The facelifted VW Touareg has been unveiled and interested buyers can expect the svelte SUV to arrive in local dealers in the first half of 2024, the automaker’s South African subsidiary confirmed.
The third-generation Touareg has undergone extensive improvements with areas such as the suspension, exterior and interior design, and standard features all being tweaked.
What’s new
Distinguishing the old from the new Touareg is a revamped exterior look with the front grille, front apron, and headlights given new lines, while at the back, the SUV gains a continuous horizontal LED strip for the taillight clusters that incorporates a VW logo that, dependent on the market in which it is sold, glows red.
New wheels up to 21 inches are further equipped, and if the buyer so wants, they can now get the optional IQ.Light HD Matrix light system with over 38,000 interactive LED bulbs projecting a “light carpet” onto the road.
Updates for the interior encompass a new Innovision Cockpit that offers a sizeable digital driver’s display and central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integrated navigation, and an improved voice control system.
Furthermore, 45W USB-C charging ports, which were previously 15W, are now also standard, as are “softer centre console trims” to provide a higher level of comfort than before.
A host of advanced assistance features have then been made available for the new Touareg, in addition to an “extensive range of optional systems,” said VW.
These optional extras include Travel Assist, Park Assist Plus with remote control, Trailer Assist, and Night Vision.
Finally, the new Touareg’s suspension system has been fiddled with in the pursuit of plushness, and it is now equipped with a new roof load sensor that detects when cargo is loaded on top which enables systems such as the electronic stability control to intervene earlier if need be for increased driving stability.
If no roof load is recognised, it allows for “even sportier performance,” said VW.
Depending on the model, the SUV can also be had with active roll compensation and all-wheel steering.
In global markets, the new Touareg will be sold with five powertrains including a turbocharged petrol, two turbo-diesels, and two plug-in hybrids, all paired with an eight-speed automatic box and 4Motion permanent all-wheel drive.
Additionally, the trim options include Elegance, R-Line, and the high-performance R e-Hybrid.
In South Africa, the current model is only sold with one V6 turbo-diesel driveline and in two trim options, Luxury and Executive, and we expect this selection will continue when the new Touareg arrives.
As a reference, the current Touareg starts at R1,365,100, whereas the new one sells for €69,200 (R1,434,000) in Germany. As such, when the facelifted models reaches local soil it will likely fetch in the realm of R1.5 million.
VW Touareg R-Line
VW Touareg Elegance
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