Volkswagen Touran TDI 170
By and large, the Volkswagen Touran doesnt have a fanatical following. Its not a car that generates enthusiast web rings or is slated to be a future classic. Little of what the Touran does is novel and even this latest facelifted version is never going to be the most exciting mini-MPV contender out there. Let the others hog the headlines with cheap gimmicks and inappropriate engineering.
The Touran has developed into a very finely honed but effortlessly discreet car which, in TDI 170 guise, features one of the very best engines ever to be bolted under the stubby bonnet of a people carrier.
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The six-speed manual version opens at £22,277, while the desirable twin-clutch DSG gearbox option will add around £1,100 to that price. Its also surprisingly agile for something so well built, has a great change of pace and leaves the opposition bamboozled. The 170 braked horsepower is just the start of it. More important when considering a vehicle thats often loaded to the gunwales is the torque figure and the Touran TDI 170 does not disappoint.
The 258lb/ft it generates is more than something like an Audi TT 3.2 quattro and means that this Touran is possessed of a pair of jet heels. Itll rattle through 60mph in 8.7 seconds and will hit 133mph if youre determined, yet will still return 42.
8mpg and sits in a lowly insurance group 12.
"The Touran TDI 170 is the mini-MPV elevated to a higher plane"
Even at this premium end of the mini-MPV market, conservatism rules but Volkswagen used to inhabit 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. 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 Chelsea 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 TDI 170 could be described as the mini-MPV elevated to a higher plane. Whether many customers are on the plane remains to be seen.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volkswagen Touran TDI 170
PRICES: £22,277 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 174g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 133mph / 0-60mph 8.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 42.8mpg (overall)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags / ABS / Side airbags / ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4202/2010/1470mm
