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VW Touareg vs Mercedes GLS comparison

Compare performance (462 HP vs 404 HP), boot space and price (64,300 £ vs 92,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – VW Touareg or Mercedes GLS?

VW Touareg vs Mercedes GLS: Key differences

VW Touareg

4.9 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • clearly cheaper
  • slightly more power
  • substantially more efficient
  • very slightly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • markedly lighter
  • considerably more trunk space
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Mercedes GLS

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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Touareg

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

VW Touareg is clearly cheaper – starting at 64,300 £ , while the Mercedes GLS costs 92,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 28,355 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the VW Touareg uses 5.2 L/100km and is substantially more efficient than the Mercedes GLS with 7.9 L/100km. The difference is about 2.7 L/100km.

GLS

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the VW Touareg offers slightly more power – delivering 462 HP compared to 404 HP. That’s roughly 58 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the VW Touareg is very slightly quicker – completing the sprint in 5.1 s, while the Mercedes GLS takes 5.6 s. That’s about 0.5 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mercedes GLS delivers marginally more torque with 750 Nm compared to 700 Nm. That’s about 50 Nm more.

Touareg

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Seats: Mercedes GLS offers more seats – 7 vs 5.

In terms of curb weight, VW Touareg is markedly lighter – 2,059 kg compared to 2,580 kg. The difference is around 521 kg.

Looking at boot space, the VW Touareg offers considerably more boot space – 810 L compared to 355 L. That’s a difference of about 455 L.

When it comes to payload, the Mercedes GLS carries barely more – 820 kg compared to 751 kg. That’s a difference of about 69 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The VW Touareg stands well ahead of its rival in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £64,300
Touareg

VW Touareg

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 231 - 462 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 5.2 - 10.5 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 47 - 49 km
VW Touareg
Mercedes GLS

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

VW Touareg

Volkswagen Touareg wraps a grown-up presence in a classy, well-appointed cabin that feels more like a premium saloon than an SUV. It glides with quiet composure, devours long journeys and tucks away clever tech that makes life easier whether you’re stuck in town or nipping off the beaten track.

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Mercedes GLS

The GLS — usually just called the GLS — is Mercedes' flagship SUV, wrapping limousine-like comfort and commanding road presence into a smart, family-ready package. It pampers occupants with a hushed cabin, premium materials and intuitive tech, while still managing to feel confident and a little indulgent on the daily commute.

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VW Touareg
Mercedes GLS

Costs and Consumption

Price
64,300 - 88,300 £
Price
92,700 - 104,600 £
Consumption L/100km
5.2 - 10.5 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
7.9 - 9.9 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
47 - 49 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
119 - 239 g/km
co2
206 - 226 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
SUV
Body Type
SUV
Seats
5
Seats
7
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
2,059 - 2,470 kg
Curb weight
2,580 - 2,670 kg
Trunk capacity
665 - 810 L
Trunk capacity
355 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,984 mm
Width
1,956 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
550 - 751 kg
Payload
810 - 820 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
231 - 462 HP
Power HP
336 - 404 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
5.1 - 7.7 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
5.6 - 6.2 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
450 - 700 Nm
Torque
560 - 750 Nm
Number of Cylinders
6
Number of Cylinders
6
Power kW
170 - 340 kW
Power kW
247 - 297 kW
Engine capacity
2,967 - 2,995 cm3
Engine capacity
2,989 - 2,999 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2026
CO2 Efficiency Class
G, D
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
Brand
VW
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.