Toyota RAV4 vs Volkswagen Touareg
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Toyota RAV4 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 6 Sep 2026
Toyota RAV4
15 of 27 standard · no option data · 7 not offered · 5 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol Hybrid
- Power
- 143kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 705L
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.
$45,990RRP
- cannot be matched: 360-Degree Camera, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Wireless Phone Charging and 3 more not offered
$86,790RRP
- with the Toyota RAV4's standard kit: $86,790 (nothing to add)
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
Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 6 Sept 2026
$50,872 drive-away in VIC, as published by Toyota Australia Toyota Australia's price page
About $212 a week in repayments ($50,872 drive-away; 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 Toyota RAV4 starts $40,800 lower on RRP.
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 ≈$212/wk(≈$919/mo)
Estimate on the Toyota RAV4 at $50,872 drive-away; 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 Toyota RAV4Driva 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 Toyota RAV4 a rating. 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 Toyota RAV4 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
Toyota RAV4
- REC-006390 · published 22 Jul 2025Due to a software programming issue, a memory device in the Combination Meter may deteriorate over time.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2025
- REC-005409 · published 26 Apr 2022Due to a software issue, if the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system is turned off, it may not default to the ON setting the next time the vehicle is started.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-001312 · published 9 Jun 2020Small cracks may form in the front lower suspension arms and with rapid acceleration and deceleration over the parts' lifetime, these cracks could spread and the suspension arm can eventually separate from the front wheel assembly.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2020
- 6 more on the model page.
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.
Feature Showdown
The Toyota RAV4 features a 10.5-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 Volkswagen Touareg counters with wireless charging, heated front seats and power tailgate. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Toyota RAV4 gets cloth upholstery while the Volkswagen Touareg offers leather.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Toyota RAV4 uses a Petrol Hybrid producing 143kW, sent through a cvt (e-cvt) to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.4 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 143kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Volkswagen Touareg is 0.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Toyota RAV4 measures 4,600mm long on a 2,690mm wheelbase, 289mm 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 705L in the Toyota RAV4 and 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 105L advantage.
For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 800kg. That 2,700kg 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 Toyota RAV4's turning circle is 0.6 m tighter, 11.4 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, fuel for the Toyota RAV4 costs about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/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. That is $883 a year less for the Toyota RAV4.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Toyota RAV4) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Touareg).
Where each one leads
The Toyota RAV4: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $86,790) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $2,166).
The Volkswagen Touareg: more power (170kW against 143kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (810L against 705L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 800kg).
The Verdict
Toyota RAV4 scores higher, 73 vs 68
The Toyota RAV4 scores 73 to the Volkswagen Touareg's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 6 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: fuel economy (Toyota RAV4 ahead by 28 points), practicality (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 27 points), value (Toyota RAV4 ahead by 21 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Toyota RAV4 costs about $883 less (4.5 L/100km against 7.6 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 705L in the Toyota RAV4, 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$212/wk(≈$919/mo)
Estimate on the Toyota RAV4 at $50,872 drive-away; 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 Toyota RAV4Driva 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, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Touareg?
The Toyota RAV4 is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Volkswagen Touareg by $40,800.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Toyota RAV4 uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Touareg, so there is no crash result to compare.
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. The Volkswagen Touareg is quickest to 100km/h in 8s.
Track the Toyota RAV4 & 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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