Intro
With unpredictable and more extreme weather patterns battering our shores, there is always something quite reassuring when you get behind the wheel of a beefed-up SUV with 4x4 capabilities, along with all the safety tech you could imagine. And two very big hitters in this field are the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7.
While both models have been around for some time now, they have certainly evolved and moved with the times. Both come with a choice of powertrains and generously-equipped trim levels and, as you might expect, carry a price-tag that is at the higher end of the scale.
We opted for the Touareg and Q7 featuring plug-in hybrid technology and explored their all-round appeal from a design point of view, practicality and performance, along with running costs, to find out which model packs the biggest punch.
And it was certainly a very close-run race between this pair of German manufactured vehicles.
Price and Performance
The VW Touareg is available in three trim levels with prices starting from £71,390 for the Elegance grade with plug-in hybrid technology, increasing to £74,525 for the Black Edition with a 3.0-litre diesel engine, and finally to £82,950 for the range-topping Touareg R, which also features a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but gains a lot more oomph.
The Touareg Elegance is powered by a 3.0 TSI eHybrid powertrain with 381PS and 450Nm of torque. It can complete the 0-62mph sprint in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155mph (limited)
The Touareg Black Edition has a 3.0 TDI diesel engine with 286PS and 600Nm of torque. It’s not so quick at 6.4 seconds (0-62mph) and the top speed is also slightly lower at 147mph.
Finally, the Touareg R, as tested, with its 3.0 TSI turbocharged V6 eHybrid petrol engine with 462PS and 450Nm of torque. This model cuts the 0-62mph time down to just 5.2 seconds and, like the Elegance version, the top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.
All Touareg SUVs feature all-wheel drive as standard and have an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox.
Design-wise, the Touareg R is a great looking SUV without being too imposing. Our high-end test model featured a black grille that housed the VW emblem along with smaller R badging. There are upgraded 22-inch alloy wheels with blue brake callipers, black roof rails, a rear light bar with illuminated logo, privacy glass, a panoramic sunroof, plus sweeping headlights with Night Vision that scans the road ahead looking for pedestrians, animals and cyclists.
We put the Touareg R to the test on a varied road route, incorporating fast-moving motorways, twisting country lanes and busy town centres.
With that sharp acceleration, it’s easy to join a motorway from a slow-moving slip lane, and the Touareg quickly reaches the national speed limit where the adaptive cruise control makes longer journeys more comfortable.
There are drive modes called Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual, Off-Road and Snow, along with steering wheel-mounted paddles so you can switch through the gears manually. These modes come into force when faced with more demanding B roads, with Sport sharpening up the responses considerably.
The vehicle does feel quite heavy when pushed on, but the elevated seating position offers a great view across the hedgerows. And the impressive all-round driver visibility is a real plus-point in busier school or town centre traffic with cars, cyclists and pedestrians darting out from all angles.
Refinement is an area where the Touareg scores well too with air suspension helping to smooth out uneven road surfaces and excellent all-round insulation resulting in a nicely hushed cabin. The powered seats are upholstered in smart quilted leather and can be warmed, ventilated and even offer a massage function.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain means the Touareg can be driven in EV-only mode for up to 31 miles. While this is not a great distance, it will suit anyone who has a short daily commute.
By comparison, the Audi Q7 PHEV is available in trims called S line, costing from £77,130, Black Edition at £81,685 and Vorsprung, priced from £99,735. Customers can also choose from a number of alternative powertrains, along with the super-fast SQ7 model with its 4.1 second 0-62mph sprint time. This version will set you back £116,095.
The Q7 PHEV S line model features a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine delivering 340PS and 500Nm of torque. It can reach 62mph from a standstill in 5.7 seconds and maxes out at an electronically-limited 149mph.
The Black Edition has the same powertrain and performance figures, but gains distinctive black styling along with larger wheels. And the Vorsprung specification gets all the extra design cues along with superior upgrades to comfort and technology features.
We opted for the entry-level S-line grade, but it was certainly anything but basic.
Like its VW Touareg rival, the Q7 PHEV (or 55 TFSI e quattro to give it its full name) is also all-wheel drive and all versions feature an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddles for manual shifting.
It’s certainly a head-turner with a huge grille that simply cannot be ignored. It houses the oversized Audi rings emblem and is flanked by the light clusters. The rear windows are tinted and there is plenty of smart chrome trim, along with 20-inch alloys.
On an extensive test drive covering more than 500 miles, the Q7 PHEV certainly provided all the comfort you could wish for. The seats were powered and, along with the steering wheel, could be heated against the winter chill.
The acceleration off the mark is not as quick as the Touareg, but it’s fast enough for day-to-day driving. The vehicle is balanced through country lanes with minimal body sway, and the drive modes called Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, Off Road and All Road do alter the responses considerably.
The ground clearance can be adjusted if faced with more demanding terrain and the battery charge levels can be saved or boosted via the petrol engine if needs be. With the Q7 always starting in EV mode, pulling away is nicely hushed and the petrol engine cuts in smoothly when needed.
It does feel quite large when faced with narrow lanes, but is deceptively agile in busier town centres, where the all-round driver visibility once again impresses. The Q7 does have a better EV-only driving range of 51 miles.
It’s difficult to separate these two when it comes to performance, but we would suggest the VW Touareg has the slight edge thanks to its sharper handling, but if electric range is a key factor, the Audi wins that vote.
Practicality
Five-door SUVs need to cover all the practicality bases and the VW Touareg scores well in this category. It stretches 4,902mm in length, is 1,984mm wide (excluding mirrors), 1,693mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,899mm.
The cabin is spacious with room for four adults to sit comfortably – three adults across the back row will be fine for short journeys, but ideally the seats are better suited to a trio of youngsters.
The main focal point within the cockpit is a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen that offers access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functions, the sat nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio and lots more besides.
The boot has a powered tailgate and it can hold 665 litres of kit, extending to 1,675 with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Throughout the cabin, you will find a deep central cubby, lockable glovebox, front and rear cup holders, seat back nets, a wireless charging pad, wide door bins with bottle section, some trays and extra nets, a compact compartment by the driver’s door, plus five USB-C ports.
With family adventures in mind, the all-wheel drive Touareg can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. And the vehicle’s ground clearance can be adjusted at the turn of a dial when faced with more challenging terrain.
Finally, charging the 14.3kWh battery takes 2 hours, 30 minutes if using a 7.2kW wallbox.
The Audi Q7 is also a very practical choice. This car is 5,072mm long, 1,970mm across (without mirrors), 1,690mm high and has a 2,999mm wheelbase.
So, very similar dimensions to the VW Touareg and the same goes for interior space too. Front seat occupants can enjoy bundles of room to stretch out and back seat passengers are hardly restricted either. Two adults will sit comfortably over longer journey as would three youngsters.
On-board tech is comprehensive within the high-end Q7’s cabin thanks to an infotainment screen that is integrated into the dashboard along with a second climate control screen. Behind the steering wheel is where the speed, sat nav directions and other driving data can be viewed and this is customisable too.
There is full smartphone integration, DAB radio and sat nav. Additionally, the test car featured a Technology Pack costing an extra £2,995 that added a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, 360-degree camera, park assist and a head-up display.
The Q7 boot has a powered tailgate and the capacity ranges from 563 litres to 1,863 litres with the rear seats lowered. The glovebox also locks and it features the same type of storage options throughout the cabin as the Touareg.
Charging the 22kWh battery takes about 3 hours, 45 minutes, and the Q7 PHEV can also tow a 3.5-tonne trailer or caravan.
It is worth noting that the Audi Q7 PHEV is only available as a five-seater, while models with alternative powertrains have seven seats. The Touareg is only sold as a five-seat SUV.
Both vehicles are similarly sized and offer excellent levels of comfort for all occupants. But if storage space is a key factor, then the Audi Q7 has the slight edge.
Efficiency
Under WLTP testing, the VW Touareg, costing £82,840 before options, can deliver a combined 120mpg. It gains such a high efficiency figure due to its plug-in technology, but in order to see even close to the official number, the vehicle would need to be regularly charged and the EV range used to the max.
However, the low carbon emissions figure of 53g/km results in an attractive Benefit in Kind figure for fleet buyers of 18 per cent. But would-be buyers would need to find an extra £425 from years two to six because the Touareg is over the government’s £40k expensive car tax threshold.
The Touareg R, as tested, sits in insurance group 49, which will also prove expensive.
Similarly, the Audi Q7, priced at £81,760, has a pie in the sky fuel economy figure set at 217.3mpg and once again the car’s EV range of 51 miles would need to be used constantly and the car charged frequently.
It boasts better carbon emissions figure than the VW at 30g/km, resulting in a BiK rating of just nine per cent.
Once again, owners would need to find the extra funds for the expensive car tax, and the Audi Q7, as tested sits in insurance group 50.
While there is little to separate the two vehicles when it comes to purchase costs, the Audi pips the VW in this sector thanks to its lower BiK rating.
So, which takes your fancy?
It’s difficult to choose whether the VW Touareg or Audi Q7 came out on top in this battle of big hitting plug-in hybrid SUVs.
They both have a great deal going for them. But you do get a range-topping VW for the outlay compared to an entry-level Audi Q7. And the VW also has the edge when it comes to outright performance.
However, the Q7 offers extra storage space and, with the larger battery, has a superior EV driving range and lower emissions figure which will be important to fleet drivers.
It might just come down to badge preference for any would-be customers.
