As the flagship in the Volkswagen lineup since its 2002 debut, the Touareg has long been the go-to choice for those looking for a capable mid-size luxury SUV that excels at everything it does.
It was the go-to premium SUV choice, refined, composed, and always ready to take on long distances without any fuss. That balance between comfort, capability and understated sophistication made it one of VW’s most respected nameplates.
Now in its third generation, the Touareg has racked up over 1 million sales worldwide. Yet, after more than two decades of success, the time has come for it to bow out – well, sort of.
There’s a twist. While the current model is preparing for its departure call, unconfirmed reports suggest that the name could live on, albeit in an EV guise. If all goes to plan, we might see an ID. Touareg make its debut around 2029.
For now, the Touareg’s farewell takes the shape of the Final Edition. It is available across the entire range and engine options and is distinguished by unique design details such as subtle ‘Final Edition’ lettering on the rear-door window surrounds and gear lever, ambient lighting, and illuminated dashboard trim and door sills.
You may recall the 5.0-litre V10 TDI in the first-generation model, which packed the most powerful diesel engine to ever be fitted in a VW. At the time, 230kW and 750Nm was considered biblical. What was even more impressive was the 2.5-tonne SUV’s ability to sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds. Epic.
This is the same model that towed a 155-tonne Boeing 747 aeroplane over 150 metres in 2006. A stunt that remains one of the most outrageous displays of diesel strength ever caught on camera.
Then there was the Touareg Hybrid, VW’s first attempt at electrification long before the ID era. Powered by a 3.0-litre V6 TSI paired with an electric motor, it produced 279kW and 580Nm, sprinting from 0 to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds.
And who could forget the 2011 Panamericana Challenge, where a Touareg V6 TDI completed a 22,750km journey from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, to Alaska, crossing 17 countries and every climate zone on Earth?
There are countless stories like these scattered across the Touareg’s 20-year legacy, each one reinforcing why it became so respected. It wasn’t the flashiest SUV, nor the most famous, but it was always brilliantly capable and beautifully engineered.
So, as the Final Edition closes this chapter, the Touareg leaves not with noise or drama, but with dignity, just as it always lived. And if the rumours are true, and an electric Touareg returns in the near future, it will have some seriously big boots to fill.
