DecodedCarsVolkswagen Touareg
13 model years from 2005 to 2017, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2005–2017
- Class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Latest engines
- 3.6L 6-cyl
- Best MPG
- 16–24 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 9 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2016 (45)
- Fewest problems
- 2017
- Interest
- 16,526 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2017 Touareg in brief
The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is a standard SUV offered with a 3.6L 6-cyl engine and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 189 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,696 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 19 MPG combined (17 city / 23 highway), 3% better than the 2017 standard SUV average of 18.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
The Volkswagen Touareg has 13 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2017, classed as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD.
Its most efficient year was 2016 at 24 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 16 to 24 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the engine (88), fuel/propulsion system (77), unknown or other (39).
Buying used? 2017 has the fewest problems in our data.
2012 has the most recalls (4); all years together count 9 campaigns and 281 owner complaints.
How the 2005 Touareg compares
The 2005 Volkswagen Touareg is a SUV - offered with 2 engines (3.2L 6-cyl and 4.2L 8-cyl) and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 187 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,825 lb (4dr SUV AWD V10 Tdi).
About the Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by Volkswagen from August 2002 until March 2026. The vehicle takes its name from the nomadic Tuareg people, inhabitants of the Saharan interior in North Africa. It served as Volkswagen's flagship SUV throughout its production life and was built exclusively at the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant in Slovakia, with CKD assembly in Malaysia commencing in 2024.
From the Wikipedia article "Volkswagen Touareg", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2017 Touareg pros & cons
Full 2017 details →What's good
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
- Few owner complaints24 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 364 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2017 Touareg
24 owner complaints · 1 recall
None of the 3 model years we compared stands out for complaints or recalls.
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 3 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Touareg changes by model year
- 2017
- No diesel version any more
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG down from 24 to 19
- 2016
- No hybrid version any more
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl
- 2011
- New body dimensions: 2.0 in longer, wheelbase +2.0 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- New hybrid version
- Engine added: 3.0L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 20 to 22
- 2010
- Engine dropped: 4.2L 8-cyl
- 2009
- Engine added: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Engine dropped: 5.0L 10-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG up from 17 to 20
- 2007
- Engine added: 3.6L 6-cyl
- Engine dropped: 3.2L 6-cyl
- 2006
- New diesel version
- Engine added: 5.0L 10-cyl turbo
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 13 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3.6L 6-cyl | 19 MPG | 189 in | 4,696 lb | Not rated | 1 | 24 |
| 2016 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 189 in | 4,974 lb | Not rated | 2 | 45 |
| 2015 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 23 MPG | 189 in | 4,974 lb | Not rated | 3 | 24 |
| 2014 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 23 MPG | 189 in | 4,974 lb | Not rated | 3 | 24 |
| 2013 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 23 MPG | 189 in | 4,974 lb | Not rated | 3 | 20 |
| 2012 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 22 MPG | 189 in | 4,974 lb | Not rated | 4 | 20 |
| 2011 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 22 MPG | 189 in | 4,974 lb | Not rated | 4 | 7 |
| 2010 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | 187 in | 5,304 lb | Not rated | 1 | 14 |
| 2009 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl | 20 MPG | 187 in | 5,086 lb | Not rated | 1 | 12 |
| 2008 | 5.0L 10-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl | 17 MPG | 187 in | 5,086 lb | Not rated | 1 | 41 |
| 2007 | 5.0L 10-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl | 17 MPG | 187 in | 5,086 lb | Not rated | 2 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5.0L 10-cyl turbo, 3.2L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl | 17 MPG | 187 in | 5,086 lb | Not rated | 1 | 17 |
| 2005 | 3.2L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 MPG | 187 in | 5,825 lb | Not rated | 1 | 28 |
Alternatives to the 2017 Touareg
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser | 15 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2017 Toyota RAV4 | 32 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | 30 MPG | ★★★★★ | 7 |
| 2017 Toyota 4Runner | 18 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2017 Ford Explorer | 22 MPG | ★★★★★ | 14 |
| 2017 Subaru Forester | 28 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volkswagen. How we calculate this →