New Volkswagen Touareg now from under $80K

The price of admission for the new Volkswagen Touareg has fallen by more than $10,000 thanks to the addition of more affordable new full-time variants of the German car-maker’s flagship SUV range this week.

Volkswagen Australia has introduced two new permanent variants to the Touareg range to effectively replace the $89,990 Launch Edition that landed in June.

At $79,490 plus on-road costs, the new Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI now occupies the entry point for the foreseeable future, while the new flagship is the 190TDI Premium priced at $85,490 plus ORCs.

Like the Launch Edition, both 190TDI variants come with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 producing 190kW of power and 600Nm of torque, driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The entry-level Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels with spare, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail-lights, auto-dimming mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.

Inside resides a 9.2-inch touch-screen and analogue driver’s instrument cluster separated by a digital screen, four USB ports and an electric rear tailgate. Vienna leather upholstery replaces the Launch Edition’s Savona-trimmed seats and the massage function is gone, though the front pews remain heated and electrically controlled.

What does the 190TDI miss out on compared with the Launch Edition? The major omissions are air suspension (it gets steel springs instead), four-zone climate control (two-zone instead) and LED Matrix headlights with dynamic indicators.

Safety levels remain strong, however, with a five-star worthy suite incorporating Front Assist with City EB and Pedestrian Monitoring (low- and high-speed AEB), Lane Assist with Adaptive Lane Guidance, Emergency Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Side Assist with Front & Rear Cross Traffic Assist, Park Assist, Driver Fatigue Detection, 360° Proactive Occupant Protection and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors.

For another $6000, the 190TDI Premium adds the aforementioned air suspension, Savona leather and LED Matrix headlights with dynamic indicators, plus a headlight washing system, premium LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, larger 20-inch alloy wheels and massaging front seats with ventilation.

The permanent Touraeg members are available with three different optional packages, each costing $8000.

Firstly, the Innovision Package ($8000) adds a super-sized 15-inch central infotainment system, digital instrument cluster (read: active info display), head-up display, ambient interior lighting, stainless steel scuff plates, rotary volume knob and gloss-black accents on the centre fascia and console.

The Sound and Comfort Package ($8000) is available only on the 190TDI Premium and adds a 360-degree surround view camera, electric steering wheel adjustment, front seat memory function, four-zone automatic climate control, heated outer rear seats, 14-speaker, 730-Watt DYNAUDIO sound system and a larger 90-litre fuel tank (+15 litres).

Finally, the R-Line Package ($8000) is also confined to the 190TDI Premium, adding 20-inch Nevada alloys, all-wheel steering, electromechanical Active Roll Stabilisation, R-Line front and rear bumpers, tinted rear window, R-Line leather upholstery, multi-function steering wheel, gloss black centre console and R-Line illuminated scuff plates (when optioned with the Innovision Package).

As with the Launch Edition, the Touareg 190TDI and Touareg 190TDI Premium are backed by a five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty – more generous than luxury European marques.

According to Volkswagen, servicing costs over the first five years or 75,000km amount to $3248.

The new Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI and Touareg 190TDI Premium are on sale now.

How much does the 2020 Volkswagen Touareg cost?
190TDI – $79,490
190TDI Premium – $85,490
* Prices exclude on-road costs