Rubik cubes, flat pack furniture, and now Volkswagen Tourans. Three lateral thinking puzzles that all seem like a good idea before you start. In the Touran’s case, the puzzle is how to get the rear seats to move about. For the advanced children in the class, there is the additional puzzle of getting to the spare tyre and tool kit under the floor.
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In getting to grips with the seating configuration of the Touran I got a headache and the man from VW nearly put his back out. Then, inevitably, a small child walked past, pulled a draw string and the seat shot into place. No problem at all.
The interior arranged to my liking, I set off for the open road. The front seats are the same as those found in the Volkswagen Golf or Jetta. But because they are mounted higher up, they make you feel like the captain of an ocean liner. A not unpleasant position to be in. The dashboard also makes you feel like you are in a better than average Golf; the sat nav and radio are one of the best in the market with intuitive functions, clear displays and touch-screen controls.
So it was no surprise that when I reached a sweeping A-road corner I turned in as though I were in a Golf hatchback rather than an MPV. Much to everyone’s surprise and relief the car handled just like a small hatchback. The suspension, as you might expect from a Volkswagen, gives a re-assuring ride at all times, including over speed bumps and potholes.
But once off the A-roads and onto the Motorway I was braced for agony. The test car has the new petrol 1.4 turbo engine. I had always felt that a 1.4 petrol unit belongs in a Polo or a Fox, not in a family car. But it is part of a new generation of engine designs (other manufactures like Renault and Nissan are doing likewise). The 1.6 petrol has been replaced with a 1.4 turbo as it should deliver a greener but equally effective power unit.
Pulling away from traffic lights in haste, perhaps trying to show a Fiesta who’s boss, the engine delivers a big metallic rumble. It’s not very classy but it does suggest a serious intent. Potentially an intent beyond its means?
In shocking reality though, it is not beyond its means. It accelerates to 60 in a respectable 9.8 seconds. Then, having shown it can do that, this little 1.4 engine finishes the job and provides a quiet motorway ride. It can also deliver up to 46.3 MPG – although the average is nearer 37.7.
All this refinement, performance and handling allowed me to forget that this is a people mover. In the ‘TSI’ trim with alloy wheels it is also a handsome car. It looks sporty and fun and suggests the driver is a young-at-heart parent. Which can be important to people struggling to come to terms with the sacrifices of parenting.
The corollary to that is that every time I looked round to reverse out of a parking space I was shocked to see a space more like a mini-bus.
Which made me realise what a buying conundrum this car creates. First of all, once you have driven a Touran, why would you buy a Sharan? The bigger and more expensive Sharan doesn’t really offer a great deal more space for luggage or people. The Touran really is a triumph of compact design.
Secondly, why would you buy a new or nearly new 1.4T when there are a large number of 1.6s on the market. Neither MPG nor insurance group are especially better with the new engine, so there is no money saving there. It therefore makes a lot of sense to go out and buy a 1.6 before they get too old.
But if you are going to consider that, you are also going to have to weigh up whether you want one of the cheaper-to-run rivals (many of which manage an MPG of 39) or the better quality and more assured experience provided by the Touran. That’s what is known as a high quality problem…
Summary
A small MPV that has versatility and quality in equal measure. This is an MPV that really does drive like a car; handling and motorway refinement are impressive. For a short time, the 1.6 litre petrol engines make for a clever nearly new purchase.
Road test car details:
Volkswagen Touran 1.4 TSI
OTR: £ 18480
0-62: 9.8
MPG: 37.7
Co2/KM: 179
Words: Matthew Tumbridge