PROS PHEV drivetrain enables limited electric running at speeds up to 135km/h Excellent blend of everyday comfort, refinement and performance 3500kg towing capacity It shares its drivetrain with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
CONS PHEV drivetrain adds handsomely to the weight Li-ion battery robs 70L of boot space Lacks the traditional hardened performance focus for which Volkswagen R models are renowned
“A curious mix of speed and efficiency with a big dollop of comfort. It's just not especially fun ”
PROS Comfy, plush, quick and a company car bargain
CONS Not as nimble as a Cayenne
The VW Touareg R is comfortable, well-equipped and effortless to drive, but not sharp or engaging enough to be considered a true sports SUV. That leaves it in somewhat of a no man’s land. Put simply, those looking for a fast yet relatively frugal sports SUV would be better served by the similarly priced Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid, while those wanting a luxurious and well-rounded plug-in hybrid luxury SUV would be better off with the BMW X5 xDrive45e.
PROS Well-equipped Spacious inside for up to five people Very quiet in electric mode
CONS Cheap-feeling interior Fussy infotainment system Not very exciting to drive
Range-topping MG SUV big on value, and now available as a plug-in hybrid.
PROS Roomy and practical interior Comfortable seats and ride Well equipped with loads of kit Great value for money
CONS Unresponsive, noisy engine Uninspiring handling Some hard interior plastics Less than amazing finance deals
PROS Powerful and engaging driveline Heaps of standard kit Australia's cheapest PHEV SUV
CONS Fuel figure on test far from claim Misses out on seven-year warranty Benefits may be misconstrued
PROS Smooth power delivery Cheaper and better-equipped than rivals Spacious interior
CONS Shorter warranty than other HS models Heavy steering Infotainment set-up needs some finessing
