Volkswagen Touareg SUV - Interior & comfort

The Touareg’s interior is dominated by the 'Innovision Cockpit', with a 12.3-inch instrument display and 15-inch central infotainment screen that appear to flow together (this is standard across the range on later Touaregs, but optional on some earlier versions, which got a comparatively teeny 9.2-inch screen as standard). 

What we don’t like, however, is that there are blank spaces on either side of this panel because it’s an irregular shape, and it ends up looking a little awkward as a result. We’re also not a fan of the Touareg’s touch-sensitive steering-wheel buttons as they’re fiddly to use.

Although seat comfort can be subjective, we didn’t think much of the front seats in the Touareg, because their firm bases made it feel like you were sitting on them, rather than in them, and they weren’t particularly supportive. Each trim gets slightly different leather seats, but black is the only colour option.

Volkswagen Touareg dashboard

Volkswagen’s Innovision Cockpit works intuitively – it shows that Volkswagen can still create usable infotainment systems, even if the fiddly systems fitted in the Golf and its ID electric cars would have you thinking otherwise. One of its key features is the ability to 'drag and drop' tiles so that the information and entertainment displayed can be fully tailored to your 'user profile'. VW says the idea is that the car will adapt to individual drivers, with everything from the driving assistance and convenience features to the suspension mode set to the exact tastes of whoever's driving.

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The way it presents information is a delight, too. There are clear, well-designed graphics that are a treat to look at and the simple temperature adjustment system almost makes up for the lack of a standalone traditional control for doing so. 

It could be argued, though, that the sheer amount of information presented could have the negative effect of distracting the driver. When photographic mapping is displayed on the big centre screen as well as in the instrument cluster, it's all too tempting to pay more attention to the map than to the road ahead.

Equipment

There have been quite a few trim levels for the Volkswagen Touareg over the years, which have included SE, SEL, R-Line Tech, and R-Line Tech Plus. These days, though, there’s Elegance trim, Black Edition trim, and the standalone R model.

Thanks to the arrival of models like the Tiguan Allspace, Volkswagen has taken the Touareg further upmarket, so no version scrimps on kit. The Elegance gets leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, keyless entry and go, a powered tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, a reversing camera and the full all-singing infotainment system.

Black Edition cars get extra styling elements, air suspension, bigger wheels, parking assistance, powered front seats with memory, and darkened rear glass. Aside from a load more power, R models also get cooled front seats, different interior trim, and 30-colour ambient lighting.