The Ocelot Oxford and Newbury 121 July 2016 edition | Page 9

Motoring

The VW Touran MPV practically perfect
By Geoff Maxted
drivewrite.co.uk
The thing to remember about a Multi-Purpose Vehicle is
that the clue is in the MPV designation. In this case it is
a mid-size seven-seat vehicle which has many practical
uses, none of which include driving thrills. This is the car
you want when there is child wrangling to be done or
awkward items to be collected from the garden centre.
Enthusiastic drivers need not apply.
It has to be said that in a sea of similar vehicles the
Volkswagen Touran doesn’t really set itself apart. It is
determinedly unflashy. The Touran does have one thing
on its side though and that is build quality. It feels solid
and dependable, able to withstand the rigours of family
car life.
The two small seats at the rear fold flush into the floor
to ensure there is more than adequate boot space. It
takes ten seconds to raise and lock them into position.
At a pinch two adults could sit there for a short trip but
really they are for children. Even with the third row up
there is still room for the family shop at the back.
The second row will seat three comfortably and they
too will fold flat individually or collectively to give an
already generous boot almost cavernous qualities. The
boot itself has hooks, straps, cubbies and 12v power
and the tested car also offered a cargo net for extra
security. Under the floor is a tyre inflation kit which isn’t to
everyone’s taste but serves to better utilise interior space.
The tested Touran is the SE version; one up from the
base S model. It has all you need but you have to
forgo climate control for more basic air-con. All the
now expected technology is on board with a decent

infotainment screen covering navigation, music and car
controls in one easy to use set-up, augmented by steering
wheel controls.
Pretty much everything has been redesigned to work
better than on the Mark 1 version. This means increased
safety and more gadgets. The model to avoid is the
entry S level which is a tad spartan. As ever, there are
various trim levels and options right up to the rangetopping R-Line model.
A nice touch is the CD / SD card player hidden behind
a bright panel above the glove box which helps to keep
the dashboard neat and tidy. The twelve volt socket, aux
plug and USB are tucked away in one of the many useful
storage wells. Seats are comfortable enough for long
trips and the driving position is good. It even has five
Isofix fittings for profligate child-rearers.
There’s a good range of engines to choose from. My
pick of the range is the 1.6 TDI 110 SE model as tested
here. It’s a happy medium between cost, efficiency and
performance and comes with either a six-speed manual
gearbox or a seven-speed DSG auto. On test I routinely
saw well over 43mpg and on a longer run diesel
consumption rose to a heady 51.2mpg.
The Volkswagen Touran is not the most exciting car to
look at but, for what it lacks in styling, it makes up for
with its functionality. Its unique selling point is the classyfeeling interior, which is also more spacious and practical
than many rivals in this class. It is very comfortable to
ride in but not exciting to drive. Subtle improvements
across the board over the previous iteration make the
new Volkswagen Touran more impressive than ever as a
family all-rounder.

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20/06/2016 19:31