Volkswagen Touran Sport 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The 2.0 litre four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine produces maximum figures of 138 bhp at 4200 rpm and 236 lb-ft at 1750-2500 rpm, which is enough to make a car of this size feel surprisingly punchy. A 0-62 mph time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 126 mph are respectable figures and this Touran will cruise with ease at motorway speeds and overtake with little fuss.

This Volkswagen Touran’s ride is a little firm at lower speeds but nicely refined when cruising on motorways and there is a minimum of road noise too. Get onto a more interesting road and it maintains its composure surprisingly well for such a tall car and body roll is kept well in check. The steering is suitably light at town speeds making manoeuvring simple, but it weights up nicely as your speed increases.

The driver’s seat has height adjustment and the steering can be adjusted for both rake and reach so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The dashboard is laid out very well, but overall it looks just a little uninspiring. It does feel hardwearing though. Forward visibility is good and the wide upright rear window makes reversing easy.

The Volkswagen Touran Sport 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr is a smart and stylish people carrier and the smooth lines and deep windows help disguise its overall bulk. Several chrome-finished details like the radiator grill louvers help mark out this Sport model. Inside, you get climate control, electric windows front and rear, cruise control, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, rear parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and a CD player as standard. It also comes with 16 inch Sacramento alloy wheels, remote central locking and immobiliser and alarm.

Among the available options are metallic paint at £465, leather seats at £1,575 and Satnav at £590.

Space is generous for those in the front two rows of seats, slightly less so in the third which would probably get uncomfortable for adults on longer journeys. Boot space is rather limited with all seats in use – just 121 litres – but the third row can be folded flat into the floor to create a larger load area. The middle row can be slid forwards or backwards too or removed altogether with minimum fuss to open up an enormous 1913 litres. There are numerous compartments around the cabin for handy stowage of smaller items as well.

This Volkswagen Touran comes with certain safety features including six airbags, ABS, Isofix child seat mountings and stability control.

Volkswagens have above average reliability, but they aren’t without problems. This car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty.

At £25,405 the Volkswagen Touran Sport 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr is a competitively priced car. It has a spacious, comfortable cabin with a good spec and, with the seats folded or removed, a cavernous luggage space. It feels sturdy and well bolted together but it’s not the most appealing people carrier out there and resale values are surprisingly weak.

It has a punchy yet pleasingly frugal engine, which will keep running costs low. A combined cycle of 58.9 mpg helped in part by a Stop/Start feature is an excellent figure and with a CO2 emissions figure of 127 g/km the taxes and running costs will be low.