Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line 2022 Review

Drubbed a little bit at its launch as being one expensive Volkswagen, the 2022 Volkswagen Touareg still fits that descriptor.

At entry level it might be easier on the bank balance or novated lease payments than, say, a BMW X5, but the Volkswagen Touareg still doesn’t leave much change from $100K once the base model is ready for the road.

The R-Line flagship tested here will also set you back more than $130,000 once you’ve driven out of the showroom and filled up with your first tank of diesel.

The current Touareg opens at $87,990 plus on-road costs for the 170TDI, which uses a 170kW/500Nm version of the familiar 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

From there, the higher-output 210TDI kicks in with 210kW/600Nm across two model grades: Elegance (from $106,990 plus ORCs) and the R-Line (from $116,290) as reviewed here.

Today’s top-shelf Volkswagen Touareg R-Line, irrespective of its humble roots, is entirely comfortable playing with premium luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. There’s not much holding back on anything.

In a segment where seven seats are often sought, the Touareg is for five occupants only.

But the king-size cabin is awash with high-end ‘Savona’ leather trim and plenty of trinkets including multi-adjustable heated, cooled and deep-massaging front seats (both with memory settings), a sweeping dash featuring a mighty 15-inch touch-screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless phone charging, four-zone climate control, a head-up display, hands-free tailgate, rear-door window blinds and much more.

Volkswagen is also sweetening the deal for a limited time with a complimentary five-year service plan, which for the Touareg 210TDI is currently priced at $3600.

The 2022 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line is crammed to the gills with safety tech.

The autonomous emergency braking system (AEB) is operational at speeds between 5km/h and 80km/h, the lane guidance system has been judged one of the best in the business for its response and accuracy, there’s cross traffic alert at both ends, blind spot active assist, driver attention detection and predictive pedestrian avoidance.

Also, it’s nice to know that the Touareg – which is a large vehicle – is able to park itself via a rear camera and strategically placed sensors around its perimeter.

After dark, the 210TDI R-Line sees its way clearly via ‘shadowing’ Matrix LED headlights that help maintain forward vision without blinding oncoming traffic.

The third-generation Volkswagen Touareg also has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2018.

After a brief flirtation with a 310kW/900Nm 4.0-litre V8 TDI (zero to 100km/h in 4.9sec!), Volkswagen has settled on the 210TDI V6 oiler as the top Touareg powerplant – for the time being.

There’s a Touareg R plug-in hybrid flagship heading this way, offering 340kW and 700Nm, which will overtake the 2022 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line you see here.

But the current 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, though a carried-over update from the previous Touareg, is an absolute gem.

Engine noise is barely detectable unless you listen hard, effectively concealing any hint that it’s an oil-burner.

In 210TDI form it unleashes an accelerative surge that will have the 2129kg SUV reaching 100km/h from a standing start in 6.1sec. That makes it quicker than a BMW X5 xDrive30d, for example, which takes 6.5sec.

With a combined-cycle fuel consumption claim of 6.8L/100km – again, better than some key rivals – it’s also pretty thrifty.

Our review Touareg varied from 7.9L/100km in mainly urban driving to 7.0L/100km during longer trips on the open road. The 90-litre fuel tank promises an easily-achievable range of 1000km-plus.

The Touareg’s driveline comprises Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system connecting with a conventional eight-speed automatic gearbox.

At Elegance and R-Line level the Touareg is air-suspended too, using MacPherson struts up front and an independent five-link arrangement at the rear.

The Touareg can be raised or lowered at will, from the driver’s seat or buttons in the boot, helping it adapt to urban or bush terrain and also making for easier loading via the power tailgate which opens or closes with a wave of the foot.

Though there’s no dual-range, the all-wheel drive system on the 2022 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line relies on various modes to make the best of driving over rough terrain.

This can vary from steep and rocky to mud and snow, where the system apportions traction appropriately for best grip as the adaptive, variable-height air suspension takes some of the anxiety out of underbody clearance issues.

In less trying conditions the all-wheel steering, air suspension and active roll stabilisation help the Touareg 210TDI R-Line manage a wonderful balance between ride comfort and handling/roadholding.

Helped by 20-inch alloy wheels shod with 285/45-section tyres, Volkswagen’s flagship SUV has the ability to carve its way at speed along winding back-country roads.

At 2.3 turns from lock to lock, the Touareg’s all-wheel steering is pretty quick and has enough power assistance to take the heft out of parking it in tight spaces – a task made additionally easy by the self-parking ability and the all-wheel steering system’s reduction of the turning circle to something like that of a mid-size SUV (and quite a bit less than its competitors).

A little downtick is that, for all that, a bird’s eye view screen display would have been nice.

The R-Line’s massaging seats play a big role in comfort, at least for those riding up front. With 10 cushions and eight selectable programs working away at easing tired back muscles, there’s a good chance you’ll step out refreshed after a long drive, even if you don’t have the system operating full-time.

Those in the back don’t get the same executive treatment, but at least they have great legroom, headroom and shoulder-room and the cushions are deep, well-shaped and comfortable.

The seat base slides back and forth to prioritise legroom or luggage space and the 810-litre boot expands via a 40/20/40-split triple-fold, adjustable-recline rear backrest to offer as much as 1800 litres when all but the front seats are laid flat.

The decision to use a spare-saver spare in the boot is something of a disappointment, although the range of available wheel sizes was obviously a factor.

Cockpit controls combine clean, unadorned presentation with confusing functionality.

The cinematic centre touch-screen pairs with a variable-view LCD display, located ahead of the driver, which contains the usual instrumentation and surrounds it – if you want – with navigation information. It generally serves its purpose well.

That’s not really the case with the curved 15-inch main screen. Oversize it may be, but it’s simply not easy to use on the run.

Finding and using just about any function – radio, navigation, climate control – is a distraction that requires drilling down through often seemingly unrelated functions. The menu button pops up in different spots dependent on the view selected. Not driver-friendly. Not intuitive.

Touch-screens, generally, seem to evolve and devolve simultaneously.

For its safety technology, great turbo-diesel V6, calm on-road composure, non-pretentious style, undisputed quality and expansive cabin and luggage space, the third-generation 2022 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line remains a legitimate contender in the premium large SUV segment.

Given the exotic and invariably more expensive SUVs it’s shared with across the Volkswagen Group – including the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga – how could it be anything less?

The Touareg’s Volkswagen badge, despite its familiarity and a recent redesign that brought a more upmarket, delicate look, might not carry the same clout as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi or maybe even Lexus.

But that’s just about the only burden this outstanding large SUV has to bear.

How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI R-Line cost?
Price: $116,290 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 210kW/600Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 180g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)