Thursday 7th March 2019

340hp Volkswagen Touareg tops UK range

Need a new track day tow car? This most potent petrol six can pull up to 3.5 tonnes and hit 62mph in 5.9 seconds...

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If you want proof that Europe’s appetite for powerful SUVs is alive and well, see the two latest engines to be added to Volkswagen’s Touareg range. Following last month’s announcement of a 421hp diesel V8 for our neighbours on the continent, Britain’s now being given a new top petrol V6 variant that produces a rather healthy 340hp.

Using Volkswagen’s 3.0-litre TSI motor, this most potent UK Touareg has enough punch to match the pricier BMW X5 40i. It can sprint from zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds and, more significantly for a car of this type, also tow up to 3.5 tonnes. Key to this is the V6’s peak of 332lb ft of torque, which arrives from just above idle at 1,340rpm and hangs on until 5,300rpm.

Ok, Europe’s 4.0 V8 diesel provides a far, far superior 664lb ft, but the V6 petrol is at least a significantly lighter lump, which ought to aid handling. Even compared to the smaller 3.0-litre diesel our top V6 petrol is 50kg lighter. It comes mated to the same eight-speed Tiptronic automatic as the rest of the range and drives all four wheels via VW’s 4Motion hardware.

No other changes have been brought with the new powerplant, meaning you still get a circa two tonne SUV with a 679-litre boot and space to seat five adults. Opt for the top R-Line or R-Line Tech versions and VW’s sharp-looking SUV gets a sporting makeover, although the 340hp engine is also available with the cheaper and more discrete SEL trim. Prices for that start at £52,635.

Want one? You won’t have to wait long as orders are being taken now and first deliveries are due in April. Perfect timing for a new track car tow machine to arrive…

[housen]

noice

[C.A.R.]

Nice, save for the rusty brown metallic colour (seen a few sparkly dark brown Golfs lately too - madness!)

Those hvac controls have managed to look older than the current dials & screens combination on VAG cars. I'm sure they're still capable of doing the same things, but a dial for heater control makes much more logical sense to me...

[J4CKO]

C.A.R. said:

Nice, save for the rusty brown metallic colour (seen a few sparkly dark brown Golfs lately too - madness!)

Why is it madness ?

Think it looks rather classy, rust tends to be more red/orange anyway.

[Nerdherder]

Tell us more about the interesting stuff at Geneva please!

[st4]

Finally the correct engine for one of these rather than some noisy diesel. If was chosing one of these, that's the engine I would choose.

[Wills2]

I don't see how this works in the UK at all the V8 diesel would make much more sense in car of its size/weight, they'll be rarer than hens teeth.

[st4]

Wills2 said:

I don't see how this works in the UK at all the V8 diesel would make much more sense in car of its size/weight, they'll be rarer than hens teeth.

Quiet, smooth, powerful enough for the type of car. Nice and roarty when you give it the beans. I reckon though a budget model with the 3.0 from the Golf R would work well too,.

The V8 diesel won't have the refinement this will offer. No way.

Given how diesel is demonised (rightly or wrongly) you'd be mad to order a new diesel car.

[aarondbs]

Rather embarrassingly I like the V6 Diesel engine in the F Pace but I’m comparing it to the horrible petrol in the X5 e motion which I also have the pleasure of. It sounds purposeful and feels like it belongs in an SUV.

The mpg difference in this compared to the diesel alternative would also put me off too. Nice car though and I like brown

[st4]

aarondbs said:

Rather embarrassingly I like the V6 Diesel engine in the F Pace but I’m comparing it to the horrible petrol in the X5 e motion which I also have the pleasure of. It sounds purposeful and feels like it belongs in an SUV.

The mpg difference in this compared to the diesel alternative would also put me off too. Nice car though and I like brown

If the V6 diesel in your F pace is anything like the straight six diesel in the X6 40d I borrowed or indeed the V6 that was in my old S class, E classes I would sooner pay the extra fuel costs to not hear it

We're all different mind but this to me, is the engine in VW toureg range to get.

[Shakermaker]

Wills2 said:

I don't see how this works in the UK at all the V8 diesel would make much more sense in car of its size/weight, they'll be rarer than hens teeth.

And potentially as cheap on the used market as the Phaeton in a few years time?

[aarondbs]

st4 said:

aarondbs said:

Rather embarrassingly I like the V6 Diesel engine in the F Pace but I’m comparing it to the horrible petrol in the X5 e motion which I also have the pleasure of. It sounds purposeful and feels like it belongs in an SUV.

The mpg difference in this compared to the diesel alternative would also put me off too. Nice car though and I like brown

If the V6 diesel in your F pace is anything like the straight six diesel in the X6 40d I borrowed or indeed the V6 that was in my old S class, E classes I would sooner pay the extra fuel costs to not hear it

We're all different mind but this to me, is the engine in VW toureg range to get.

You could be right. Having owned three Alfa V6 Busso engined cars including a 164 Cloverleaf I really ought to know better.. horses for courses maybe but the JLR V6 Diesel has character and 300 bop which in this day and age is something.

[Cupramax]

The article says VW’s 3.0TSi engine, I take it this is the Audi S4/S5 single turbo V6?

[st4]

aarondbs said:

You could be right. Having owned three Alfa V6 Busso engined cars including a 164 Cloverleaf I really ought to know better.. horses for courses maybe but the JLR V6 Diesel has character and 300 bop which in this day and age is something.

These Alfa V6' sound glorious.

This has 40bhp more. I wouldn't rule it out and reckon it will have torque a plenty. I've never tried a JLR V6 diesel so cannot comment...but I have an idea

[fernando the frog]

i'd rather this then the bentley any day of the week, looks like a fantastic package

[Tom_Spotley_When]

Well that's tempting for the next car.

Already have a 2015 Touareg and it's a great car that's relatively cheap compared to the competition. Now if someone can buy one of these in the spec that's in the picture, I'll have it off them in 2 years' time....

[Burwood]

So no V8 diesel for the UK?

[st4]

Burwood said:

So no V8 diesel for the UK?

IIRC you can get the V8 TDi but this petrol looks a better, more suitable (particularly for our times), if less powerful alternative.

You don't need 400bhp plus in a wallowy 4x4. This seems a right sized engine/performance for the car.

[Burwood]

st4 said:

Burwood said:

So no V8 diesel for the UK?

IIRC you can get the V8 TDi but this petrol looks a better, more suitable (particularly for our times), if less powerful alternative.

You don't need 400bhp plus in a wallowy 4x4. This seems a right sized engine/performance for the car.

Just checked online. It isn't coming here. Shame

[aaron_2000]

Rather have the diesel for the low down grunt that an SUV needs. Sure if it was 1994, maybe I'd agree with the comments about diesel that belong there, but it isn't, it's 2019 and a 3.0 V6 diesel is a smooth engine, especially in a car like this.

[st4]

aaron_2000 said:

Rather have the diesel for the low down grunt that an SUV needs. Sure if it was 1994, maybe I'd agree with the comments about diesel that belong there, but it isn't, it's 2019 and a 3.0 V6 diesel is a smooth engine, especially in a car like this.

I can’t agree. No six clyinder diesel can match a six clyinder petrol for NVH.

That matters more to me than outright torque or power.