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The Touran is VW’s compact people-carrier with a choice of five or seven seats (the latter was a no-cost option when the car was new).One of its biggest strengths is that it’s great to drive, with balanced handling.
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The steering is light round town, but it firms up nicely as you increase speed, giving just the right amount of feedback. Body control through the corners is excellent but the downside is a firm ride. It’s quiet in the cabin, too, even with the diesel engines under the bonnet. Among the Touran's other strengths is its versatile seating layout, with a spacious middle row that folds, slides or comes out very easily. The third row is fine for children, and adults won’t moan if the journey is short, but it’s not somewhere they’d want to spend too much time. The only real complaint is that the whole cabin lacks any design flair. But, if you just want a tool to do a job (and that job is moving people), the Touran could well fit the bill.
Running Costs
There’s one thing about the VW badge that always affects the used market and that’s its desirability. The Touran's residual values are strong partly because of that, but mainly because it's a versatile family car which should give many years of active service. So, it's cheap to start with, but once you’ve bought a Touran, it shouldn’t cost the earth to run. Insurance ratings range from group 6 to 9, and VW’s impressive engine technology means fuel economy is good. The diesels are the best - the 1.9 returns 47mpg - and, although the 2.0 is almost as good, it’s the most expensive to insure. Surveys have shown the German firm’s dealer network isn’t as expensive as others, but you can always save money by visiting a specialist.