Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI 140 CV DSG, test drive (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

A few days ago we started the test of the Volkswagen Touran, an MPV that we have been able to test with the 2.0 TDI 140 CV diesel engine paired with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox. In the first part of the test we analysed the engine, performance and its good behaviour.

Now in the second part we will analyse the exterior design, which carries the passing of time very well, and its interior, with space for up to seven occupants. Is it a spacious car? Are the finishes good? Does it have a good boot? We will answer all these questions below in this second part of the test.

Exterior design

Volkswagen has a lot of experience in designs that stand the test of time very well; the masterpiece of this philosophy is the Golf, but in the case of the Touran we are talking about a car that was born in 2003 and today, with small changes (and two restyles), still has a current design.

The main lines of the Touran are simple, with the front standing out thanks to the new headlights that incorporate LED daytime running lights outlining the headlamps and bi-xenon lights. On the sides, the large alloy wheels stand out, contributing a sportier image of the car, with 225/45 R17 sizes.

In an MPV there is one element that is always worth fitting: tinted rear windows, because they add a touch of privacy while also improving the aesthetics, besides protecting from the heat.

Interior design, habitability and finishes

In interior design it is traditional: a driving position with simple shapes but very practical and with everything to hand, it has the unmistakable touch of design “Made in Volkswagen”. The upper part of the dashboard has good quality, although in the lower part they could have opted for more soft plastics. That said, the fit and the overall quality are in line with the price.

The instrumentation has a very complete on-board computer, with all kinds of information about the car or the multimedia systems. Note the huge glass roof (an option) that lets a lot of light into the interior and can also be opened.

The driving position is slightly elevated, with excellent visibility and, in the case of our unit, with leather seats that hold the body well. If we have to make a long trip with the Touran, our back will not suffer because the padding is comfortable.

In the rear seats, the versatility typical of an MPV is present, with three fully independent seats that can slide or have their backrests adjusted, to gain more space in the boot or in the third row. With the five-seat configuration the legroom in the second row is more than adequate, although some MPVs beat it in this respect.

The third row has two wide seats where two adults fit; the problem is that they are very low and have little legroom. Even so, not all seven-seat MPVs can say that an adult fits in all seven seats.

They are easy to fold away because the third-row seats form the boot floor; you just lift them and that’s it. In addition, the 3rd row has storage compartments and armrests on the sides.

Access to the last row of seats is correct, not very complicated, but it requires a bit of agility to climb in. These seats can always get you out of a tight spot when we occasionally need more seats to carry more people.

Boot

The boot size depends on the version (five or seven seats): if it is a five-seat Touran the total size is 695 litres, a good figure. But the seven-seat Touran has a boot capacity of 600 litres.

With all seven seats in place the space left in the boot is very small, only 125 litres of capacity; that is the downside of this type of seven-seat MPV.

In the storage section, there is no shortage of practical solutions: under the passenger seat, a glovebox at the top or a main glovebox of decent size. In addition, the occupants of the second row have fold-down tables.

In the third part of the test we will talk about the complete equipment of the Volkswagen Touran we have tested, as well as review the latest safety innovations that our test unit incorporated. We will finish the Touran test with prices and our overall assessment.

Photos | Test team

Technical specifications of this car

MinivanVolkswagen Touran9 versions · from 34,200 €