Nimble new Volkswagen Touran is one of the best MPVs on the market

By Gerry Murphy

You can always rely on Volkswagen to produce a quality car in almost every case. Although they have been under the spotlight of late, all their new cars are not part of the disturbing diesel emissions reporting problem.

My time this week in the Touran also proves that the competence of the drive that you get from their cars is still the target that other must strive to match.

A much smarter looking car that the previous model, this seven-seat people carrier is both sturdy and functional. MPVs don’t always encourage spirited driving, and buyers don’t expect to throw them about the place either, but here is a car that is quite nimble and handles the twisty roads with surety and confidence.

For Ireland, the Touran comes with a choice of one petrol engine – a 1.2-litre TSI with 110bhp – or two diesel engines: a 1.6-litre TDI with 110bhp, which is expected to make up the majority of sales, and at the top of the range a 2.0-litre TDI with 150bhp.

The latter in Highline specification with a six-speed manual gearbox is the version that I have been driving this week and after a combination of journeys covering 1,200 kilometres, the fuel consumption came in at 7.6L/100, a figure that is more than acceptable under testing conditions.

Thanks to weight reductions of up to 62kg and new fuel saving technologies, the CO2 emissions are significantly lower in the new model compared to the previous generation, with the 2.0-litre emitting 117g/km giving an annual road tax bill of €200.

All Touran models on sale in Ireland come with seven seats as standard and feature a new fold-flat system. The seats in the second and third rows can be folded flat in a matter of seconds creating a continuous floor for easy loading, plus the front passenger seat backrest. With the second and third row seats folded, you get a massive 1,857 litres of luggage capacity plus a total of 47 handy storage compartments in the cabin.

Starting from €29,725, Trendline models feature 16” steel wheels, 5” Composition Colour radio system, manual air conditioning, a Connectivity Package including bluetooth and media-in jack with USB charging. Comfortline adds 16” alloy wheels, front fog lights, Park Distance Control, 6.5” Composition Media radio system with CD player and 8 speakers, cruise control, a folding front passenger seat which can serve both as a table and load-through provision.

The tested top of the range Highline model gets Adaptive Cruise Control, 17” alloy wheels, sports suspension, Pure air 3 zone climatronic air conditioning, and a multifunction display in colour. With some addition features like a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights that follow the corners and an electric tailgate, the price rises to €45,232 which puts it right up there with premium cars in the sector. To be fair it does feel and drives like a premium car too.

It is the overall competence of the car that makes the Touran one of the best MPVs you can get. Volkswagen designers have put together a car that fits the needs of the family with a strong emphasis on ease of use for passengers and driver. The recommendation is that, if you can afford to go for the 2-0-litre engine; that is the way to go.

Specification:

Make: Volkswagen

Model: Touran

Engine: 2.0 TDi

Achieved Fuel Consumption:  7.6L/100kms

CO2 Emissions: 117g/km

Annual Road Tax: €200

Price: €45,232

Gerry’s Rating: 8/10