Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
Awaiting more images
List Price: £24,290
Tax Band: E
Insurance Group: 19
MPG: 53.3
CO2: 140
0-62 Mph: 9.9 secs
BHP: 138 BHP
Range: 703 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
The Touran has a decently refined engine and is a capable performer. If you are looking for a car that has plenty of room and low running costs then the Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr could be for you. This people carrier can seat up to seven in its comfortable, practical cabin, has a sharply styled exterior and feels very well made.

PROS:  The car comes with a reasonable level of kit and the turbocharged engine has plenty of grunt. The cabin is uncluttered and the materials feel solid. It has a versatile layout and can be converted into an impressively large load area.

CONS:  The ride is a little firm, especially at lower speeds. The middle row of seats needs to be removed completely to create that maximum load space and the interior isn’t as stylish as some of its rivals.

Behind the Wheel

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

The driver’s seat has height adjustment and the steering can be adjusted so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The dashboard is laid out clearly and the controls are straight forward, 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 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 powerful. A 0-62 mph time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph are respectable figures and this Touran will cruise with ease at motorway speeds and overtake with little fuss.

Looks & Equipment

The Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr is a smart and stylish people carrier and the smooth lines and deep windows help disguise its overall bulk. Inside you get air-conditioning, 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 alloy wheels, remote central locking and immobiliser and alarm.

Among the available options are metallic paint at £465, climate control for £380, leather seats for £1,855 and Satnav at £795.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

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 and this car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty.

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.

Value for Money

At £23,445 the Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr is a competitively priced car. It has a spacious, comfortable cabin with a good spec and a cavernous luggage space, with the seats folded or removed. However, it’s not the most appealing people carrier out there and resale values are surprisingly weak.

It has a strong yet pleasingly frugal engine, which will keep running costs low with a combined cycle of 53.3 mpg and with a CO2 emissions figure of 140 g/km.

Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr Car Review - by 
All Volkswagen Touran Reviews
Volkswagen Touran S 1.2 TSI 5dr - March 2012
If you are looking for a MPV that has plenty of room and low running costs then the Volkswagen Touran S 1.2 TSI 5dr might be a good match. This people carrier can seat up to seven in its comfortabl...
Volkswagen Touran S 1.6 TDI 5dr - March 2012
This people carrier can seat up to seven people in its comfortable and practical cabin and has a sharply styled exterior. It’s a civilised car to drive and a capable performer. If you are looking f...
Volkswagen Touran SE 1.4 TSI DSG 5dr - March 2012
This people carrier can seat up to seven in its comfortable yet practical cabin, has a sharply styled exterior and feels very well screwed together. It’s a very civilised car to drive and good perf...
Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr - March 2012
The Touran has a decently refined engine and is a capable performer. If you are looking for a car that has plenty of room and low running costs then the Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI 5dr could be fo...
Volkswagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr - March 2012
The Volkswagen Touran is an MPV that is able to deliver plenty of space and the option to have seven seats or to remove the rear seats for a giant load space in the boot. The Touran is smaller tha...
Comments
Large MPV Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Large MPV cars that you can then compare to the Volkswagen Touran. Here are some popular Volkswagen Touran alternatives:

NEW RELEASE
Jeep Avenger revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
Ferrari Purosangue revealed
NEW RELEASE
Ford Mustang revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
New BMW M2 has been revealed
NEW RELEASE
Electric SUV coming soon
NEW RELEASE
Popular hatchback gets an update