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After throwing my kid, a German Shepherd and random errands at the mid-spec Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI Elegance this week, I'm convinced of two things.
One, the Touareg more than earns its place in the large and luxurious SUV stable but continues to remain understated in the 'flashy' department compared with its European competitors like the BMW X5, Audi Q7, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Two, you don't need the flash to be elegant and you certainly don't need the price tag that's often associated with the segment.
In a surprising (but positive) move, VW has reduced prices across the Touareg range and added some features that may just be the winning combo to entice new fans.
Throughout its history Volvo has been known for a lot of things. Being a safety leader, dorky but endearing station wagons, ‘bloody Volvo drivers’, and more recently, a trailblazer in minimalist premium design.
The C40 is the first step in a next chapter for Volvo, with the brand wanting to be known next for its leadership in the electric space. For the first time for Volvo, it’s a fully electric offering
But in a world of Teslas, Polestars, and Mercedes Benz EQs, where does the C40 sit, and is it worth considering in an increasingly congested premium small SUV space?
We went to its Australian launch to find out.
The Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI Elegance is aptly named. It looks handsome inside and out, has a bunch of luxury features and offers true practicality for families. I like how it handles and that it’s relatively affordable for the segment. You don’t miss out with this one.
My son didn’t spend much time in this but thought it looked fancy and loved his space in the back.
The C40 becomes a compelling option in the electrified small SUV space, offering a premium look and feel, great range and tech inclusions at the price, as well as awesome on-road dynamics.
Its main downsides are the rear seat, which is compromised by its platform and design-led roofline, and the overwhelming power and added traction of the dual-motor makes the single motor less attractive on the value front.
Still, regardless of variant chosen, the C40 looks to offer a stand-out balance of price, range, and performance, against its traditional rivals and newcomers alike.
Not a lot has changed for the external styling of the Touareg.
The classic VW pleating across the panelling remains but the updated I.Q Matrix LED headlights, as well as the long light strip across the rear and an illuminated badge give it some serious sex appeal.
The 20-inch alloy wheels and a heavy hand with chrome accents round out the total look for what is essential a big, handsome and sharply styled SUV.
The interior has seen most of the updates – with a dual screen setup that houses a huge 15-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The setup looks well-integrated into the dash - it's the best I've seen in the segment - and flows beautifully with the understated but high-quality aesthetic found throughout the cabin.
Our test model has the optional two-toned grey Varenna leather seats which add some flair and the interior finishes look great.
Volvo has become a brand with a distinctive and consistent design language which embodies the kind of beautiful minimalism normally associated with Scandinavian brands.
I have always liked how Volvo says more with less design elements, with only gentle touches of chrome or gloss black, and a lack of over-the-top sporty pieces avoiding the temptation to over-sell the sporty potential of the brand’s range.
The C40 takes the small SUV formula, well established by its XC40 relation, and gets a bit weird and experimental. It’s slightly lower and has a more coupe-styled rear, with a strongly raked rear window giving it a sportier and more aggressive look than the rest of Volvo’s SUV range.
The styling is sold by an angular spoiler piece running atop the boot, and the rear light clusters have gone all minimalist, constructed of individual pieces rather than a single transparent housing, and they give a nod to the C30 hatchback which this car is the spiritual successor to, by name and nature.
The interior offers up no surprises, sticking to the formula Volvo has established across all of its current models. An effortlessly premium space with, again, a minimalistic dash dominated by the portrait touchscreen, the C40’s premium nature is confirmed by its finely patterned inlays, simple chrome pieces, and abundance of soft-touch surfaces.
The big upright vent fittings with clever rhomboid patterns on their adjustment dials are always a highlight piece of modern Volvos, and the pattern work is continued on the central volume adjust dial and even on the little rotating pieces of the light and wiper stalks. Clever.
Even the software is paired back on the multimedia suite and digital dashboard, with easy to use shortcuts and simple menus which suit the car.
Volvo might turn off some buyers with the more unconventional shape of the C40. But for those looking for a more traditional SUV it also offers the XC40 in the same two variants, and the Polestar 2 caters to those not looking for an SUV at all.
The cabin inside reflects that the Touareg is a big car. Stacks of head- and legroom is on offer in each row. The seat comfort is also fantastic with even the rear row featuring plush padded comfort. This is the SUV you take on a road trip.
The individual storage is good with multiple cubbies up front for your bits and pieces, including a ventilated glove box, a drawer on the drivers side and a net on the side of the centre console that can fit a small handbag.
There is also a dedicated phone spot with a wireless charging pad, three USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket.
Amenities and storage options in the second row are great, with directional air vents, two USB-C ports, a 12-volt socket, reading lights and retractable sunblinds. The latter are particularly handy when travelling with kids and my son loves using his.
I also like that you get hardened kickplates because my kid loves to put his feet on everything and I find them easier to clean.
There's ample storage with two map pockets, storage bins and three cupholders in a fold-down armrest.
Families with lots of stuff will love the 810L boot capacity and you can bumped it up to 1800L if you fold the rear row. The back seat has a 40/20/40 split which also opens up your storage options and you get multiple luggage nets, a cargo cover and a 12-volt socket.
There is a collapsible spare tyre and a compressor underneath the floor and you can change the height of the boot with the adaptive air suspension. This also has a powered tailgate, which I always find handy.
In terms of the updated tech, you won’t be using the multimedia system on the go until you get used to this system as there is a lot going on with it, but the level of customisation available is fantastic and helps personalise the driving experience. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is wired and wireless and there is a built-in satellite navigation system.
The C40 is essentially a XC40 with a cropped down roofline, and there are some obvious downsides which this new shape brings.
The front seat throws no surprises, though, offering plenty of room for two adults with a welcome level of adjustability for the seat and wheel. The seats could be more comfortable, though, with a notable lack of padding in the base compared to some luxury (or even non-luxury) rivals.
I’m a fan of the fabric trim which comes on both grades, bucking the trend of needing to have leather or leather-like trim for a car to feel ‘premium’.
The ample window space up front, including the massive glass roof helps the C40’s cabin feel spacious, but the view out the rear with its aggressive design is all but a very limited letterbox aspect, particularly if the rear seat headrests are in the upright position.
While some controls are exclusively via touch interface, there is a physical volume dial, and shortcut buttons for the defogger functions.
Temperature is controlled by touch, however, and the detail settings have some smaller toggle adjustments. Tricky to jab at when you’re on the move.
The digital dash is refreshingly simple, but minimally adjustable, with the choice of either a nifty navigation screen, a blank screen, or trip details being the only options.
Cabin storage is good but not stellar. There are bottle holders and big pockets in the doors, a set of two cupholders in the centre (beats the Polestar 2’s single cupholder), a small tray with a wireless charger under the multimedia screen, and a smallish console armrest box.
The rear seat is where the real problem exists. Unlike the XC40, the C40’s cropped roofline means my head was hard up against the roof (I’m 182cm tall).
I did have decent knee room behind my own seating position, however the seat comfort in the back still isn’t as good as some rivals.
The middle position is also compromised, thanks to the raised centre floor piece the C40’s platform needs to facilitate all-wheel drive in its combustion relations.
A bottle holder appears in each door pocket, and in a rare inclusion, there are heated outboard rear seats, adjustable air vents, and USB-C charging ports.
The boot has a quoted capacity of 413 litres with the rear seats up. The floor is comparatively high suggesting a smallish space when loaded with luggage cases, for instance. Stay tuned for a follow-up review so we can see how well it holds our three-piece demo set.
The floor itself has an adjustable, pop-up divider and multiple luggage hooks, making it quite versatile, and there is a cavity beneath which can hold your charging cables as well as the inflator kit in place of a spare wheel.
There are four variants in the updated Touareg line-up with the release of the new R plug-in hybrid performance variant, but the model on test is the mid-spec 210TDI Elegance, which is priced from $99,990 before on-road costs.
Volkswagen lowered prices across all Touareg grades with the 210TDI Elegance now about $8K cheaper than before. And it definitely more affordable than its rivals, with the nearest competitor being the mechanically related Audi Q7 45TDI at $117,284 MSRP, then the BMW X5 xDrive30d xDrive at $134,900 MSRP, and Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d sits at a hefty $141,670 MSRP.
The updated 210TDI Elegance sees a few changes to the standard equipment list, mainly related to the technology offering. It now features the new I.Q Light HD matrix LEDs across the front, with a light bar across the rear and an illuminated VW badge (rear).
The dashboard is headlined by a new 15-inch touchscreen multimedia system and 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, both of which feature updated graphics. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now also have wireless connectivity.
Other equipment for the 210TDI Elegance includes 18-way powered front seats with lumbar and under-thigh supports, as well as side bolsters, three-position memory function, heat and ventilation functions. Oh and a massage function. Hello comfort!
Practicality is rounded out by keyless entry and start, a powered tailgate, collapsible spare tyre with inflator kit, adaptive air suspension (adjustable from boot), and dual-zone climate control.
When it comes to electric vehicles, it’s impossible to consider price alone, as you also have to consider driving range, and the C40 manages to impress on both fronts.
Its refreshingly simplified range consists of just two highly-specified variants, a single motor which starts from $74,990, offering a 434km driving range, or a dual motor starting from $82,490 which offers a 420km driving range.
There’s much more devil in the detail, but to set the scene there are now quite a few direct rivals in this price-bracket, including everything from the Tesla Model Y (from $72,300), Mercedes-Benz EQA (from $78,513), Polestar 2 (from $63,900) and even the Kia Niro which is similarly sized and specified (from $65,300).
Interestingly, the C40 is closely related to the Polestar 2, but has a much higher base starting price. Volvo says this is because it carries a higher standard specification, and offers the C40 without option packs.
Standard gear on the base single motor C40 includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a 9.0-inch portrait multimedia touchscreen (running a Google-based always-online software suite), LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a fixed panoramic sunroof, electrically adjustable front seats, heated seats for the front two and outboard rear seats, a powered tailgate, as well as keyless entry with touch-free ignition.
Interestingly, Volvo also told us some 90 per cent of customer interest so far has been for the more expensive dual-motor variant, which is particularly impressive for doubling the power output while adding 20-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree parking suite, premium Harmon Kardon audio, and an alternate interior trim.
Both variants score safety equipment and items which are otherwise part of expensive option packs in the Polestar 2 range. We’ll take a look at the full safety gear later in this review.
Overall, the C40 impresses on the premium car value front compared to rivals, bolstered by solid range and impressive performance.
The 210TDI Elegance is an AWD and has a powerful 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel engine which produces 210kW of power and 600Nm of torque.
That supports a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, which should entice camping or boating enthusiasts. Yep, you can have your cake and eat it too.
The Elegance can do a 0-100km/h sprint in a quick 6.0 seconds and features an eight-speed auto transmission which is ridiculously smooth.
Great news here, the C40 can be chosen with two powerful layouts, either a front-wheel drive 170kW/330Nm set-up, or a dual-motor all-wheel drive arrangement, able to make use of nearly double the power at 300kW/660Nm. The dual-motor is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds.
The front-drive is backed by a 69kWh battery allowing it a 434km range, while the dual motor ups the battery size to 78kWh to allow a 420km driving range.
The official combined fuel-cycle consumption figure is a low 7.4/100km and my real-world usage sits at 8.4L after mostly open-road driving this week.
Considering the power, size and fun that I've had with this model, I'm super happy with how efficient the 210TDI Elegance is.
Based on the official combined fuel cycle and large 90L fuel tank, expect a hefty theoretical driving range of 1216km. Which means this is a perfect road-trip car.
Surprisingly, energy consumption is quite high for both C40 variants. The single motor is the more efficient of the two, consuming 16.8kWh/100km on the more lenient ADR testing schedule, while the dual motor officially consumes 22.2kWh/100km to the same standard. I saw around 23kWh/100km overall in my short test of the dual-motor variant.
Energy consumption could be better for both, as I have achieved more consistently impressive results particularly from Hyundai and Kia electric cars.
Where the C40 is more impressive though is its charging specs, which are exactly where they need to be for a car this size. On a rapid DC charger, the C40 can charge at a rate of 150kW meaning a 10 - 80 percent charge in 40 minutes for the dual motor, or 32 minutes for the single motor.
On the slower AC standard, the C40 charges at a rate of 11kW. Expect a 10 - 80 percent charge time of around five or six hours on this standard.
The C40 uses a European-standard Type 2 CCS charging port, although it misses out on the handy two-way charging feature offered by some rivals.
The 210TDI Elegance handles like a thoroughbred - it manages to be smooth but powerful, large but not cumbersome.
It also feels a hell a lot smaller than what it is when you're manoeuvring around a little car park
One of the best things about the driving experience is having the support from the powerful diesel engine. Power delivery feels effortless and assured, no matter the conditions.
The Elegance accelerates smoothly with gear changes that shift on time and without skipping a beat.
Handling also feels pretty effortless with the suspension absorbing the worst of the bumps without feeling floaty. You get enough road feedback to know what’s going on underneath you but any jiggling or vibration is ironed out.
The steering feels adaptive - quick-witted in the city and controlled on the highway.
Cabin noise is whisper quiet with barely any wind, road or engine noise. The driving experience feels relaxed and refined because of it.
The adaptive 360-degree view camera system, which shifts its view when you turn the steering wheel, helps you easily slide into a tight car spot. This is definitely Westfield carpark friendly. Hurrah!
If you’ve driven any kind of XC40 or even a Polestar 2 before, the C40 will offer no surprises. It’s pretty much exactly the same from behind the wheel with a few subtle tweaks.
This is a very good thing. The C40 is quiet, easy to drive, and its electric motor and regen system offer a smooth single-pedal experience.
It is also alarmingly, overwhelmingly, rapid. While its massive set of batteries under the floor make it feel heavy off the line in stop-start traffic, sticking your boot into the accelerator will remove any doubt, particularly in the dual-motor variant, that this Volvo means business.
The dual-motor also has an incredible torque-vectoring system, making it extremely difficult to elicit so much as a squeak from its tyres. It also feels as though torque is distributed quite evenly between its two driven axles, making it feel neither prone to over- or understeer.
This has the effect of making the C40 feel somewhat indestructible in the corners, with absurd levels of grip.
The same feeling is present in top-spec versions of the Polestar 2, only the feeling of ever-present weight is more noticeable in the higher-riding C40, which can make it unsettling to take corners at the kinds of speeds it is capable of.
The steering tune is interesting. Volvo offers two software-controlled modes, either heavy or standard, and the standard mode is heavy enough.
Despite its electrical assistance, the wheel does continue to offer some organic feedback, making the C40 a pleasure to steer on countryside roads.
The ride is also surprisingly good, despite massive wheel options. I was impressed how easily the C40 handled most bumps and undulations, communicating little to the cabin.
The ride can approach its limits with such big wheels and the weight of its batteries, generally these are communicated via unsettling thuds from underneath the car. Regular undulations at higher speeds also had the C40 bouncing around a little.
On the whole, though, the cabin is kept relatively insulated and serene, adding an element of total confidence, similar to that offered by Teslas, whilst offering better ride quality with a softer edge. At higher speed, at least on the 20-inch wheels, road noise does pick up, however.
In terms of electric driving, there is a single adjustable setting for regen. The car either offers a full single pedal mode with maximum regenerative braking to bring the car to a halt with the motor alone, or a ‘standard’ mode which tones the regen down and offers it blended in via the brake pedal.
Single pedal mode is more efficient. I suggest you stick to it if you want to make the most of this car’s efficiency.
I was surprised to have so few complaints about the C40’s drive experience. This is a balanced and capable EV which is yet another example of how even vehicles which use combustion platforms are improved out of sight by full electrification.
The Touareg has a five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2018 and features a long list of safety features. It has eight airbags, including side chest airbags for the back row but it’s usual to only see these on the front.
Other standard safety equipment includes engine immobiliser, daytime running lights, intelligent seatbelt reminders, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian monitoring, lane keeping and departure aids, 360-degree camera system with front and rear parking sensors.
The 210TDI Elegance also has front and rear cross-traffic alert, window and door child safety locks and a park assist feature.
The auto emergency braking has forward collision warning, with pedestrian, car and cyclist detection which is operational from 5.0 - 85km/h (up to 180km/h for car detection).
The Touareg has two ISOFIX mounts and three top tethers. The rear row is wide enough to be able to fit three child seats comfortably.
Sticking to its brand promise, Volvo offers the full range of active safety equipment on the C40 regardless of variant.
This includes freeway-speed auto emergency braking, rear auto braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and one of the best adaptive cruise control systems on the market.
The only item the single motor misses out on is a 360-degree parking camera, which is exclusive to the dual motor variant.
It is notable how the adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring rear cross-traffic alert, and rear auto braking are on the options list for the Polestar 2.
These active systems combined with eight airbags (the standard dual front, side, and curtain, as well as a driver’s knee and centre airbag) make for a five-star ANCAP safety rating to the latest 2022 standards.
The Touareg comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class.
You can pre-purchase either a three-, or five-year servicing plan and both are cheaper than the pay-as-you-go option and are not outrageous for the class.
The three-year or up to 45,000km plan costs $1900 (or an average of $633 per service) and the five-year or up to 75,000km plan costs $3500 (average of $700 per service).
Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
The C40 is covered by Volvo’s five year and unlimited kilometre warranty, with a separate eight-year, 160,000km warranty for the battery. There is also eight years of roadside assistance attached.
It is pleasing to see the service intervals for the C40 are long, as they should be for an electric car with so few moving parts, set at two years or 30,000km.
The first 24 month service is free of charge, and Volvo tells us service pricing after this period will average out to around $100 a year ($200 per visit).