The Volkswagen Touran is one of the best-selling MPV and there are more than 1.9 million people who have chosen to purchase it since its debut in 2003. Last June, Volkswagen launched the all-new Volkswagen Touran and after taking it out for a weekend spin around the island; here are 4 considerations that we think would make the Volkswagen Touran a good buy.
1. Design

The Volkswagen Touran’s new powerful and precise lines pick up the reductive clarity of the previous model. The design concept was significantly further refined, and even reinvented in some cases, so as to give the vehicle a sharper look while retaining a strong underlying continuity.

The distinctive details of the Volkswagen Touran’s front section lend it a new and unmistakable depth of class; even the headlights themselves are much slimmer than those of the previous model, and have a more three-dimensional shape.

Although the new Volkswagen Touran is longer than the previous model, it is not so noticeable until you sit inside the car and realise how spacious it is. Despite having the largest cargo capacity in its class, it is able to retain its compact exterior dimensions due to an innovative design approach.

With its increased overall length and longer wheelbase, the Volkswagen Touran now appears considerably sleeker and more sportier; thanks to the long stylish side windows and precise lines.

2. Comfort & Convenience

The Volkswagen Touran’s longer wheelbase benefits passengers in the frequently used second seat row as the seats can be adjusted lengthwise. The backrest inclination can also be adjusted, with a choice of three positions. The area in front of the centre seat is also made more comfortable thanks to a very flat centre tunnel.

The newly designed fold-flat seats also improve seating ergonomics and believe it or not, the Volkswagen Touran has an interior width of 1,518 mm at elbow height in the second seat row; which makes it possible to fit three child seats next to each other, something that not many other MPVs can do. All three seats in the second row as well as the two in the third row, are equipped with ISOFIX fixtures that include top tether fixtures.

Legroom in the third row has also been improved when compared to its predecessor. Entry and exit have been optimised as well, with the second row seats now equipped with an easy entry function that allow it to slide forward with ease.

The Volkswagen Touran’s dashboard has been redesigned with a more driver-oriented layout. The upper area of the dashboard panel is made of a soft-touch material and contains a closable storage compartment. The focus of the driver’s work station both visually and ergonomically is the centre console, which slopes up towards the front. In front of the gear lever there is a storage compartment, and additional storage compartments and trays are located, among other places, on the side of the instruments and in the footwell on the passenger side (for tablet computers).

In addition to the storage areas in the dashboard, the driver and passenger also have the use of two cup holders in the centre console, a stowage area under the centre armrest, large compartments in the doors and sliding drawers under the front seats. In the Comfortline version, the Touran is also fitted with folding tables and storage pockets on the back of the front seats.

The “Pure Air Climatronic” system with 3-zone temperature control allows the driver, front and rear passengers to set their desired temperatures for maximum comfort. Its biogenic filter, unique to the MPV segment, helps maintain air quality at a consistently high level and prevents the infiltration of pollutants, fungal spores and allergens.

3. Functionality

The direct-injection turbocharged 1.4 TSI engine in the Volkswagen Touran is a completely new design. Producing 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque, it delivers strong performance (0-100 km/h in only 8.9 seconds) while consuming only 5.6 L/100km of fuel in the combined driving cycle.

The new fold-flat seating system allows the three individual seats in the second row and the two individual seats in the third row to be folded down in a matter of seconds to create a perfectly level continuous floor. Utilisation of the full luggage space of up to 1,857 litres is made possible by easy-to-use lugs for folding down the backrests of the second row and third row seats and lowering the whole seats flat into the luggage compartment floor. In other words, all seats stay inside the vehicle and are simply folded flat to create space as needed. With the second seat row, it is easy to do this from the side; the third row can also be easily folded down or up, access in this case being from the luggage compartment.

Four driving modes are available at the touch of a button; Normal, Sport, Eco and Individual. In Eco, the engine management and climate control are optimised for low fuel consumption.

4. Safety

Volkswagen has made advances in active and passive safety through the use of a crash-optimised body that includes high-strength steels (resulting in an increase of 25 percent in the static stiffness of the body structure). The Volkswagen Touran has seven airbags as standard, including a driver’s knee airbag, a chassis with passenger car-like attributes and a range of new assistance systems that’s pioneering in this class. The assistance systems featured for the first time in the Touran include the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System as standard, the Pre-Crash proactive occupant protection system, and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking.

Our Personal Take On The Volkswagen Touran

The Volkswagen Touran is a spacious vehicle with ample storage compartment and passengers will surely appreciate the added legroom and comfort especially for long road trips to Malaysia and beyond. Swift and nimble, the Volkswagen Touran is able to manoeuvre with ease during lane change and overtaking.

On hindsight though, the fuel consumption might be a concern because the average fuel consumption we managed for an entirely urban drive was about 10 km per litre.

One thing we truly appreciate about the Volkswagen Touran is the ample space that is available when the seats are folded flat because it makes running errands so much easier. In fact, we think that the Volkswagen Touran will make an excellent vehicle for commercial purposes too.

Currently priced at SGD$147,400 for the Comfortline variant; the Volkswagen Touran is definitely a car for the adventurous family. Whether it’s an outback adventure or a simple picnic in the park, the Volkswagen Touran will serve a family of 7 very well.

Head down to the Volkswagen Car Showroom at Alexandra road for a test drive now.