Volkswagen has announced the end of production for its current Touareg SUV, confirming a Final Edition that will be available in Australia before order books close permanently in March 2026. This marks the conclusion of a model that has been in production for over two decades, with 1.2 million units sold across 39 countries since its debut in 2002.
The Touareg Final Edition is based on the third-generation model, which was initially released in 2018 and received a facelift in 2023. This edition features notable cosmetic enhancements both inside and out. A spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia confirmed, “We can confirm the Touareg Final Edition for Australia and expect the Touareg to remain in local showrooms well into 2026,” as reported by CarExpert.
Details on Availability and Market Position
In Europe, the Final Edition will be available across all four model grades: Touareg, Elegance, R-Line, and R. However, Australian pricing and specific details regarding availability remain undisclosed. Volkswagen has yet to clarify how many units will be offered in Australia or how it plans to fill the gap at the top of its local SUV range once stocks are depleted.
Sales of the Touareg have remained strong in Australia, with 633 registrations so far this year, slightly above the 623 during the same period in 2024. While this performance surpasses competitors like the Volvo XC90 (571 sales), it lags significantly behind the Land Rover Defender (3,033) and BMW X5 (2,764), the latter being the most popular premium large SUVs priced over $80,000.
During the recent launch of the new Tayron, a longer version of the Tiguan mid-size SUV, Volkswagen Australia’s head of product, Arjun Nidigallu, emphasized the unique position of the Touareg in the market. He stated, “The Touareg replaces your old-school estate tourer in the new SUV-dominated world. A lot of customers who would go into a tourer class are certainly in the Touareg now.” He highlighted the vehicle’s capabilities, noting its towing capacity exceeding three tonnes and its six-cylinder diesel engine.
Future of the Touareg Nameplate
Despite the current model’s retirement, reports suggest that the Touareg name may not disappear entirely. According to a report from Automobilwoche, Volkswagen is considering reintroducing the badge on a battery-electric vehicle (EV) expected in 2029. This potential model would be the first from the Volkswagen Group, which also includes Porsche, Cupra, and Skoda, to be built on the new dedicated-electric Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
The Touareg is currently Volkswagen’s largest model and the brand’s only plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) available in local showrooms. It is set to be joined by PHEV versions of the Tiguan and Tayron in 2026. The existing V6 turbo-diesel engine used in the Touareg exceeds the CO2 limits set by the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for 2026, which could result in financial penalties that might be offset by higher showroom prices. Current prices for the Touareg range from $89,490 to $133,490 in Australia.
As Volkswagen prepares to bid farewell to the Touareg in its current form, the automotive community watches closely, anticipating how the brand will navigate the transition to electric vehicles and what the future holds for this iconic nameplate.
