All were good cars, but the VW badge simply couldn’t cut it in rarefied company; the Touareg was the only model to survive ... you to pay a significant premium for mediocrity.

Tim Pitt drives the 2024 Volkswagen Touareg, a large SUV with plug-in hybrid tech and a premium price tag.

It’s big, it’s fast, it’s luxurious, Volkswagen’s Touareg has always been a stand-out large SUV. This one, the full-fat R is the latest take on the halo Volkswagen model.