Volkswagen Touran Review 2024

Volkswagen Touran At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
There are few MPVs left on the market, yet the Volkswagen Touran ably demonstrates why they are so useful. It is not exciting or aspirational, but the Touran simply gets the job done.

+Hugely practical and flexible interior, with seven seats as standard. Good build quality. Refined driving experience. Economical engines.

-Relatively expensive to buy compared with an equivalent SUV. Anonymous exterior styling. Third-row seats are a tight squeeze for adults. Now petrol engines only.

New prices start from £27,810
Insurance Groups are between 10–19
On average it achieves 80% of the official MPG figure

With everybody seeming to want an SUV, the popularity of MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles, also called people carriers) such as the Volkswagen Touran has dropped like a stone. However, for those who need genuine practicality, it has a lot of potential. It immediately outdoes the rival BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and Mercedes-Benz B-Class by virtue of coming with seven seats.

When the original Volkswagen Touran was launched in 2003, the MPV was still a popular choice for families. Fast-forward two decades and the rise of the SUV has left MPVs as a niche choice in the new car market.

From the outside, the Volkswagen Touran is not likely to get any pulses racing. It adopts Volkswagen’s typically muted design language, looking like a boxier version of the previous-generation Volkswagen Golf hatchback. Unlike some MPVs, the Volkswagen Touran uses conventional rear doors, rather than sliding ones.

The fuss-free theme continues inside the Volkswagen Touran, with a focus on maximising practicality. With a dashboard that is lifted almost directly from the last Volkswagen Golf, you can be certain that everything will be logically laid-out and easy to use.

Each of the five rear seats in the Volkswagen Touran can be folded down separately, making the interior very flexible. Having three seats in the second row means there should be no arguments about who gets the middle seat, too. Those in the third row are less well catered for – try not to cram any six-foot adults back there.

Folding down all the rear seats flat creates a gigantic cargo capacity, allowing the Volkswagen Touran to double as a very refined van.

In line with the Volkswagen Touran’s sensible exterior styling and interior design, VW has also blessed its MPV with a no-nonsense driving experience. Being unkind, you could describe driving the Volkswagen Touran as dull – but ‘uneventful’ is perhaps more accurate and fair.

There is a decent amount of body control for a tall vehicle, meaning corners are taken calmly. By the same token, there is very little engagement between the Volkswagen Touran and its driver. The ride is also refined, with even R-Line models on larger 18-inch alloy wheels remaining comfortable.

When first released, the Volkswagen Touran came with a host of engine options. Volkswagen has now condensed this down to solely the 1.5-litre TSI petrol. This offers a respectable blend of pace and fuel economy, along with a choice between manual or automatic gearboxes. The only downside will be if your high annual mileage favours a diesel engine, or if your fleet manager requires you to have a company car. If so, cut the Volkswagen Touran from your shortlist.

There are very few real rivals left to the Volkswagen Touran. The Ford S-Max offers seven seats, but is now hybrid-only and substantially more expensive. At the other end of the scale, the bargain-priced Dacia Jogger can seat seven, but cannot compete with the Volkswagen for interior quality or brand cachet.

This all means that, should you need a seven-seat MPV, but still want an upmarket image and a degree of affordability, the Volkswagen Touran is really your only choice. A very sensible option, it shows there is still an alternative to buying an SUV.

Ask Honest John

I need a car with a high driver's seat but not an SUV - what would you suggest?

"Can you please tell me some cars (not SUV's) that have a high drivers seat as I struggle to lower myself into a car seat?"
If you are not keen on an SUV you could look at MPVs that have a high seating position, such as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, Ford C-MAX or Volkswagen Touran.
Answered by David Ross

What's the best petrol family car with a large boot?

"I have three children and would like a car that can give me good mileage but more importantly one with a big boot. I previously had a diesel and found that cutting down on motorway journeys meant my dpf filter egv valve was costly to replace. So now I want petrol as I have a budget of 21k and want a car that's 4-5 years old but also fairly new less than 40k mileage."
A Volkswagen Touran would be a very versatile choice. Your budget will get a 2019 example with the 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine - we'd recommend the latter if you can find one, it makes lighter work of shifting a car full of passengers. Alternatively, we'd recommend a Skoda Kodiaq. It's a very versatile family SUV available with seven seats and a frugal 1.5-litre petrol engine.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What's the best seven seat MPV?

"I’ve had a Vauxhall Zafira for a long while. What is the best petrol 7-seater MPV at present please?"
There are very few seven-seat petrol MPVs on the market in 2023. A Volkswagen Touran could be a good option, with the efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine. Or maybe a van-based people carrier like the Volkswagen Caddy. Alternatively, the Dacia Jogger represents excellent value for money.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you suggest a replacement MPV for my Seat Altea XL?

"It's time to replace my Seat Altea XL. As they are no longer in production, what would be a suitable spacious economic replacement?"
The VW Touran is still in production and is a similar size and positioning. We'd also look at the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (more expensive but posher), the Citroen Berlingo and the Dacia Jogger, which is a budget option but offers seven seats and plenty of space.
Answered by Lawrence Allan
More Questions

What does a Volkswagen Touran cost?