Skip advert
Advertisement

New 2018 Volkswagen Touareg review – a Bentayga without the badge? - MPG and running costs

The all-new Touareg is full of engineering excellence, but it’s not in the pursuit of driver entertainment

Evo rating
  • Imperious example of German engineering, exceptional refinement, next-generation tech
  • Not much fun to drive, feels its weight on the road, knobbly ride on larger wheels

The Touareg will manage 42.8mpg on the combined cycle, which is admirable considering its size and performance. We saw an average closer to 36mpg in a combination of driving in central London and on motorways.

The Touareg is unlikely to be as cheap to run as a Golf, though, as with all of this new tech, and specifically its mechanical innovations, keeping it all running will be more akin to a luxury SUV than not. The outright size of it will also play a part, as the massive 285-section 21-inch tyres fitted to our test car will cost a bundle to replace.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The GMA S1 is today’s McLaren F1 – sorry, T.50 owners
GMA S1
News

The GMA S1 is today’s McLaren F1 – sorry, T.50 owners

Gordon Murray Automotive has revived the McLaren F1 with the road-biased GMA S1, a 12,100rpm V12 special based upon the ultra-exclusive S1 LM
14 Aug 2026
McLaren McL 6GT is a new manual supercar and a complete reset
McLaren McL 6GT
News

McLaren McL 6GT is a new manual supercar and a complete reset

Unbelievably, the design of this new McLaren is more surprising than the reintroduction of a manual transmission…
14 Aug 2026
The £1.5m Aston Martin Valen is an 838bhp V12 special with a hidden purpose
Aston Martin Valen
News

The £1.5m Aston Martin Valen is an 838bhp V12 special with a hidden purpose

Aston Martin has launched its latest limited-run model, devising a new ‘V’ name and the most powerful iteration of its twin-turbocharged V12 ever prod…
14 Aug 2026