Nissan ARIYA vs Volkswagen Touareg
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Nissan ARIYA scores higher, 73 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
Nissan ARIYA
22 of 27 standard · no option data · 5 no dataFrom
$55,840
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 160kW
- Energy use
- 18.5 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 466L
Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 68
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
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.
$55,840RRP
- with the Volkswagen Touareg's standard kit: $55,840 (nothing to add)
$86,790RRP
- with the Nissan ARIYA'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
Nissan ARIYA Engage 63kWh FWD
$55,840
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $235 a week in repayments ($55,840 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
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 Nissan ARIYA starts $30,950 lower on RRP.
The Nissan ARIYA currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Volkswagen Touareg does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
Matching the Nissan ARIYA'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 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$235/wk(≈$1,019/mo)
Estimate on the Nissan ARIYA at $55,840 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
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Nissan ARIYADriva 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 7 of 10 key systems on the Nissan ARIYA 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; ? is no option data.
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
Nissan ARIYA
None open on our record
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
87kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 130kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 130kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Nissan ARIYA features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Touareg gets a 15-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Nissan ARIYA stands out with head-up display — features our data doesn't list for the Volkswagen Touareg. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Nissan ARIYA gets nappa leather upholstery while the Volkswagen Touareg offers leather.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Nissan ARIYA uses a Electric producing 160kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8 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 Volkswagen Touareg has the clear power advantage at 170kW vs 160kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Nissan ARIYA measures 4,595mm long on a 2,775mm wheelbase, 294mm shorter than the Volkswagen Touareg at 4,889mm (2,894mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Touareg generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 466L in the Nissan ARIYA and 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 344L advantage.
For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 2,750kg 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 Nissan ARIYA's turning circle is 0.5 m tighter, 11.5 m against 12.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the Nissan ARIYA costs about $888 a year (18.5 kWh/100km) and fuel for the Volkswagen Touareg about $2,166 a year (7.6 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Nissan ARIYA) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Touareg). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Nissan ARIYA), no data (Volkswagen Touareg).
Where each one leads
The Nissan ARIYA: the lower starting price ($55,840 against $86,790).
The Volkswagen Touareg: more power (170kW against 160kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (810L against 466L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 750kg).
The Verdict
Nissan ARIYA scores higher, 73 vs 68
The Nissan ARIYA scores 73 to the Volkswagen Touareg's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: practicality (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 32 points), safety (Nissan ARIYA ahead by 27 points), value (Nissan ARIYA ahead by 17 points). Boot space with the seats up: 466L in the Nissan ARIYA, 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$235/wk(≈$1,019/mo)
Estimate on the Nissan ARIYA at $55,840 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
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Nissan ARIYADriva 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, Nissan ARIYA and Volkswagen Touareg?
The Nissan ARIYA is the cheapest at $55,840 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Volkswagen Touareg by $30,950.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Nissan ARIYA holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022). 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 Volkswagen Touareg makes the most power at 170kW.
Track the Nissan ARIYA & 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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