Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI 2020 Review

The Volkswagen Touareg received a significant overhaul in 2019 with the introduction of the third-generation model that takes the large German luxury SUV a big step upmarket.

From the outset, the initial 2019 Volkswagen Touareg Launch Edition bristled with technology, luxury and panache to take on the established German triumvirate (Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE), accompanied by an equally upmarket price tag of $89,990 plus on-road costs.

Then, late last year, Volkswagen replaced the Launch Edition with two permanent Touareg variants – the 2020 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI and the Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium driven here.

Adopting a lot of the fancier elements seen in the Touareg Launch Edition for $5000 less, the 2020 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium brings plenty of luxury fare for buyers on a marginally more palatable budget.

Entry to the third-generation Volkswagen Touareg line-up now starts at $79,490 for the 190TDI, while the flagship 2020 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium tested in this review is priced from $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 2020 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium rides standard on air suspension and gets 20-inch alloy wheels with a space-saver spare, keyless entry and start, LED Matrix headlights with dynamic indicators, plus a headlight washing system, premium LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, auto-dimming mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.

Inside there’s a 9.2-inch touch-screen and analogue driver’s instrument cluster (separated by a digital data screen), four USB ports and an electric rear tailgate. Savona leather upholstery adorns the Touareg 190TDI Premium’s five chairs and the front pews are heated, ventilated, electronically controlled and feature massaging functions.

Of course, no luxury SUV is complete without optional extras, and our test Touareg subscribed to this with three add-on 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 (also $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 (+15 litres) fuel tank.

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).

Safety is a strong suit of the latest Touareg, with a five-star suite incorporating Front Assist with City EB and Pedestrian Monitoring (all-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-degree Proactive Occupant Protection and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors.

The 2020 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium is backed by a five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty – more generous than most luxury European marques.

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

The Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium comes with a hefty 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity.

The MkIII Volkswagen Touareg matches or betters the luxury SUV set with its standard equipment list, polished dynamics and nicely executed cabin.

That it does so for $85,000 in this application is quite remarkable, notwithstanding the extensive optional extras and on-road costs piled onto our test vehicle.

But the highlight for us is the way the Touareg drives. Our loaded-up test car adeptly balanced comfort and performance duties with a sporty yet compliant ride despite the big 20-inch wheels.

Articulate weighting to the steering and key controls are underlined by a chassis that simply belies the Touareg’s 2.1-tonne weight. This is a big car, but it’s agile and possessed of more than decent cornering prowess.

Despite its 4.9-metre length and 1.98-metre width, the 190TDI Premium is not an imposing vehicle to drive, with ample vision and technology helping to mitigate its proportions on the road (although, it would be nice to have a 360-degree camera as standard).

The turbo-diesel engine is both efficient and torquey and reaches its straps from a lowly 2250rpm. There is a slight gruffness and hesitation to the engine at lower revs that won’t please all buyers, but it smooths out as it climbs the dial, reaching peak power at 4000rpm.

Officially, the 3.0-litre V6 can notch up 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds; but more pleasing is its in-gear roll-on performance, which is both accessible and bountiful. Overtaking is effortless.

In terms of efficiency, we had no problem matching the official 7.4L/100km combined fuel consumption claim and on several highway runs managed to sneak under 6.0L/100km using the efficiency mode (which essentially decouples the engine from the transmission in coasting scenarios).

Downsides? We found some of the Touareg’s safety aids somewhat intrusive. For instance, it erroneously jammed on the anchors on several occasions after wrongly detecting an item on the road or when reversing up the driveway – a fault of the autonomous emergency braking system.

Similarly, the lane guidance feature can feel too forceful in keeping the car in its lane. We ended up turning it off a lot of the time.

Otherwise, the Touareg was prone to a sticky left side mirror after time (the mirrors fold and unfold each time you lock and unlock the car, although this feature can be disabled).

Well-heeled families are the real target audience here and the 2020 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium certainly hits the key marks with a spacious five-seat layout, cavernous boot area and ample spread of air-vents and USB points alike.

The rear seat offers excellent space for either two adults or a trio of children – even on long road trips.

The fitment of three child anchorage points (the outbound seats with ISOFIX attachments) is a major boon too, complemented by a low-set window line that is easy for little ones to see out of.

On the family front, there is a pop-down armrest and integrated rear sun shades in the rear, too – both notable inclusions.

Storage space is well considered, with bottle-friendly door pockets front and rear, centre cup-holders front and rear and a strong array of incidental open storage.

The 810-litre boot is accessed via an electric tailgate with kick function and features a large aperture and enough length to accommodate a full-size pram plus a couple of suitcases.

A rear luggage blind keeps valuables away from prying eyes, while remote buttons at the boot opening allow users to lower or raise the car’s air suspension to facilitate easier loading.

In 190TDI Premium form, the big and classy new Volkswagen Touareg is a fitting halo model for the German car-maker’s SUV line-up.

Any complaints about the engine ought to be remedied with the arrival of the forthcoming V8-powered Touareg TDI, which will bring greater power but a loftier price tag.

For now, the Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Premium does an admirable job of delivering full-size luxury SUV wares on a relatively attainable budget... So long as you don’t delve too deep into the options catalogue.

How much does the 2020 Volkswagen 190TDI Premium cost?
Price: $85,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 190kW/600Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 194g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)