35%£24,350−£45,650

How common is the Touareg?

There are currently 42,220 licensed and 4,611 SORN Touaregs in the UK (46,831 total). This makes it a common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

How safe is the Volkswagen Touareg?

Euro NCAP awarded the Touareg 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2018. It scored 94% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 71% for safety assist features.

How much does a Volkswagen Touareg cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Touareg are estimated at around £4,909 per year (£409/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Volkswagen Touareg?

There are 15 known safety recalls affecting the Touareg. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

How much does a new Volkswagen Touareg cost?

A new Touareg starts from around £70,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.

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