Volkswagen Touareg Review
2017-2023
The Volkswagen Touareg (CR7 3rd Generation) is Volkswagen's flagship heavy luxury SUV. Built on the prestigious MLB Evo platform—sharing core chassis engineering underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and Bentley Bentayga—the Touareg delivers supreme luxury, a curved 15-inch Innovision Cockpit display, 4MOTION permanent AWD, and adaptive air suspension with up to 258 mm ground clearance. Powered by 3.0L V6 TDI and TSI engines, it offers executive prestige.
*This score is awarded by our team of expert reviewers after extensive testing of the car
What’s good
- Shares MLB Evo chassis underpinnings with Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7: World-class chassis refinement and high-speed stability.
- Cavernous 15-inch Innovision Cockpit touchscreen: Curved digital cockpit merges gauge cluster and central display.
- Adaptive air suspension raises clearance to 258 mm: Effortlessly handles deep ruts, rough upcountry tracks, and flooded riverbeds.
- Massive 600 Nm V6 TDI diesel torque: 3.5-tonne towing capacity and effortless overtaking up mountain passes.
What’s not so good
- High CRSP customs valuation: 3.0L engine triggers 35% excise duty rate.
- Specialized maintenance requirements: Requires certified diagnostic scanners for high-tech air suspension and sensor electronics.
Most popular: Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI Elegance / R-Line / Atmosphere
5 doorsPetrol, DieselAutomatic
At a glance
- Model
- Volkswagen Touareg (CR7 Series)
- Production years
- 2017–2023
- Body type
- 5-Door Heavy Luxury SUV
- Seating capacity
- 5
- Fuel types
- Clean Diesel, Petrol
- Engine sizes
- 2,967 cc (3.0L V6 TDI) / 2,995 cc (3.0L V6 TSI)
- Transmission
- 8-Speed Tiptronic Automatic
- Drivetrain
- 4MOTION Permanent All-Wheel Drive with Torsen Center Diff
- Ground clearance
- 215 mm (up to 258 mm with Air Suspension)
- Source market
- UK / Japan (RHD)
Fuel consumption
Manufacturer / import-market figures: 14.5 km/L (3.0 V6 TDI) / 10.5 km/L (3.0 V6 TSI). Tank: 75 L (about 1088 km combined). Real-world use varies with load, traffic and altitude.
Running cost
- City driving
- KES 1,923 / 100 km
- Highway driving
- KES 1,351 / 100 km
- 1,000 km a month
- KES 15,652
- Full tank (75 L)
- KES 17,022
Based on petrol at KES 226.96/L, 15-10-2026 to 14-11-2026. Combined economy unless stated.
Work out a trip cost →Trims & variants
Elegance / Atmosphere / R-Line
- Setup
3.0L V6 turbo diesel (286 hp / 600 Nm), 8-speed Tiptronic, 4MOTION AWD, returning 14.5 km/L combined.
- Why it gets shipped
The definitive choice for executive travelers, combining 600 Nm torque with 14+ km/L economy.
Package tiers
Touareg trim levels range from elegant Elegance/Atmosphere models to aggressive R-Line and Black Style editions.
| Package | Level | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Elegance / Atmosphere | Executive luxury | Savona leather seats, 12-inch Digital Cockpit, 15-inch touchscreen, LED Matrix headlights, and 19-inch alloys. |
| R-Line | Executive sport | R-Line aero bumpers, 20/21-inch dark alloys, panoramic glass roof, heated/ventilated seats, and sports steering wheel. |
| Black Style Package | Bespoke luxury | Gloss black exterior grille, black mirror caps, black window surrounds, and dark 21-inch Suzuka wheels. |
About the Volkswagen Touareg
Kenya enforces an 8-year age limit from manufacture month and right-hand drive compliance. In 2026, 2019 to 2023 CR7 Touareg models sit inside the direct import window.
The 3.0L V6 TDI (2,967 cc) and 3.0L V6 TSI (2,995 cc) engines sit in KRA's 35% luxury excise duty tax bracket, offering immense high-speed cruising refinement.
Disclaimer
Tax figures are estimates based on October 2026 KRA schedules. Always verify specific chassis CRSP entries with your clearing agent prior to purchase.
