The Volkswagen Group (VW) and Audi have settled two major Australian class actions relating to the global diesel emissions scandal.

Key points: Around 100,000 VW, Audi and Skoda cars were affected locally

Around 100,000 VW, Audi and Skoda cars were affected locally Last year VW denied it had a case to answer in Australia

Last year VW denied it had a case to answer in Australia The companies agreed to a pay-out of up to $127.1m — about $1,400 per eligible car

While the details of the settlement are confidential and still to be rubber stamped by the Federal Court, the payout will be between $87 million and $127.1 million, or about $1,400 per car.

The class actions allege that the affected vehicles were fitted with illegal defeat devices that were designed to cheat emissions tests, and seek to recover compensation for affected motorists.

Around 100,000 Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda vehicles in Australia were affected by the issue.

The class actions were brought by Bannister Law and Maurice Blackburn in November 2015, following multi-billion-dollar payouts over the issue in the United States and Canada.

In a statement, Volkswagen Group Australia described the settlement in the Sydney court as a "significant step towards fully resolving the diesel lawsuits in Australia".

"The settlement, on a no-admissions basis, concerns five class-action lawsuits covering all affected vehicles in Australia," the company said.

"Volkswagen expects the proceedings will be concluded in 2020."

The payout per vehicle pales in comparison to a deal reached in America in 2016, which cost VW a record $US14.7 billion ($19.22 billion).

In that settlement, Volkswagen agreed to pay car owners the pre-scandal trade-in value of their vehicle, in some cases up to $40,000, as well as $US5,100 to $US10,000 ($6,670 to $13,076) in additional compensation.

As of October last year, Volkswagen had paid more than $42 billion in fines, settlements and recall costs, while a number of executives were sent to prison.

One of the lead plaintiffs Richard Cantor said he would never trust VW again.

"We bought the car thinking that all the regulations had been passed, that everything was done, that there were no problems with the vehicle," he said.

He said he was disappointed the company took four years to agree to a settlement.

"I didn't think at any time that VW could walk away without having done anything because clearly they were wrong," he said.

"They had their hands in the cookie jar and they got caught."

'Devil in the detail'

The Volkswagen Group is also currently the subject of court proceedings brought about by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

In the Federal Court in March last year, VW denied it had a case to answer in Australia, despite compensating customers in the North America.

Volkswagen said it was close to a resolution on the ACCC case, but the court heard the consumer watchdog would continue its legal proceedings against the Volkswagen group.

ACCC barrister Jeremy Kirk SC has not ruled out going to trial.

"We think we're almost there but there is always some devil in the detail," he said.

"There is still a possibility that the trial will go ahead."

The ACCC case has been adjourned until next week.

Class action lawyers said anyone who owned one of the affected models on September 18, 2015, could register for a settlement claim.

Settlement 'without admission of liability'

The class action lawyers argued the car companies misled customers by selling affected diesel vehicles as environmentally friendly cars, knowing the defeat devices altered the emission test results.

It is also argued the cars, powered by EA189 1.6- or 2.0-litre diesel engines, would not have been registered in Australia had the true emissions of the vehicles been known.

Bannister Law said the companies had agreed to the settlement without an admission of liability.

But lead plaintiff Robyn Richardson, who represented Audi owners in the case, said the compensation forced "some recognition" that the cars had a serious issue.

"A settlement of this size shows that the company is willing to accept responsibility for what they have put their Australian customers through," she said in a statement.

"It demonstrates that they are serious about making proper amends," Ms Richardson said.

Outside the court, she said the settlement, had been "a long time coming".

"I think a case has been answered today by those car manufacturers. I think we are very satisfied by the result," she said.

Lead plaintiffs Robyn Richardson and Alistair Dalton and lawyer Julian Schimmel (centre) after a four-year battle with VW and Audi. ( ABC News: Brooke Wylie )

Principal lawyer for Maurice Blackburn Julian Schimmel said the settlement was significant for Australian motorists.

"We think this is a really significant victory for motorists," he said.

"It provides them with a measure of justice and redress for what they claim they were financially impacted by the diesel emissions issue.

"The settlement still needs to be approved by the court."

Class action lawyers said anyone who owned one of the affected models on September 18, 2015, could register for a settlement claim.