VW Touran Review

If you are looking for a refined, comfortable and efficient vehicle with impressive performance and space and comfort that will be hard to rival? You need the Volkswagen Touran.

While the Volkswagen Touran might not exactly turn heads it does exactly it does achieve everything you would expect from a car like this. Space, comfort, and reliability. Even if it does place practicality over style, you will not be disappointed. It's a little bit smaller than the Volkswagen Sharan. That said it does more or less match up with interior space though with its seven seats and storage capabilities.

The latest version is more impressive than ever before with no shortage of safety features or drives quality enhancing tech. VW Touran also has plenty of room for seven passengers and lots of storage, and it's really aesthetically pleasing. All are available in a wide range of trims to suit any needs.

The well planned and large interiors compensate for the compact and quite plain exterior. The Touran is comfortable to drive, well constructed and equipped to suit your needs. This is why despite the perceived lack of fun, MPV vehicles like the Touran remain a popular choice for those looking for a large family car. Its fair to say that Volkswagen has hit the spot dead centre with the Touran.

Keep reading our Volkswagen Touran review to learn why you should get this premium MPV.

Used Touran's AvailableTest Drive a Touran

The Touran is a Family Car at Heart

The Volkswagen Touran is not exactly adrenaline-pumping, but its high roofline and slab-side features lots of interior room and the large doors offer a great view and make this car the most practical family car.

Weekends away, staycations, or any other reason you'll need a serious storage capacity or passenger space, the Volkswagen Touran is for you.

This MPV also features seven seats – these huge rear doorways make gaining access to the back seat possible, making it a unique arrangement for a seven-seater, which allows ample space to sit adults even in excess of six-foot-tall. The first two rows of seats also slid back and forward. Passengers should not have trouble adjusting to find a comfortable travelling position.

It is situated underneath the Volkswagen Sharan and although the door handles on the car don't feature them, it is very well proportioned for size. In addition, the interior is more efficient than its predecessor with increased safety and drive quality features.

VW Touran Performance and Engines

The performance of the Volkswagen Touran MPV is nothing less than outstanding, with the high level of thorough execution you would expect from this premium German manufacturer. Especially seeing its size. The Volkswagen Touran is reliable and well-weighted to drive despite being over 4.5 metres long the Touran has a fairly compact feel to it. Motorway or in a city, you'll have no issues with traction to the road. It's likely the most practical car you will ever drive.

There are only two options to choose from here. Both have a 1.5 TSI petrol engine and are front-wheel drive. Where they differ is the transmission with one option having a six-speed manual and a seven-speed DSG. This engine is more than enough for this MPV allowing it to get to 62mph in just 8.2 seconds.

You can expect to get a pretty reasonable mpg from the Volkswagen Touran both engine versions get just over 43 mpg WLTP. This comes in just over the Ford S-Max at 42 but doesn't quite match other models such as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer that can achieve as much as 55 mpg.

VW Touran Interior, Comfort, and Storage

Touran is pretty much as practical as a car can get - there is room for seven and plenty of storage.

Passenger space

The Touran offers plenty of room for passengers in the front and middle rows, and the third row has enough room for adults. It really has quite a spacious interior. The Volkswagen Touran is equipped with an adjustable height driver seat with an adjustable wheel for steering and reaching, which makes the car comfortable, irrespective of height or short. There are also models that increase comfort with heated front seats. A central centre armrest is also included in the standard package, to make it easy to sit down on long car journeys. The SE vehicles come with lumbar support in all four front seats as well as the adjustable height of the passenger seat.

Storage space

Volkswagen Touran's storage space leaves very little to be desired. In total there are actually 47 different storage spaces in the Touran. You'll easily fit a litre bottle in the door bins, there are numerous cup holders, and plenty of storage in the dashboard.

Also in front of the gearstick, there is a tray for charging phones or other devices with USB sockets. SE cars and higher have bigger storage areas in addition to storage under the back seats.

In the rear, the seats can be moved to create a van-like space. Changing the position of these rear seats makes this MPV ideal for house moves or removing general waste from your garden. A very practical solution for a wide range of situations.

Boot space

The Volkswagen Touran boasts 137-litres of luggage space in the car. If you have all seats down this is increased to an impressive 1857-litres. More than enough to meet any needs. This is very competitive in its class and beats some key rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz B-Class which maxes out at 1540 litres with the seats down.

From a practical standpoint, the Touran also wins with its flat load lip which also helps with getting luggage in and out of the vehicle.

Is Volkswagen Touran a safe car?

Volkswagen Touran is an incredibly safe vehicle. It scored five stars on the Euro NCAP crash test with impressive scores of 88% for adults, 89% for children, 71% for pedestrians, and 76% for safety assist. This is certainly what you want in a family car. 

Touran Trim Levels

There are four trims to choose from with the Volkswagen Touran MPV. Options include SE, SE Family, SEL, and R-Line. All trims come with an excellent level of standard equipment and that includes automatic leaving home lighting, daytime running lights, halogen clear headlights that are range adjustable through the infotainment system.

Inside you'll benefit from incredibly comfortable 'Lasano' cloth seats as standard. Quality in the cabin also extends to the gearshift and steering wheel with leather trim. Also in the cabin will enhance your driving experience with a DAB radio that is complemented by an eight-speaker sound system. All are controlled by a 3.5-inch multifunctional screen.

Each of the below trims levels further enhance the standard spec. Read on to discover the best trim for your needs.

SE Touran

The SE trim is the entry-level model on offer for the Volkswagen Touran. That said, it still does come with a generous spec level. You can expect a wide range of equipment by standard. This includes privacy glass, parking sensors in the front and rear, preparation for navigation systems with media and internet capability, and chrome-plated roof rails.

SE Family Touran

This trim brings more features to the Volkswagen Touran MPV. It comes with all the same features as the SE level and brings in several premium features that includes a panoramic sunroof, 'We Connect' and 'We Connect Plus' functionality, the 'Discover Media' system that includes streaming and internet capabilities and PreCrash preventative occupant protection which is ideal in a family MPV.

SEL Touran

Next up we have the SEL trim level. This brings other appealing features over the SE base trim that includes front fog lights with a static cornering function, three-zone climate control, 'Art Velours' seat centre section, and microfiber side bolsters. It also features the 'Discover Media' navigation system.

R-Line Touran

If none of the previous trim levels has caught your attention the R-Line will certainly do the job. Featuring 'Marseille' 18" alloys, three-zone climate control, and R-Line styling pack that includes front and rear bumper, radiator, and body-coloured side skirts, a 'Race' seat centre section and microfibre side bolsters. It also has the premium navigation system seen in the SE Family and SEL.

How Much Should I Pay for a Volkswagen Touran

The amount you pay to pick up a Volkswagen Touran MPV will vary greatly depending on your budget and preferences between new and used models.

New Volkswagen Touran Prices

A new Volkswagen Touran starts at £30,470.00 for the SE version and this scales all the way up to £34,265.00 if you choose a highly kitted out R-Line version. Of course, these prices can increase if you pick up any optional extras such as metallic paint, enhanced upholstery, or the wide array of comfort, driver assistance, entertainment, and safety features.

Prices by trim:

  • SE: £30,470.00
  • SE Family: £31,670.00
  • SEL: £32,130.00
  • R-Line: £34,265.00

Used Volkswagen Touran Prices

Since it's been released for over two decades, the VW Touran is easily found on the second-hand car market. You can pick up a decent 2016 model with a reasonably low mileage of 60,000 for around £15,000. If you are open to models that have seen a bit more of the road for as little as £6,000. This great saving on the cost of a new Touran makes it an attractive option for those looking to save a little on this practical MPV.

Used Touran's AvailableTest Drive a Touran