Volkswagen Touran Range

Volkswagen has refreshed the Touran to give it a little more personality. Andy Enright reports

Its hard to think of a much more buttoned-down sensible shoes car than Volkswagens original Touran. It did a job of transporting a family and their gear around effectively but without any injection of pizzazz or personality. Even the styling seemed to have been cut and pasted from the generic MPV file. Dont get me wrong it always has been a very good vehicle but it badly needed a small dose of charisma.

The latest model aims to add a little of the missing x-factor.

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The mini-MPV market is one that values conservatism but Volkswagen seemed to explore a position with the Touran where conservatism lapsed into blandness. All that was required to nudge the vehicle back into the sweet spot of buyer focus were a few well-judged nips and tucks. So it is that the 2007 model year Touran has a more assertive front end, compliments of a revised radiator grille and headlights which are similar to those of the Eos coupe-cabriolet. With a distinct double curve to the underside of the lamp unit, its a welcome diversion from the anonymous blobs fitted to the old Touran.

Move round to the rear and youll spot even more strident alterations. Redesigned rear light clusters and a completely different bumper assembly give it a more aggressive, hunkered-down appearance. Indoors, there are new trims and stainless steel trim that lifts the otherwise drab colour scheme. An MP3 compatible radio/CD player has also been released, so you had better get onto iTunes and start organising your playlists.

This generation Touran is the first Volkswagen available with ParkAssist, an optional parking guidance system developed by Volkswagen engineers. ParkAssist enables automatic parking, using front and rear ultrasonic sensors to detect available parking space and a control unit to calculate the ideal manoeuvring path. Acoustic and visual displays guide the driver to the correct parking start position, then once reverse gear is selected the car parks itself in less than 15 seconds. All the driver has to do in this time is accelerate and brake the Touran does all the steering.

Say goodbye to dinged bumpers and kerbed alloys. "Slip inside and the Touran has the same quiet feel good factor of all contemporary Volkswagen products" Once, no fewer than eight engines were available in the Touran line-up, which seemed like overkill in a car that sold around 10,000 units per year. Volkswagen has sensibly rationalised the powerplant selection with the current Touran and has more accurately reflected buyer preferences. Out go the 115PS 1.6 FSI and the 150bhp 2.

0-litre FSI petrol engines, the green pump line-up now comprising the entry-level 101bhp 1.6-litre and the 140bhp TSI Twincharge engine. Prices start at £14,777. Turbocharged cars have been around for decades and supercharged models even longer: the 140bhp 1.4-litre FSI Twincharge engine fitted to this Touran uses both. The supercharger operates at a maximum of 1.8 bar pressure, boosting the low end torque response where turbo cars can often feel lethargic.

Once the supercharger has done its bit, the turbo kicks in for high-end power. Experts will realise that this makes a flexible and inherently driveable engine. The old cliché that this is a small capacity engine that drinks like one but drives like a bigger unit is, in this instance, bang on the money. That said, most Touran drivers want an engine that drinks like a desert scorpion and they rightly look to the diesel models to supply that sort of parsimony. Offering a decent slug of mid range power, 162g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy that nudges 48mpg, the 105PS 1.9-litre TDI unit is likely to be the favourite of private and corporate buyers alike.

This engine also comes in 90PS form where it should win friends with its low price tag. Should you be tempted by a little more clout when you acquaint pedal with metal, Volkswagen can offer the impressive 140PS 2.0-litre TDI. Its certainly a good deal quicker than the 100bhp engine, reaching 60mph in 10.

4 seconds, but it retails at around £3,000 more which is a lot of money in this price sensitive market sector. If you can stretch up towards £22,000 for this class of car, its also worth considering the impressive 170PS version of the 2.0 TDI engine. The reason why budget mini-MPVs have sold so well (and more premium products in this sector like the Honda FR-V and the Chrysler PT Cruiser have struggled) is that the mini-MPV is often viewed as a grudge purchase, one that has been forced upon the buyer by the onset of children.

Its something that is often viewed as an overhead rather than something you would covet. The Touran has tried to change all that. Slip inside and it has the same quiet feel good factor of all contemporary Volkswagen products. The build quality is superb and the ergonomics first rate.

Three trim levels are available, S, SE and Sport, and every version gets a six-speed gearbox with the option of a six-speed automatic. But what of the seats? Well, the Tourans seating system is certainly flexible. The rearmost pair of seats, whilst only really suitable for kiddies, can fold flat into the floor which means that for most of the time youll have an easily accessible and spacious luggage bay. You can even fold the middle seat of the middle row, making a four seater that can transport long items like skis with supreme ease.

All three of the middle seats slide backwards and forwards on separate runners. Quick release levers take care of seat removal and its good to see seats that dont weigh a tonne. With 39 separate storage areas around the cabin, you may need to make a mental checklist of what you left where. Included in that number are under seat trays to keep valuables out of sight, three fold-down roof mounted cubbies, a rear under floor bin and more cup holders than the Real Madrid trophy room.

Pockets in all four doors can accept a litre bottle and there are the usual MPV accoutrements such as seat backs that double as tables and aircraft style fold down trays. Access to the rearmost set of seats is refreshingly easy due to the thoughtful way the middle row flips and slides forward. The Touran didnt need many changes to enliven it a little and the current car does just about enough. Itll never be the most exciting mini-MPV you can buy but its tough to find one that feels better built.

Making the sensible choice has just been lightened of a burden of tedium.



FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Volkswagen Touran range
PRICES: £14,777-£22,277 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 162-194g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.6 FSI] Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 11.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9 TDI 105PS] 47.8mpg (overall)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Six airbags / ABS with brake assist / ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4390/1790/1650mm