Volkswagen’s Touareg is a large SUV that gives you the features and performance of a high-end luxury equivalent, but without the eye-watering monthly leasing costs. If you want all the toys but don’t feel the need for a premium badge, then this could be the family machine for you.
Strong petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power choices.
More affordable than luxury equivalents.
Lots of technology inside.
If you want a large, luxurious SUV then there are plenty of premium manufacturers, from BMW to Bentley, who can provide fantastic options. However, if you want the size, gadgets and power of these big cars, without the premium monthly leasing costs, then you should really check out the Volkswagen Touareg. It’s got the presence and features of its fancy rivals, but with lease deals that are typically more affordable. To find out more about how contract hire works, take a look at our easy-to-understand guide to car leasing.
The Touareg is a big car, but so are its rivals, and the Volkswagen isn’t the most spacious large SUV available. That said, it’s still very roomy. Adults will have plenty of space in both front and back seats, and lots of cubby holes in which to store odds and ends. Unlike cars like the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, there’s no option to have 7 seats. However, you can recline the rear seats for extra relaxation, and slide them forwards to increase boot space.
Even without the seats moved, the boot is huge, with 810 litres of capacity. The rear seats fold in a 40/20/40 split, which gives you flexibility to carry long items and rear seat passengers at the same time. Fold them all down and you’ll have a massive 1800 litres of space. Who needs a van?
The Touareg is heavy and powered by a range of muscular V6 engines, so don’t expect it to be particularly economical. If you want to keep fuel costs to a minimum, look at the plug-in hybrid Touareg R. Electricity is far cheaper than petrol and if you do mostly shorter journeys using battery power only, you could make a tank of fuel last for months. Officially, it can manage up to 94.2mpg, but that’ll plunge if you rely too much on the petrol engine.
The diesel engines will manage up to 34.9mpg (on paper, at least), while the petrol option promises up to 25.7mpg. You’ll do well to get those figures in the real world though.
The Touareg is only available in 5-door SUV form.
SE
SEL
R-Line
R-Line Tech
Black Edition
R
Go for an entry-level Touareg SE and you’ll get a solid level of equipment. It includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and heated front seats, as well as a 9.2-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control.
The Touareg has its eyes firmly on premium rivals like the Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90 and BMW X5. All of these feel a bit more special, but will cost more to lease. They all offer 7-seat options too, as does the Mercedes-Benz GLE, which the VW doesn’t. Even Bentley’s Bentayga can come with a 3rd row of seats.
When it comes to driving, the Volvo and Audi are even more comfortable, and the BMW is more fun to drive, although even that can’t compete with the sports-car-like Porsche Cayenne.
If you need to go off-road, then the Discovery is by far the best choice, although the Touareg will cope with some rougher terrain if you need it to.
Yes. It’ll give you plenty of space, a great interior and some cutting-edge tech for a lower cost than premium-badged rivals.
You can lease a Tiguan for less than a Touareg, but it’s smaller and doesn’t feel as special. Both are very decent cars, though.
The Touareg is a big car, so fuel consumption will be relatively high and consumables like tyres will be more expensive too. But compared to its rivals, it’s actually fairly affordable.
Yes, every Touareg comes with front and rear parking sensors. You can also spec a camera system called Area View, which combines the visual feed of 4 cameras to show you all the car’s surroundings as you manoeuvre.
Although you can’t get the Touareg with 7 seats, the 5 passengers that you can accommodate will have loads of room to stretch out, and the boot is huge too.
The Toureg’s key appeal is its mixture of smart looks, a great interior and some cutting-edge technology, which puts it on a par with large SUVs from more premium manufacturers. But the Volkswagen undercuts them when it comes to leasing deals, which when you add in great driving performance too, makes it very attractive.
Leasing a Volkswagen Touareg with Vanarama is the smartest way to upgrade what you drive. Not only will you get the best price, guaranteed with our Price Promise*, there’s also no hidden fees, extra protection should the worst happen and access to expert advice when you need it! What are you waiting for? Find your New Lease Of Life today!
