A Familiar Name, a Very Different Future
The Volkswagen Touareg has always been a bit of an outlier in the brand’s lineup. It never tried to be flashy or chase a premium badge, but it quietly shared a lot with the Audi Q7. Same bones, less attention.
Over time, the Touareg earned a reputation for doing things its own way. It came with some of Volkswagen’s most unusual engines – V10 TDI and W12 – yet it could handle rough roads and long highway drives without fuss. It towed well, cruised comfortably, and never felt out of place.
That run is over. Volkswagen confirmed last year that the Touareg is retiring after more than twenty years, quietly closing the book on one of the brand’s more ambitious projects.
But the story might not be finished yet. There’s talk of a comeback, though the next Touareg could be very different from the one enthusiasts know.
An Electric Flagship in Disguise
According to Autocar, Volkswagen is looking at a new flagship SUV to fill the space left by the Touareg. Sales boss Martin Sander told the publication that the outgoing model wasn’t a big seller, but it did serve a certain kind of customer Volkswagen wants to keep.
Those customers, as described by Sanders, “are very down-to-earth people who are affluent.” Someone who wants space, quality, and presence, but doesn’t necessarily want to show up in something like a Porsche Macan. It’s a niche that sits between traditional mass-market and premium brands.
If it happens, the replacement will still be a large SUV, but this time fully electric. It’s being considered as part of Volkswagen’s next batch of EVs, likely after the ID. Golf, and would use the new SSP platform.
Like before, it could share tech with Audi and Porsche. The idea isn’t to make a flashy luxury SUV, but something that quietly does the job at the top of the range.
A Touareg in Spirit, Not in Form
There’s still room for a vehicle like this. Budget EVs are improving, and premium brands keep moving upmarket, but there aren’t many options for buyers who want something in between – especially if they prefer their luxury on the quiet side.
A new Touareg could slot right into that gap. It doesn’t need big engines now, but it does need to feel just as capable and effortless as before. Quiet performance, good range, and a premium feel – without the extra flash.
The real question is what it will feel like. Without the old engines and with a new look, the next Touareg might just be a familiar name on a very different SUV. That isn’t a bad thing, but it does mean expectations will change.
If Volkswagen gets the mix right, this could turn out to be one of its more interesting EVs. And if the Rivian partnership shapes the software and platform, there’s a real chance for something worth a closer look.
It might not be the Touareg fans remember, but at least the idea isn’t gone for good.
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