There’s a saying among car enthusiasts: “If you don’t look back at your car after parking, you bought the wrong one.” While I agree, it’s even more important to look back and feel confident you’ve chosen the best one for your needs and budget.

With over 240 SUV variants available in Malaysia, standing out requires a perfect balance of value, practicality, safety, and performance—plus that extra X-factor to win buyers over.

The 2024 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TSI R Line certainly brings features and performance to the table, but does it have enough to set itself apart from the competition? Let’s find out.

Overview

The VW Touareg made its return to Malaysia in March 2024; the facelifted third-generation 2024 Touareg is now locally assembled (CKD) for the first time outside Europe, at the Hicom plant in Pekan, Pahang.

Volkswagen's flagship SUV is offered as a 5-seater in the sole R-Line variant, starting at RM 472,272 on the road without insurance. This price includes the Volkswagen Assurance Package (VAP), which provides a 5-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and maintenance plan. Opting for a standard 2-year warranty reduces the price to RM 454,272.

Built on the MLB Evo platform shared with the Porsche Cayenne, the Touareg is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

Safety features include the IQ.Drive suite, with advanced systems like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The 2024 Touareg also introduces Night Vision assistance, a first for Volkswagen in Malaysia.

Inside, the Innovision Cockpit stands out with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Other convenience features include a Qi wireless charger, four-zone climate control, and 30-colour ambient lighting.

Exterior

The Touareg combines brute presence with subtle elegance, commanding attention on the road. However, its design does resemble the smaller Tiguan due to Volkswagen’s family styling, which may draw away from the fact you have spent over double that of its smaller sibling.

Key standout features include a wide front grille flanked by sleek IQ.Light HD LED matrix headlights. At the rear, L-shaped taillights with a full-width light bar and an illuminated red VW logo add a touch of flair.

The R-Line trim enhances sportiness with a prominent lower grille, open air intakes, and a rear diffuser with real twin trapezoidal exhaust exits. It rides on striking 20-inch “Braga” two-tone alloy wheels.

Interior

Stepping inside the VW Touareg reveals a mix of strengths and areas that fall short, bringing us back to the recurring theme of cohesiveness.

Starting with the positives, the cabin impresses with its spacious and airy feel, offering generous legroom, headroom, and shoulder space for passengers in both the front and rear.

While the predominantly black and grey interior leans on the bland side, the uncluttered layout and high-quality materials uphold Volkswagen’s reputation for good build quality and execution. The steering wheel angle and the extensive seat adjustability further offer a supportive and comfortable driving position.

Two standout features truly elevate the interior experience. The first is the Touareg’s cavernous boot, which offers 810 litres of storage space, expandable to a massive 1,800 litres when the rear seats are folded flat—perfect for everything from grocery runs to long holidays and then some.

The second is the 13-speaker Dynaudio sound system, which delivers exceptional audio clarity and power, proving to be amongst the best premium setups we have tested in recent times. 

However, the interior isn’t without its flaws, most of which stem from the Innovision 15-inch central touchscreen unit. While the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provides crisp and legible readouts, the central screen presents a stark contrast. Despite its large size, the layout of icons and hotkeys is scattered and unintuitive.

The complexity of the system further exacerbates this issue. For instance, the climate control system includes three different profiles, a separate blower speed setting and rear climate settings—all controlled via closely spaced icons. This design makes it easy to accidentally turn on the passenger seat heater instead of lowering the temperature.

Simple tasks—such as switching from media to climate controls or navigation—are a steep learning curve, which could challenge even tech-savvy users, let alone those less accustomed to digital interfaces.

Adding to this, the central screen’s placement affects the functionality of the air vents, which are positioned literally level with the gear lever.

This compromises airflow circulation, leaving another area where practicality seems to have taken a backseat to aesthetics and VW’s move to reduce the use of physical buttons.

How does it drive?

Getting behind the wheel, the 2024 Touareg delivers a good overall driving experience, mostly down to its strong powertrain and impressive drivetrain calibration. With 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque, it effortlessly navigates both city traffic and will storm its way to 200 km/h with adequate motivation. 

Likewise, the transmission is an 8-speed conventional automatic transmission that offers smooth and intuitive shifts. While not as lightning-quick as Volkswagen's dual-clutch (DSG) gearboxes, it suits the Touareg’s character well, delivering refined performance, especially in urban traffic.

Despite its power, the 2024 Touareg is happier to munch the miles away at a steady cruise of 130 km/h. Putting pedal to the metal;  it clocked a best time of 6.39 seconds in our 0-100 km/h test—on par with competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Notably, without a hybrid system on board, the 2024 Touareg feels lighter and nimbler on the brakes and during quick direction changes compared to its rivals. 

The suspension, however, could be improved. While effective at soaking up typical bumps and ruts on the road, it contributes to a somewhat rear-biased stance. As if more of the weight is pushed towards the rear at speed, making the front end feel light and a bit vague. 

Even so, the Touareg is in general, capable on the roads. The chassis does a commendable job of controlling body roll and maximizing grip. Supported by the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, the 2024 Touareg also compensates for the less-than-stellar grip of the tyres. 

Does the IQ Drive ADAS suite work well?

The 2024 Touareg comes equipped with the full IQ Drive ADAS suite, which adds features like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop-and-Go and Lane Assist, which were missing on the Arteon IQ Drive we tested previously.

The ACC system is particularly well-executed, offering smooth and natural speed adjustments whether increasing or decreasing cruising speeds. It handles merging traffic seamlessly, detecting and adapting to vehicles ahead without abrupt speed changes. Similarly, the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) also provide clear and well-timed alerts.

On the downside, the proximity sensors and RCTA system are way too sensitive to vehicles that are still a good distance away, and yet again, the usability of the system falls short.

The steering wheel spokes are filled with buttons, 16 to be exact. And whilst they're grouped nicely (ACC controls being on the left), the process is made more tedious because the sensitive haptic buttons have no borders between them—so it's not uncommon to turn up the volume whilst trying to set your cruising speed. 

Add to this, the 'Set' and 'Resume' functions could've been integrated into one. The overarching process feels complicated and too distracting whilst on the move, thus, while the ADAS technology is undoubtedly good, the 2024 Touareg needs a rethink of its user interface.

Fuel efficiency

Though more nimble, here the lack of electrification becomes more noticeable. In a 60/40 mix of highway and city driving, the Touareg required a top-up of 12.2 litres after the 100.9 km test distance. This gives it an average fuel economy of 12.1 litres/100km, which is a bit on the thirsty side. 

That said, the massive 90-litre fuel tank is a saving grace. With sensible driving, the Touareg can cover approximately 800 km between fuel stops, making it great for long-distance journeys.

Conclusion

Returning to our overarching theme of finding the perfect car for your needs and budget, the 2024 Touareg is undoubtedly a capable product that deserves your consideration if you’re shopping for a luxury mid-size SUV.

On the positive side, it offers a spacious cabin, a superb powertrain with legitimate off-road capabilities, a comfortable ride and impressive build quality. However, these qualities aren’t exclusive to the Touareg—all its competitors excel in the same areas and then some. 

To call a spade a spade, at RM472k, the 2024 Touareg isn’t exactly the bargain it used to be. Especially, when you consider the Lexus RX 350 Luxury (RM468k) and the longstanding Volvo XC90 Ultra MHEV (RM418k) both cost less and are very, very desirable as well. 

And in there lies the quagmire of the 2024 Touareg—it's not that it isn't a great SUV, it simply isn’t exceptional enough to stand out among its highly capable peers. 

Also read: Review: Snobs need not apply, the 2024 VW Touareg appeals to certain individuals, and it might catch you by surprise

Also read: VPCM's most powerful CKD model, 2024 VW Touareg facelift launched in Malaysia - 340 PS / 450 Nm, 3.0T V6, 8AT