Volkswagen Touareg vs BMW X3

The Volkswagen Touareg starts from $86,790 before on-road costs, while the BMW X3 opens at $86,100. That makes the BMW X3 the more affordable entry point by $690.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $95,469 and $94,710 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Volkswagen Touareg features a 15-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW X3 gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Volkswagen Touareg stands out with power tailgate that you will not find on the BMW X3. The BMW X3 counters with Bowers & Wilkins audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Volkswagen Touareg gets leather upholstery while the BMW X3 offers merino leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Volkswagen Touareg and 4-zone in the BMW X3.

The Volkswagen Touareg uses a Diesel producing 170kW and 500Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8 seconds.

The BMW X3 responds with a Petrol making 140kW and 310Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The Volkswagen Touareg has the clear power advantage at 170kW vs 140kW. In the real-world sprint, the Volkswagen Touareg is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Volkswagen Touareg measures 4,889mm long on a 2,894mm wheelbase, 134mm longer than the BMW X3 at 4,755mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Touareg generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg and 570L in the BMW X3, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 240L advantage.

For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,400kg. That 1,100kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,081/year for the Volkswagen Touareg and $2,138/year for the BMW X3. That is a $57 annual difference in favour of the Volkswagen Touareg.

Estimated annual total: $2,081 (Volkswagen Touareg) vs $2,138 (BMW X3). The Volkswagen Touareg saves you roughly $57 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Volkswagen Touareg) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW X3). Both match on warranty length.