• Innovision Cockpit is easier to use than other VW systems
• Well-equipped and packed with tech
• Build and trim quality behind the class best

How is the quality and layout?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of the Touareg’s interior and quite a lot to like. The primary surfaces are slush-moulded and soft to touch, whlle the trim and materials rival anything offered by the best of its rivals. It’s always been good, and we’ve always rated it, but it was improved usefully with the 2023 facelift.

Compared to the exterior changes, the interior upgrades were quite mild, but very effective in just lifting it a little more. There’s additional stitching on the top of the doors panels with squishier armrests underneath, and some padded kneepads on the centre console. It’s a welcome lift in quality, but what the Touareg lacks is the welcoming feel of a BMW X5 or Audi Q7.

The controls for drive mode, suspension (on air-sprung models) and stereo volume are all physical and on the centre console, which we’re very happy about, but virtually everything else is controlled by the touchscreen. That’s no bad thing, as we’ll explain below.

Infotainment and tech

Your view from behind the wheel is dominated by what Volkswagen calls its Innovision Cockpit set-up, and what the rest of us might know as a Virtual Cockpit, I-Cockpit or, simply, digital instrumentation. It’s made up a pair of screens running from the instrument binnacle and right across the dash. The main touchscreen measures 15.0-inches while the driver’s display is 12.0-inches.

We’re appreciative that there aren’t any non-illuminated temperature or volume controls like initial versions of the ID.4, and there are a few physical controls, too. The menus are reasonably easy to fathom and the responses of both systems are good. The driver’s display is trickier to navigate thanks to new touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, but is clear and displays loads of useful info.

Tiles can be personalised easily to arrange your key data into sections. Because of the acreage, virtual function buttons are easy to access without the need to guide your finger home. On top of this, the Touareg offers a head-up display, Night Vision (displayed on-screen) and matrix LED headlights, which Volkswagen claims are among the most advanced it has fitted to any car.

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Comfort

• Seats are well-shaped and supportive
• Great driving position and visibility
• Massaging seats available

As you’d expect in Volkswagen’s range-topping car, the Touareg’s driving position and overall levels of interior comfort are very good indeed – which has been the case for all three generations. The interior gets well-shaped and supportive seats, with a massive range of adjustment.

The driving position gives you a clear and commanding view ahead, which helps with your confidence when piloting such a large car. The steering wheel and seats are electrically adjustable, and accommodated our shortest and tallest testers with no. issues. Heating is standard, while plusher trims getting seat ventilation and massage functions.