Volkswagen Retires Touareg After 24 Years — Tayron to Replace It originally appeared on Autoblog.
After more than two decades at the top of VW’s lineup, the Touareg is heading for retirement. Reports confirm the flagship SUV will bow out by 2026, with no direct replacement planned. Instead, VW will focus on more affordable, flexible models like the Tayron — and in doing so, close the curtain on one of the most quietly influential SUVs of the last 25 years.
The End Of An Era
Launched in 2002, the Touareg was Volkswagen’s moonshot — a premium, midsize SUV that shared bones with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. Over three generations, it evolved into a tech-heavy cruiser loaded with air suspension, plug-in hybrid powertrains, and four-wheel steering — all riding on the group’s MLB Evo platform.
Despite its hardware brilliance, the Touareg was always a niche product. Never sold in the U.S. beyond 2017, it found success in Europe and China — but it never matched the runaway sales of VW’s more mainstream offerings. And now, with tariffs tightening and margins thinning, Volkswagen is looking to simplify. As the brand pivots toward a next-gen ID.4 to rival the Tesla Model Y, high-cost halo SUVs like the Touareg no longer make financial sense.
Tayron Takes The Lead
Volkswagen’s strategy now leans on the Tayron, a global MQB-based SUV that offers five- and seven-seat configurations, hybrid drivetrains, and broader market appeal. It’s expected to become VW’s largest SUV in several regions, including Europe and parts of Asia, filling the gap left by the Touareg — but with sharper pricing and higher volume potential.
The move is part of VW’s broader effort to protect profits amid rising costs. The brand’s latest earnings report showed strong sales, but steep drops in profitability — especially in export-heavy segments. That’s pushed VW to refocus on flexible platforms and vehicles with stronger margins.
ICE Still Has A Place — Just Not At The Top
Interestingly, while VW is axing its luxury ICE SUV, it’s not walking away from internal combustion just yet. The Golf GTI will live on well into the 2030s, even as the company continues pushing electrification through models like the ID.3, ID.4, and the upcoming ID.2. What’s changing is where the petrol-powered flag flies: not at the top of the range anymore, but down in enthusiast hatchbacks and mainstream commuters.
Final Word
The Touareg’s retirement closes a chapter on Volkswagen’s luxury ambitions. While the badge may not return, its legacy — as the SUV that proved VW could go premium — will live on through its influence on the wider Group, from the Cayenne to the Bentayga.
Now, as VW shifts focus toward electrification, affordability, and global flexibility, it’s clear the Touareg doesn’t fit the brief. But for what it was — a diesel-powered, V8-sporting, air-sprung oddball with a fanbase as loyal as it was confused — it’ll be missed.
Volkswagen Retires Touareg After 24 Years — Tayron to Replace It first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 7, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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