Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TSI Tiptronic R-Line (A) First Drive Review

If you're wondering if we made a mistake by labelling this story as a first drive and not a facelift, well, it's not. That's because Volkswagen Singapore has decided to add even more luxury touches of tech and safety systems to the already luxe Volkswagen Touareg - a car that was initially launched back in May 2019 in Singapore.

Right now, the full-sized five-seater SUV has much more to offer in terms of specs, safety and tech, which will make the Touareg much more appealing to those who are currently in the market for premium SUV. Useful features such as soft close doors, sunshade on rear window glasses, new multi-function steering wheel, 360-degree area view camera, park assist safety feature as well as adaptive cruise control, amongst many others, now come as standard, which further enhances the Touareg's appeal.

Is Volkswagen considered a premium?

We use a word like 'premium' here because Volkswagen has pushed the Touareg further into the premium and luxury territory in an attempt to broaden its appeal. As a result, the car here goes up against mighty competitors like the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and the Volvo XC90.

Some may even argue that the Porsche Cayenne is part of it too, since the two cars share the same MLB Evo mechanical underpinnings (the Audi Q7 is based on the same platform too). Of course, the cars here that are mentioned drive very differently from the Touareg, which is to be expected.

What's unexpected, however, is how impressive the cabin of the Volkswagen SUV is. At the helm, you're faced with a new multi-functional leather steering wheel that comes with paddle shifters and capacitive touch function (previously, it was physical buttons on the steering) that's currently also found on newer Volkswagen models like the Golf R-Line and the Golf GTI.

You're still faced with a larger-than-life 15-inch infotainment screen as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, both of which are clear and crisp. However, during my short time with the car, it took me a while to get used to the system. But as far as innovation goes, the car is certainly up there with the best, with a fully-configurable feature that allows you to place all the key information at your fingertips, while still offering you immediate and easy access to important functions like the air-con.

As such, you do get a very tidy and minimalistic centre console, considering the notable absence of buttons - even though it can get a tad troublesome to adjust the fan speed from time to time.

It may not have seven seats, but it's highly functional

Space wise, the Touareg will not disappoint. Given its longer and wider dimensions over its predecessor, there's ample room for all five occupants on board. Yes, perhaps the only setback here is that unlike the Audi Q7 or the BMW X5, there isn't an option for the Touareg to have a seven-seater configuration, but it's certainly more than sufficient for a family of five.

More importantly, as a five-seater SUV, there's a humongous boot space of 810 litres - something you won't be getting with full seven seats in place. For instance, even with the third row seats folded, the BMW X5 only offer 645 litres, while the Audi Q7 will free up 740 litres.

More importantly...

On the go, Volkswagen has obviously prioritised comfort rather than outright fun, but that's not a bad thing at all, I reckon. Even though the steering feels a tad numb, there's inevitable roll around bends and sudden lane changes will make you conscious of its heft, the Touareg does an excellent job in ferrying all occupants from point to point in a stylish, comfortable and luxurious manner.

Speaking of ferrying, despite the car's sizeable proportions, I never had any trouble placing the car on the road, even through unavoidable narrow pathways around town or within Sentosa Island itself (and mind you I'm not exactly a good driver). More relevantly, I managed to get a good view out of the Touareg despite my vertically-challenged nature, which most certainly helped when I was going through winding roads of sorts or when making u-turns, thanks to the nifty four-wheel steering.

Whatever the case, I was still most impressed by the air-suspension system that came standard on the R-Line test car that I was in. Over nasty road surfaces and bumps, the system kept everything in check, absorbing and adjusting all four corners accordingly to ensure that magic carpet ride, every time, all the time.

A humble good-looking lad

Unlike before, the third and latest generation Volkswagen Touareg is something that I would probably look forward to seeing at the carpark every time, all the time, too. It's instantly recognisable, has an understated disposition and has an air of sophistication that exemplifies how money can't buy you good taste.

At $399,900 (as of 23 March 2022) the Volkswagen Touareg may come across as a rather pricey car, but once you start putting together the specs and prices of its peers, the Touareg will naturally stand out.

I mean... considering how we don't usually make mistakes about labelling our stories, we're pretty darn sure we aren't making any mistakes with the Volkswagen Touareg.

In the market for a premium large SUV? Here are some other options for you to consider:

The BMW X5 is a fresh step up for the Bavarian marque

The Audi Q7 is one luxurious barge

Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design has punch and panache

The Mercedes GLE450 is a heavy hitter