Volkswagen boosts Touareg range with powerful new V6 petrol engine
First non-diesel offering in the range offers impressive performance; prices start from £52,635
Volkswagen has added a petrol engine to its Touareg range, bolstering the SUV’s previously all-diesel line-up.
The new unit, a turbocharged petrol V6, joins existing 228bhp and 282bhp V6 diesel models, sitting above them in both power and price. It offers 335bhp and 450Nm of torque and, like its diesel stablemates, is mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic gearbox which drives all four wheels.
Performance is impressive, with the Touareg managing 0-60mph in less than six seconds – making it quicker than a Golf GTI — while its top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. Perhaps not unexpectedly, these are similar performance figures to the Porsche Cayenne, which shares the Touareg’s chassis and engine.
The petrol variant is 50kg lighter than its diesel counterparts, but offers the same maximum 3,500kg towing weight – which may be music to the ears of those with caravans or trailers. Fuel economy takes a hit, though – Volkswagen quotes 31.7mpg, compared with the diesels’ 34.9mpg. CO2 emissions are set at 203g/km.
As a big, petrol-powered SUV in 2019, the Touareg’s not short of competition – even from in-house, with VW Group sibling Porsche’s Cayenne providing a tempting proposition. Land Rover also sells a petrol Discovery, while Volvo’s XC90 T5 and Mercedes’ GLE 450 prove to be strong rivals.
Pricing for the new V6 petrol Touareg starts at £52,635 for base SEL trim – just under £1,000 more than the more powerful diesel choice. The range now tops out at £59,235 for a petrol Touareg in R-Line Tech trim.
Order books are open, and Volkswagen expects the first cars to arrive in the UK in April.
