Audi Q8 e-tron vs Volkswagen Touareg
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Audi Q8 e-tron scores higher, 71 vs 68
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Oct 2026, price 24 Jun 2026
Volkswagen Touareg
21 of 27 standard · 3 optional · 1 not offered · 2 no dataFrom
$86,790
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Engine
- Diesel
- Power
- 170kW
- Economy
- 7.6 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 810L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$140,600RRP
- with the Volkswagen Touareg's standard kit: $140,600 (nothing to add)
$86,790RRP
- with the Audi Q8 e-tron's standard kit: at least $86,790 (1 option priced only inside packages)
1 added option
- Head-Up Display: priced only inside the Sound & Comfort Package
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Audi Q8 e-tron 50 e-tron SUV
$140,600
RRP when new; no longer sold new in Australia
No published drive-away price on our record.
Volkswagen Touareg 170TDI
$86,790
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $378 a week in repayments ($86,790 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Volkswagen Touareg starts $53,810 lower on RRP.
Matching the Audi Q8 e-tron's standard equipment means adding extra-cost options to the Volkswagen Touareg, and one is priced only inside a package whose price the manufacturer doesn't publish, so the true gap is larger than the sticker difference suggests.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the Volkswagen Touareg.
Finance
≈$378/wk(≈$1,639/mo)
Estimate on the Volkswagen Touareg at $86,790 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Volkswagen TouaregDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Volkswagen Touareg a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 10 of 10 key systems on the Audi Q8 e-tron and 8 on the Volkswagen Touareg.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Audi Q8 e-tron
- REC-006599 · published 28 Apr 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the mounting bolts connecting the brake pedal rod and the brake servo may not have been tightened to the sufficient torque and could become loose.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2024
Volkswagen Touareg
- REC-006525 · published 8 Jan 2026Due to a manufacturing issue, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective and overheat during charging.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2024
- REC-004990 · published 4 Nov 2021If the tailgate is opened and manually pushed up too far the pre-compressed coil springs may become detached from the boot strut and detach with great force from the mounting.Year range on the notice: 2019
- REC-001677 · published 23 Jul 2021Some nuts fitted to the rear axle assembly did not meet manufacturing specifications and may break.Year range on the notice: 2021
- 3 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
95kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 170kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (22kW AC, 170kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Audi Q8 e-tron features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the Volkswagen Touareg gets a 15-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Audi Q8 e-tron stands out with head-up display, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Volkswagen Touareg. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Audi Q8 e-tron uses a Electric producing 250kW and 664Nm of torque, sent through a two-stage planetary gearbox with single gear to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7 seconds.
The Volkswagen Touareg responds with a Diesel making 170kW and 500Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.
The Audi Q8 e-tron has the clear power advantage at 250kW vs 170kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Audi Q8 e-tron is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Audi Q8 e-tron measures 4,915mm long on a 2,928mm wheelbase, 26mm longer than the Volkswagen Touareg at 4,889mm (2,894mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi Q8 e-tron generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 569L in the Audi Q8 e-tron and 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 241L advantage.
For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Volkswagen Touareg's turning circle is 0.5 m tighter, 12.0 m against 12.5 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
We do not hold a like-for-like fuel or energy figure for both cars, so we do not cost them against each other.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Audi Q8 e-tron) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Touareg).
Where each one leads
The Audi Q8 e-tron: more power (250kW against 170kW).
The Volkswagen Touareg: the lower starting price ($86,790 against $140,600), the bigger boot with the seats up (810L against 569L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).
The Verdict
Audi Q8 e-tron scores higher, 71 vs 68
The Audi Q8 e-tron scores 71 to the Volkswagen Touareg's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Audi Q8 e-tron ahead by 29 points), practicality (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 18 points), value (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 12 points). Boot space with the seats up: 569L in the Audi Q8 e-tron, 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg.
Ways to buy
For the Volkswagen Touareg.
Finance
≈$378/wk(≈$1,639/mo)
Estimate on the Volkswagen Touareg at $86,790 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Volkswagen TouaregDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Audi Q8 e-tron and Volkswagen Touareg?
The Volkswagen Touareg is the cheapest at $86,790 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi Q8 e-tron by $53,810.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Audi Q8 e-tron holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2019). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Volkswagen Touareg, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the largest boot at 810L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Audi Q8 e-tron makes the most power at 250kW. The Audi Q8 e-tron is quickest to 100km/h in 7s.
Track the Audi Q8 e-tron & Volkswagen Touareg
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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