2023 Volkswagen Touran Review | hey car (2023)

The Volkswagen Touran is an extremely practical family vehicle that can really fit seven people (provided you don't need a large boot). It does best with five used seats, three individual seats in the back and plenty of useful storage space up front. It's more practical than most seven-seat SUVs, and its relatively compact dimensions make it easy to park.

It drives like a Golf – with good visibility and responsive steering, although enthusiast drivers will find the Ford S-MAX and BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer a bit more fun to drive. However, it looks less like a bus than the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer.

Although diesel engines have fallen out of fashion, we think the 2.0-litre TDI is the best engine in the Touran. But if you drive low or spend most of your time driving around town, either the 1.4 or 1.5 TSI petrol will be more than enough, provided you don't expect flashy performance.

All models are generously equipped. We wouldn't necessarily bother with the top-of-the-range Volkswagen Touran R-Line - it's quite expensive and some of its features (like large 18-inch alloy wheels) aren't really necessary in such a sensible passenger car. Reasonable money goes to the Touran SE or SEL family, although the entry-level Volkswagen Touran SE can handle it if you're on a budget.

The Touran's direct competitors are cars such asCitroën Grand C4 Spacetourer,Renault Grand ScenicIFord S-MAXa. You can also look at larger carriers such as e.gSEATA AlhambryIFord Galaxy, as well as seven-seater SUVs such asSkoda KodiaqIHyundai Santa Fe.

As you'd expect from a Volkswagen, the Touran feels a bit sleeker inside than the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer or Ford S-MAX, though not as classy as the pricier BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.

Everything you touch feels well done as long as you don't bang your fingers on the dashboard (which works well for kicking kids' feet). Touran is comfortable handling years of family life.

The top-of-the-line Volkswagen Touran R-Line is of course the most luxurious thanks to the leather-wrapped steering wheel with gray stitching and aluminum inserts and sports seats with microfiber side bolsters. The R-Line version is also equipped with stainless steel pedals and, on DSG models, paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

The basic Volkswagen Touran SE is equipped with an 8-inch multimedia system, which does not come with navigation as standard, but can be upgraded at a later date. It also has a DAB radio, Bluetooth and an integrated SIM card.

The Touran SE family comes with satellite navigation as standard, while the SEL and R-Line models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can stream apps from your phone to the car's display. This is a very useful feature if, for example, you want to use Google Maps navigation or access your audiobooks while on the move.

No matter which model you buy, the infotainment system is easy to use with logical menus, clear graphics and quick responses. Unlike some cars that use a trackpad or a rotary controller located between the front seats, the Touran's infotainment system is operated mainly via a touchscreen – some people are fine with it, others find it frustrating. However, there are useful shortcuts on the steering wheel – for example, skipping tracks or adjusting the volume.

Measuring 4,527 mm in length, 1,829 mm in width and 1,674 mm in height, the Volkswagen Touran is not that huge on the outside, yet its interior is extremely spacious and versatile.

Even the tallest adults will be able to sit comfortably in the front, where there is plenty of headroom and surprisingly plenty of legroom. The doors open wide for easy access and you slide over (not down) the seats. There's plenty of storage up front, including large door storage compartments, a generous glovebox in the dash and several cupholders.

Access to the second row is also easy. There are three separate rear seats, each large enough to accommodate an adult. They're all the same size, and the flat floor means there's plenty of legroom, so there's no need to argue about who sits where.

It's safe to say that the rear seats aren't that roomy, and you'll need to be prepared to climb to reach them. That said, they're more usable than those offered by the competition, and even adults will find a surprising amount of room there once they're in place.

If you want to transport small children, the Touran offers as many as five Isofix points, which make it easy to fit a child seat.

Taking into account the use of all seven seats, the Touran has a rather modest trunk. It can only hold 137 liters of luggage, which is hardly suitable for several shopping bags. However, the third row of seats can easily be folded down, so that there is a flat floor and a much larger space of 927 litres. Also fold the second row of seats into the floor, and you've got a completely flat floor and a 1,857 liter van-like luggage compartment.

In addition to a large boot (assuming you don't use all of the Touran's seats), the boot has a practical square shape and doesn't have too much edge to lift heavy objects. The hands-free power tailgate (swing your foot under the rear bumper) is a useful option to keep an eye on.

When the second-generation Volkswagen Touran first went on sale in 2015, it was available with 1.2- and 1.4-liter petrol engines, as well as 1.6- and 2.0-liter diesel engines.

While diesel Tourans are the most popular, we recommend buying petrol if you don't drive many kilometers. The 1.2-liter unit is quite rare and, due to its relatively small displacement, quickly runs out of power under full load at highway speeds. However, it is fine for roaming around the city.

The 1.4 and 1.5 liter petrol engines have slightly more power, but the diesel engines require the least driving effort. If the budget allows, we recommend the 2.0 TDI engine over the 1.6 TDI, as its extra power and torque ensures a more relaxed driving experience. Since you don't have to work as hard, it's more refined and will also be more frugal.

You will find Tourans available with manual or automatic DSG gearbox. The DSG dual-clutch automatic is good, responds quickly to the accelerator pedal and works almost seamlessly. That said, their durability is questionable, so we recommend the manual if you're concerned about running costs.

Regardless of which engine you choose, the Volkswagen Touran is a very quiet and relaxing people's car. Sure, with either TDI engine, you'll hear the typical diesel clatter on a cold morning, while the 1.6-liter TDI will purr a bit under hard acceleration, but none of that should ruin your day. Or discourage you from buying a Touran.

There's a bit of wind noise, as you'd expect from a brick-shaped car like the Touran, but it's no worse than the competition and you're unlikely to really notice it over the sound of the kids in the back.

A fairly comprehensive set of safety systems is available in the Volkswagen Touran, but not all are standard across the range.

The PreCrash Preventive Occupant Protection System tightens the front seat belts, closes the power windows and prepares the brakes if an impending collision is detected. It is standard on the Volkswagen Touran SE Family, SEL and R-Line models, although it was a £145 option on the Touran SE.

On the motorway the Side Scan system will use radar sensors to warn you of other vehicles in your blind spot, but for a new one this is a rather expensive option at £525. This can be combined with Lane Keeping Assist, which warns you when the car is drifting out of its lane, but it costs DKK 1,040, so this is an extra box that is rarely ticked.

All Volkswagen models are equipped with Volkswagen's Front Assist system, which uses radars to warn you when you get too close to the car in front. It can even apply the brakes if it detects an impending collision, which is pretty handy. Other standard equipment includes seven airbags and Isofix child seat anchor points on all five rear seats.

During the Euro NCAP crash tests of the Volkswagen Touran in 2015, it received a maximum of five stars for safety. This included scores of 88% for adult occupants, 89% for children, 71% for pedestrians and 76% for safety features.

Insuring any Volkswagen Touran shouldn't cost a fortune, but if you're a young or inexperienced driver it's worth shopping around for a quote.

If you're looking for cheap cover, look for a low-power 115bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine as it's in insurance group 14. The rest - including the more powerful 1.5 TSI diesel and petrol engine - are covered in insurance group 17.

Buy a Volkswagen Touran registered from 1 April 2017 and you'll pay a flat rate of £150 a year in VED (Car Tax). This applies to all cars, except hybrid and electric cars.

The previous model will be taxed on CO2 emissions, so you can save money every year by buying an older car. For example, the 1.6 TDI Touran officially emits 119g of CO2 per km, so you only pay £30 a year in tax.

However, you won't save much money by buying an earlier petrol model. The 1.4 TSI with manual emits 133g/km, which puts it in Range E and will cost £150 a year in tax.

The cheapest Volkswagen Touran SE covers the base with 16-inch steel wheels, front and rear parking sensors (useful for a car this size) and silver roof rails. It is equipped with electric windows (front and rear), manual air conditioning and an electronic parking brake with Auto Hold function. The infotainment system provides an eight-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio.

The Touran SE family includes the Discover Media navigation system. There is also a panoramic sunroof, roller blinds for the rear side windows and electric child locks for the rear doors. The PreCrash prevention passenger protection system is also a welcome feature.

The Volkswagen Touran SEL looks a bit more exclusive thanks to 17-inch alloy wheels and various chrome trim elements. The interior is also more elegant with piano black inserts, mood lighting, air conditioning, floor mats and Arts Velours seats with microfiber reinforcements. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as well as Volkswagen's connectivity services We Connect Plus.

At the top of the range is the sporty Volkswagen Touran R-Line with 18-inch alloy wheels and individually styled bodywork. Inside there are gray decorative inserts, black headliner and gray stitching on the leather steering wheel. The sports seats proudly display the R-Line logo, as do the door covers. Stainless steel pedals complete it all.