2024 Volkswagen Touareg prices slashed

Prices for the facelifted 2024 Volkswagen Touareg range have been wound back to early 2022 levels in a bid to boost sales of the five-seat large SUV that has BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Audi in its sights.

The entry-level Touareg 170TDI is priced from $86,790 plus on-road costs, representing a $2450 price reduction from the outgoing model.

However, the new 170TDI now comes standard with the high-tech Innovision multimedia package, which incorporates a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and 15-inch central touch-screen and was previously an $8700 option.

Other new standard features include matrix LED headlights (each with 19,216 pixels per unit), rear auto-braking, 30-colour adjustable ambient lighting, speed sign recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity, and illuminated puddle lights projecting the Volkswagen logo.

All told, Volkswagen Australia says there’s more than $10,000 of additional value in the 170TDI, which is expected to compete with smaller premium SUVs such as the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, as well as the Lexus RX.

That extra kit combines with an already generous level of equipment comprising 19-inch alloy wheels, genuine leather trim, dual-zone ventilation, powered tailgate, wood dash inserts, wireless phone charging, heated front seats and power-adjustable front seats with memory settings for the driver.

The third-generation Touareg’s extensive mid-life makeover also brings various design tweaks, including new bumpers and distinctive LED strip lighting both front and rear, where the red logo is illuminated.

The 170TDI is powered by a familiar 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel making 170kW/500Nm and driving through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It’s claimed to hit 100km/h in 8.0 seconds and consume 7.3 litres of diesel per 100km on the combined cycle.

Meantime, the updated 2024 Touareg 210TDI Elegance is now priced at $99,990 plus ORCs, which represents a $8250 price drop.

It gets a gruntier version of the same V6 turbo diesel with outputs of 210kW and 600Nm, dropping the claimed 0-100km/h time to 6.0 seconds while increasing fuel use marginally to 7.4L/100km.

Justifying its price premium over the 170TDI, the 210TDI also gets 20-inch wheels, adjustable-height air suspension, higher-quality Varenna leather trim and ventilated front seats with a massage function.

From there it’s a step up to the Touareg 210TDI R-Line, pricing for which has dropped by $7550 to $109,990 plus ORCs – despite the additional standard gear for all variants as well as wheels that are an inch bigger in diameter.

The R-Line uses the same V6 diesel from the 210TDI Elegance but it now offers 21-inch alloys and the R-Line exterior design kit comprising a sportier front bumper, colour-matched wheel-arch extensions and tinted rear windows.

It also gets rear-wheel steering and active stabiliser bars designed to improve cornering agility and body control.

There are also stainless-steel pedals, a heated sports steering wheel, back roof liner and higher-quality Pantera Black Puglia R-Line leather upholstery.

Sitting at the top of the revised Touareg line-up is the new Touareg R, which is also Volkswagen Australia’s first electrified model.

The Touareg R is powered by a plug-in hybrid system that pairs a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor to create the most powerful Volkswagen production car to date.

The 250kW/450Nm engine pairs with the 100kW/400Nm electric motor to produce combined outputs of 340kW and 700Nm.

While the additional hardware means the Touareg R is a few hundred kilos heavier than its diesel counterparts, Volkswagen says there’s enough thrust to propel the big 2433kg SUV to 100km/h in just 5.1sec.

Effectively stepping in for the old Touareg V8 Wolfsburg Edition, which previously cost $139,990 plus ORCs, the new Touareg R is priced at $129,990 plus ORCs and includes a panoramic sunroof that was previously a $3000 option.

The new Touareg range-topper also adds a swathe more gear, including 22-inch wheels, night vision, quad-zone ventilation, head-up display, power-adjustable steering column, illuminated R door scuff plates, memory function for the front passenger seat, heated outboard rear seats and a Dynaudio premium sound system.

There’s also a black design pack for a sportier and more distinctive look.

However, the addition of the hybrid system that’s stashed beneath the boot floor means the rear-wheel steering system and active stabiliser bars of the R-Line have been deleted from the Touareg R.

Volkswagen is expecting the wind-back of prices and the addition of more equipment will help lure more customers in a market segment dominated by European luxury models such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90.

While those model are all available with three rows of seats to accommodate up to seven people, the Touareg remains strictly a five-seater.

However, while that will naturally rule out some buyers, Volkswagen says “we still see there’s a market for having a pure five-seater”.

Volkswagen Australia product manager for passenger vehicles, Michelle Rowney, said the updated Touareg will “increase our consideration and grow our sales overall” and that the company expects “an increase in sales across the [Touareg] range.”

How much does the 2024 Volkswagen Touareg cost?
170TDI – $86,790 (-$2450)
210TDI Elegance – $99,990 (-$8250)
210TDI R-Line – $109,990 (-$7550)
Touareg R – $129,990 (-$10,000 versus V8 Wolfsburg)
* All prices exclude on-road costs

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