Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Touran

Who said our long-term cars have it easy? The Volkswagen Touran is certainly being made to earn its living, particularly after it was pressed into service to ferry a scrapped Rover Metro to our recent fire extinguisher test. It's not the first time we've been glad that we specified it with a tow bar.

Avg. savings
£3,581 off RRP*
Pros
  • Punchy, flexible engine, driving position, cabin storage, clever seat options, sharp handling
Cons
  • Engine vibration at idle, low opening tailgate, no CD player when using sat-nav
Find your Volkswagen Touran
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Who said our long-term cars have it easy? The Volkswagen Touran is certainly being made to earn its living, particularly after it was pressed into service to ferry a scrapped Rover Metro to our recent fire extinguisher test. It's not the first time we've been glad that we specified it with a tow bar.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Touran doesn't have the size or weight advantages of Auto Express's previous tow cars from VW - a Sharan and Caravelle - but the mini-MPV really packs a punch, thanks to its 2.0-litre TDI engine. With 134bhp, it boasts more power than either of its stablemates, but it's the way the power is delivered that sets the Touran apart.

Instead of a great surge as the turbo cuts in, power is on tap throughout the rev range - exactly what you want when towing. Hills are taken with ease, and cruise control needs to be engaged to ensure you keep to the 60mph towing limit.

But the VW is also the perfect commuting tool. It's flexible in traffic, yet refined on the motorway, and able to return more than 40mpg in all conditions (except when towing, of course). Our only gripe with the engine is the vibration through the clutch pedal at tickover - a small price to pay.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Touran

2025 Volkswagen

Touran

58,459 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £18,497
View Touran
Touran

2019 Volkswagen

Touran

61,910 milesAutomaticDiesel1.6L

Cash £14,995
View Touran
Touran

2018 Volkswagen

Touran

47,995 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £14,295
View Touran
Touran

2019 Volkswagen

Touran

31,154 milesAutomaticDiesel1.6L

Cash £16,990
View Touran

All this work has seen the Touran rack up nearly 10,000 miles in four months. The people carrier has been kept busy travelling to UK race tracks with our Uniroyal Team Challenge racers, and a trip across Belgium for the 25 Hour Beetle Fun Cup at Spa saw the MPV filled with race gear. I've even used the Touran to ferry people around - filling all seven seats on a night out without complaint - although the tow bar bottomed out on speed humps with the extra weight on board.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Sport version is surefooted when pressing on, but the ride proves harsh on poorly maintained city streets. On the plus side, the versatility of the rear layout continues to impress with its variety of seat configurations. But less pleasing are the plastics in the boot, which seem to pick up marks too easily. We were gently taken to task by VW after we complained the tailgate didn't open high enough for my six-foot-three-inch frame. The firm pointed out that an extra push raises it a little further, but we think it should open to this height in the first place. The rear door also needs a firm shove to close it properly.

We'll get this checked when we take the Touran in for attention to its most irritating fault. The remote central locking works fine on the driver's door, while a second stab opens the rest - apart from the front passenger door. It can take five or six goes before it releases - very annoying with armfuls of shopping. The misting front foglight will also have to be looked at, too.

Not that the car is a stranger to my VW dealer, as the engine warning light came on after roughly 5,000 miles. Fearing the worst, we took the Touran in, asking the garage to also look at the brake lights, which stayed on long after the car was parked. It transpired these were triggering the warning, and they were fixed under warranty on the spot.

Niggles aside, the Touran is a pleasure to drive, and is coping admirably with the demands of my role as Consumer Editor. It's been used as a test bed for everything from polish to sat-nav.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Products editor

Kim has worked for Auto Express for more than three decades and all but a year of that time in the Products section. His current role as products editor involves managing the section’s content and team of testers plus doing some of the tests himself. 

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Touran

Volkswagen Touran

RRP £27,285Avg. savings £3,581 off RRP*Used from £11,450
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £7,250
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £8,595
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,499 off RRP*Used from £10,695
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal
BMW M5 Touring - front action

Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal

The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It’s our Deal of the Day for 29 June
News
29 Jun 2025
Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production
Range Rover Sport SV Black - front

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production

There’s also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs
News
1 Jul 2025
New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD
Auto Express senior staff writer Jordan Katsianis stood next to the Honda 0 SUV prototype

New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD

Honda EV plans are gathering momentum, and they’ll be realised in the groundbreaking 0 SUV next year
News
1 Jul 2025