Volkswagen Touran review - Reliability and Safety

Volkswagen is known for its ability to build sturdy cars and the Touran is no different. Whether you’re driving or a passenger in this car, it certainly feels like a safe pair of hands. However, Volkswagen’s scores in our Driver Power survey are only middling at best. While the Touran sells in too few numbers to make the Driver Power survey of cars for sale in the UK, its scores contribute to VW's overall rating.

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Safety kit on the Touran has been comprehensively updated, an important factor for families in the market for a people carrier. It gets nine airbags as well as a raft of safety systems for the first time. These include Automatic Post-Collision Braking and Pre-Crash proactive occupant protection system as standard, plus adaptive cruise control, emergency braking and traffic alerts, as well as Trailer Assist for the first time on an MPV. Also, all the five rear chairs have Isofix child seat preparation.

All this was instrumental in the new Touran picking up a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating when it arrived in 2015, with individual safety scores of 88 per cent for adult occupants, 89 per cent for child occupants, 71 per cent for pedestrians and 76 per cent for safety assist.

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Warranty

Volkswagen’s warranty is three years and 60,000 miles, but for a fee this can be extended on the Touran to four years and 75,000 miles (around £600, years one and two unlimited mileage, years three and four subject to 75,000-mile cap), or five years and 90,000 miles (a hefty £1,300, again unlimited mileage to begin with and then introducing the 90,000-mile cap from years three to five). Both those sums are more money than the extended warranties for some other Volkswagen models.

Servicing

Fixed-price servicing is offered by Volkswagen on all models, which covers the car for three years and 30,000 miles. This includes an oil change at 12 months or 10,000 miles (whichever is soonest), an interval service including oil change at 24 months/20,000 miles and a full inspection service with oil and brake fluid changes at 36 months/30,000 miles. All the parts and labour are guaranteed for two years and the plan is transferrable to another owner if the car is sold during the period.