Volkswagen Touareg — Buyer's Guide
Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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Volkswagen Touareg overview
With 41,845 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 89% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,315 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £360/month or 58p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2018
Monthly Cost
£360
est. annual total
New From
£49,395
Safety rating
Euro NCAP tested the Touareg in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
89%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
89%
Safety Assist
81%
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.
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Running costs
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Volkswagen Touareg are estimated at around £4,315 per year, or £360 per month.
Fuel
£1,470
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,995
/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).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOUAREG | DIESEL | 28 mpg | 2.5L |
| TOUAREG | DIESEL | 34.4 mpg | 3.0L |
| TOUAREG | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 29.4 mpg | 3.0L |
| TOUAREG | PETROL HYBRID | 34.4 mpg | 3.0L |
| TOUAREG | PETROL | 20.5 mpg | 3.2L |
| TOUAREG | PETROL | 20.9 mpg | 3.2L |
| TOUAREG | DIESEL | 31 mpg | 4.1L |
| TOUAREG | PETROL | 14.8 mpg | 4.2L |
Depreciation
Starting from £49,395 new, a Volkswagen Touareg typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £37,050 | −£12,345 |
| 2 years | 64% | £31,500 | −£17,895 |
| 3 years | 56% | £27,700 | −£21,695 |
| 4 years | 50% | £24,950 | −£24,445 |
| 5 years | 46% | £22,950 | −£26,445 |
| 6 years | 43% | £21,350 | −£28,045 |
| 7 years | 41% | £20,050 | −£29,345 |
| 8 years | 39% | £19,050 | −£30,345 |
| 9 years | 37% | £18,100 | −£31,295 |
| 10 years | 35% | £17,200 | −£32,195 |
How common is the Touareg?
There are currently 41,845 licensed and 5,012 SORN Touaregs in the UK (46,857 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 89% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 89% for vulnerable road users, and 81% 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 £4,315 per year (£360/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 £49,395. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
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