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Volkswagen Touran variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £23,399. Borrowing £21,059 with a £2,340 deposit at a representative APR of 11.9%.

48 monthly payments
£393.36
Fixed interest rate
11.9%
Total amount payable
£30,597.04
Cost of credit
£7,198.04
Optional final payment
£9,376.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Volkswagen Touran buying guide

Volkswagen offers a handful of trim and engine choices for the Touran. Keep reading to learn more about each version.

What Volkswagen Touran trim levels are there?

S was the entry-level trim in the Touran lineup until it was discontinued in 2021. Standard equipment includes driver's seat height adjustment, Isofix mounting points on every seat in the second and third row, air conditioning and a basic touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth.

Next up is SE, which gets 16-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, tinted rear windows, a roof storage compartment, automatic lights and wipers, adaptive cruise control, all-round parking sensors, automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist.

SE Family brings a larger touchscreen infotainment system with built-in sat nav, a panoramic sunroof, roll-up side window blinds, and a driver's voice-boosting function so you don't have to shout at your kids.

SEL adds larger alloy wheels, chrome trim and foglights to the exterior. Inside, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto added to the infotainment system, ambient lighting, and three-zone climate control.

Finally, R-Line is Volkswagen's sporty trim level, gaining larger alloy wheels and a meaner-looking body kit. You also get some unique interior trim pieces as well as special R-Line upholstery with splashes of faux-suede.

Volkswagen has since trimmed S and SE from the lineup, with SE Family being the current entry-level model.

Volkswagen Touran interior and technology

The Touran is one of the older models in Volkswagen's lineup but, in this case, that might not be a bad thing. Recent efforts from the German giant have been rightly criticised for their fiddly touch-sensitive controls and confusing infotainment systems, but the older Touran's cabin dates from back when VW interiors made sense. Everything is logically laid out with proper physical buttons and knobs for key controls, and there's a great sense of solidity if you start poking and prodding about.

So far, so sensible, but you couldn't exactly call the Touran's cabin a feast for the eyes, with its neat but slightly bland overall design. That's particularly evident in the infotainment system, which looks small, simple and old fashioned next to the giant monitors you'll find in more modern rivals. It is, at least, easy to use and even easier to avoid thanks to proper controls for the heating and stereo. It's also a little disappointing that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are only offered on fairly high-end SEL and R-Line cars, with more affordable versions missing out.

What really matters in this class is practicality, however, and the Touran scores straight-As in that area. Tall adults will be comfortable in either the first or second row, and it's actually possible to seat three across the second row without running out of elbow room. Very tall passengers might feel a little cramped in the third row but, for all other occupants, there's just about enough room. You still get a functional boot with all seven seats up, but you can swap this to a vast SUV-beating area simply by folding the back row down, or compete with some vans if you fold the second row, too.

Volkswagen Touran engine range explained

Volkswagen Touran 1.2 TSI petrol

This used to be the entry-level engine for the Touran. Despite its modest capacity, it makes 110hp, which is just enough to get the Touran up to speed without too much strain – just don't expect anything dramatic when you put your foot down.

Volkswagen Touran 1.4 TSI petrol

An upgraded petrol option, which has since been phased out. The larger capacity sees power jump to 150hp, which makes the car feel much more relaxed at all speeds but the improvement is especially evident on the motorway.

Volkswagen Touran 1.5 TSI petrol

This is the current sole petrol engine available for the Touran and effectively replaced the 1.4-litre unit, with an identical 150hp output. As you'd expect, it offers similarly punchy performance and is a good choice if you're driving on a range of different roads.

Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI diesel

Diesel engines are generally more popular for the Touran. This 1.6-litre unit used to be the entry-level diesel option in the Touran lineup. Power stands at 115hp so performance can only be described as 'leisurely' but you should be able to return around 50mpg if you drive gently.

Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI diesel

Volkswagen has offered the Touran with two different versions of the 2.0-litre diesel engine, one with 115hp that briefly replaced the older 1.6-litre unit, and an upgraded version that sits above both with 150hp. We've found the 2.0-litre to be generally quieter than the 1.6, so we prefer this model, even without the extra power. If you can find a 150hp version, however, it offers a great blend of brawny performance and up to 50mpg with a light right foot.

Volkswagen Touran FAQs

The Touran comes in one version only – a five-door, seven-seater MPV with a large, hatchback-style boot lid.

Keep an eye out for SEL versions with extra chrome trim and R-Line models with sporty alloys and a sharp-looking body kit.

If you're shopping at this end of the market, it might also be worth looking at the Touran's bigger sibling, the Volkswagen Sharan, which has a slightly larger boot and a touch more room in the third row.

The Touran measures in just a shade over 4.5 metres long. While that's not exactly compact – taking up a little more space on the road than a Volkswagen Golf, for example – it's remarkably small considering how much cabin space the Touran offers. We'd suggest hunting down at least an SE-spec car that includes standard-fit parking sensors to take the hassle out of manoeuvring.

Inside, the Touran is simply massive. There's loads of space for very tall adults in the first and second rows, and you should be able to fit kids or shorter adults in the third row without anyone grazing their knees. Cargo space is either 'good', 'excellent' or 'ludicrous' depending on how many seating rows you have folded down.

There's just enough grunt in the entry-level petrol and diesel engines that you needn't upgrade to the more powerful units if your budget can't accommodate it.

That said, we think the Touran feels more relaxed on the road, especially when driving on the motorway, with either the 150hp 1.4/1.5-litre petrol engine, or the 150hp 2.0-litre diesel engine. These have the extra grunt to make light work of the car when it's loaded to the brim with passengers and cargo.

Volkswagen's DSG automatic gearboxes are widely offered with the more powerful engines and we think they suit the Touran's relaxed, easy-to-drive character.

Volkswagen tends to perform mid-table in reliability surveys. Nevertheless, most of the parts and engines used in the Touran are widely shared across the VW-Group, so sourcing replacements shouldn't be a problem.

You can maximise your Touran's reliability by keeping on top of scheduled maintenance. In addition, consider adding an extended warranty when you buy your car to protect from unexpected electrical or mechanical repair costs.

Buyers in this segment need practicality above all else and, in that regard, the Touran is an excellent car. There's loads of room for a cabin full of tall adults, along with Isofix mounting points on every seat in the second and third row giving parents plenty of options when setting up child seats.

Then, the Touran follows up by being devastatingly sensible – it's easy to drive, easy to use and easy to get in and out of.

This reveals perhaps the car's sole weakness – it knows how to appeal to the head but does little for the heart. The cabin's a bit dull and the driving experience is firmly set to 'soothe' rather than 'thrill'.