Volkswagen Touareg vs Volvo EX30
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Volvo EX30 scores higher, 76 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 28 Oct 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.
Volvo EX30
19 of 27 standard · no option data · 8 no dataFrom
$49,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 200kW
- Energy use
- 16.6 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 318L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 68
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$86,790RRP
- with the Volvo EX30's standard kit: at least $86,790 (2 options priced only inside packages)
2 added options
- Head-Up Display: priced only inside the Sound & Comfort Package
- Premium Audio: no price printed
$49,990RRP
- no option data for this car
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
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.
Volvo EX30 Plus Single Motor
$49,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 28 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $208 a week in repayments ($49,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Volvo EX30 starts $36,800 lower on RRP.
The Volvo EX30 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 Volvo EX30's standard equipment means adding extra-cost options to the Volkswagen Touareg, and 2 are priced only inside packages 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.
CarSorted
Looking for your next car?
We help you research it, compare it and ask for a price.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$208/wk(≈$902/mo)
Estimate on the Volvo EX30 at $49,990 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 Volvo EX30Driva 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 8 of 10 key systems on the Volkswagen Touareg and 5 on the Volvo EX30.
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
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.
Volvo EX30
- REC-006745 · published 19 Oct 2026The front seat head restraints may not have been manufactured to specifications.Year range on the notice: 2024 - 2026
- REC-006633 · published 26 Jun 2026Due to a manufacturing issue, some of the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may overheat at high charge levels.Year range on the notice: 2023 - 2024
- REC-006551 · published 26 Feb 2026Due to a manufacturing issue, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may overheat at high charge levels.Year range on the notice: 2023 - 2024
- 2 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
49kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 153kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (22kW AC, 153kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Volkswagen Touareg features a 15-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volvo EX30 gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Volvo EX30 counters with head-up display and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Volkswagen Touareg gets leather upholstery while the Volvo EX30 offers nordico/microtech fabric. Climate control is 2-zone in the Volkswagen Touareg and 1-zone in the Volvo EX30.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
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 Volvo EX30 responds with a Electric making 200kW and 343Nm, paired to a single-speed driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds.
The Volvo EX30 has the clear power advantage at 200kW vs 170kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Volvo EX30 is 2.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Volkswagen Touareg measures 4,889mm long on a 2,894mm wheelbase, 656mm longer than the Volvo EX30 at 4,233mm (2,650mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Touareg generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg and 318L in the Volvo EX30, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 492L advantage.
For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,600kg. That 1,900kg 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 Volvo EX30's turning circle is 1.0 m tighter, 11.0 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 Volkswagen Touareg costs about $2,166 a year (7.6 L/100km) and electricity for the Volvo EX30 about $797 a year (16.6 kWh/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Touareg) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volvo EX30).
Where each one leads
The Volkswagen Touareg: the bigger boot with the seats up (810L against 318L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,600kg).
The Volvo EX30: the lower starting price ($49,990 against $86,790) and more power (200kW against 170kW).
The Verdict
Volvo EX30 scores higher, 76 vs 68
The Volvo EX30 scores 76 to the Volkswagen Touareg's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 5 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: practicality (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 32 points), safety (Volvo EX30 ahead by 25 points), value (Volvo EX30 ahead by 19 points). Boot space with the seats up: 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg, 318L in the Volvo EX30.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$208/wk(≈$902/mo)
Estimate on the Volvo EX30 at $49,990 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 Volvo EX30Driva 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, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo EX30?
The Volvo EX30 is the cheapest at $49,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Volkswagen Touareg by $36,800.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Volvo EX30 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). 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 Volvo EX30 makes the most power at 200kW. The Volvo EX30 is quickest to 100km/h in 5.3s.
Track the Volkswagen Touareg & Volvo EX30
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
