Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Despite having a Hybrid engine the Touareg Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI has a disappointing fuel economy. With a return of just 34.4mpg this Touareg is only slightly better than the original version which delivers 31.0mpg. In the acceleration statistics the Hybrid is out performed again, only managing to get to 62mph in 6.5 seconds, whereas the diesel completes the sprint to 62mph in a quicker 5.8 seconds.

The Handling of the Touareg Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI also fails to match its rivals. This is to be expected since Volkswagen is far behind its two German rivals when it comes to experience in producing high performance cars. However if you take it alone it is far from underwhelming, whilst it is definitely not suited to off road travel it performs well during urban or motorway driving.

This new version of the Touareg 3.0 V6 TSI has improved on the styling of the previous version by making a number of subtle but significant changes. The exterior lines have been sharpened and the wheel base has been extended. However it retains the familiar Volkswagen shape, so it is still instantly recognisable and achieves its goal of revamping the previous model whilst keeping the successful qualities of the rest of the range.

The interior of the Touareg has been designed to a similar standard. Volkswagen is renowned for stylish yet modest interior design and this version has the same qualities. The dash is well built and understated and the buttons and dials are simple but have an air of quality. The centre console is also easy to navigate and to a high technological standard.

This hybrid version of the Touareg has an equally impressive range of features as the diesel version. Amongst the standard features are leather seats, climate control, automatic wipers and lights, cruise control, satnav and parking sensors.

The slightly tweaked exterior styling means that the Hybrid Touareg 3.0 V6 TSI has slightly more space in the cabin. The front passengers have a little more leg room however the improvements are only small and not noticeable enough to be a major selling point. The boot space on the Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI has been slightly reduced to a smaller 493 litres. This is another short coming which adds up to make the Hybrid a less attractive option than the Altitude and Escape models.

Volkswagen provides a decent warranty.The three year 60,000 mile warranty is backed up by Volkswagen’s reputation for reliability and build quality which is amongst the best in the industry.
The Touareg has an impressive array of safety features as standard. These include stability control, electronic brake force distribution, seven airbags, front head restraints to reduce whiplash, a trailer stabilisation system, as well as deadlocks.

At £57,970 the Touareg Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI is certainly out of the price range of most potential customers. The main selling point of most hybrids is fuel economy, however the Touareg Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI fails to match the economy of diesel versions of the same range. When you add in the extra costs of running petrol the Hybrid falls short of providing any value for money.

The Hybrid is in a cheaper road tax bracket than the diesels; however the saving would not be enough to offset the difference in fuel costs.