Used Volkswagen Touran 2015-present review

The Volkswagen Touran’s modus operandi was initially quite simple: to offer seven-seat, MPV versatility in a car not much bigger in size than a regular Volkswagen Golf Estate, and all without being van-like to drive.

However, while the original 2003-2015 Volkswagen Touran went on sale when dinosaurs still stalked the Earth, it took until this all-new model, launched in 2015, for it to finally fight for the honour of being best in the MPV class. Its immense popularity has since made it one of the best-selling MPVs and one of our favourites both new and used. Its longevity points to its obvious success.

Engines & Performance: Initially, you could choose from a good range of petrol and diesel engines. The 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines were quieter and more suited to low-mileage drivers, while the 108bhp 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesels were more economical. Volkswagen gave the 1.6-litre diesel engine a small power boost in 2016 to 113bhp. In 2019, VW replaced the petrol engines with newer, similarly powered 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged engines.

The only engine available for the Touran from 2021 onwards was the 148bhp 1.5 TSI 150 petrol. It offers fairly punchy acceleration even with seven people on board (0-62mph takes 8.9sec), and enough pull from low revs to save you from having to thrash it hard to reach motorway speeds.

Whichever engine is under the bonnet, the Touran is always an able and, especially in petrol form, a refined performer. A seven-speed automatic gearbox was available as an option but a six-speed manual was initially the default. Note though there’s a noticeable lag before the auto changes gears, which can be frustrating when you're trying to get into a gap at a roundabout.

Ride & Handling: The Touran rides with fluidity over most surfaces, softening all but the worst bumps and only fidgeting a little along scruffy town roads. It rides well enough, even on the larger 18in wheels that are fitted to range-topping R-line trim. For the smoothest progress, though, we recommend sticking with the smaller 16in alloys fitted to SE and SE Family versions.

Anyone who’s driven a previous-generation 2013-2020 Mk7 Volkswagen Golf will have some idea of what the Touran feels like to drive. Its steering is predictable and well-weighted, there’s plenty of grip and body lean is kept neatly in check – more so than in any rival, even the Ford S-Max. Indeed the Touran feels stable on a motorway and is easy to steer around town. That's partly because it feels relatively compact – not something you can say of its more cumbersome rivals, such as the Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer and Ford Galaxy.

Interior & Practicality: As mentioned, the Touran shares much of its hardware with the contemporary Mk7 Volkswagen Golf, which means it has a dashboard that is both classy to behold and easy to use. All Tourans came with an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen as standard, with a DAB radio, Bluetooth and a USB socket.

Most important of all, though, is how brilliantly clever the Touran’s interior is. For a start, the second row is made up of three individual seats so that it is possible to carry three child seats side by side (in fact, the Touran has Isofix mounting points on six of its seven seats). What’s more, these chairs all slide and fold independently of one another, and the outer two seats also tilt out of the way to make scrambling into the rearmost row fairly easy.

Those final two chairs fold easily out of the boot floor, leaving just enough room for a couple of bags of shopping. Tuck them away, meanwhile, and you get van-like luggage space, which can be extended again by folding the second-row seats flat into the floor, and even dropping the passenger seat flat too. For a car that’s far from bus-like in terms of overall size, the Touran really is admirably accommodating.

Trims & Equipment: Five trim levels are available and all offer enough equipment to keep everyone entertained and safe. The entry-level S trim is the only version not to come with alloy wheels but it does feature a large touchscreen with DAB radio and Bluetooth, all-round electric windows and heated door mirrors. SE adds 16in alloys, privacy glass, automatic lights and wipers, adaptive cruise control and extra storage, while SE Family offers remote-control child locks, a panoramic sunroof and better infotainment.

SEL and R-Line trims sit above that, and offer a comprehensive list of kit including larger wheels, three-zone climate control and some subtle styling changes. This comes at an increased cost, of course, both new and used. For most, SE or SE Family are all the car you’ll ever need.

The Touran rides with fluidity over most surfaces, softening all but the worst bumps and only fidgeting a little along scruffy town roads. It rides well enough, even on the larger 18in wheels that are fitted to range-topping R-line trim. For the smoothest progress, though, we recommend sticking with the smaller 16in alloys fitted to SE and SE Family versions.

It initially achieved an excellent five-star crash test rating (albeit by 2015 standards; this was reduced to a four-star rating in 2020) from Euro NCAP.

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While the Touran is widely regarded as being among the best of the compact seven-seat MPVs, it is also one of the more expensive options to buy new.

With VWs generally holding onto their values well, that also makes used examples fairly pricey, with the earliest manual versions of the current model starting from £11,000. Spend between £11,000 and £14,000 on a good, clean example from 2016 or 2017, around £15,000 to £22,000 on a 2018 or 2019 car and between £20,000 and £25,000 on a 2020 model. Spend in excess of £25,000 on a 2021 or 2022 car, with 2023 models going for upwards of £30,00 in most instances.

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MPG: While not as frugal as the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, the 1.6 TDI Touran still returned more than 60mpg in the old EU tests (and 50.9mpg in our True MPG assessment) and, if registered before April 2017, will only cost you £30 per year to tax. The same tax rate applies to the lower-powered 150 version of VW’s 2.0 TDI engine so long as you stick with the manual gearbox. Opt for the automatic and your bill jumps to £115.

The earlier petrol range consists of turbocharged units of 1.2 or 1.4 litres, both of which fall into a £115 per year tax bracket. You can expect the larger of the two to be marginally more economical in normal driving simply because it doesn’t need to be worked as hard, but even then you’ll be doing well to crack 40mpg.

The 1.5 TSI 150 version was tested under the later, more realistic WLTP tests, and averaged 42.8mpg. This engine with its active cylinder shut-down system is pretty fuel-efficient for a petrol engine, and can record up to 43.5mpg with the manual gearbox and up to 42.8mpg with the DSG.

When offered, the 1.0 TSI had a claimed WLTP fuel economy figure of up to 41.5mpg, which isn’t bad for a small-capacity petrol engine in a big car. However, if you regularly load the car up, don't expect to get near that figure.

Of the (now discontinued) diesels, the 1.6 TDI returns up to 51.4mpg and emissions of 120g/km as a manual, and 50.4mpg and 111g/km with the DSG gearbox.

Road tax: All Tourans registered after the road tax changes of April 2017 will be charged at a flat rate. This is currently £190 per year. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here for further information.

Insurance and servicing: The 1.6 TDI in SE trim sat in group 12. However, the base 1.6 TDI S was in group 13, because it makes do with fewer driver assist and safety systems than the two plusher models. It was the same story for the 1.0 TSI, which as an SE or SE Family was in group 11, while the S equivalent was in 13. The 1.5 TSI Evo and 2.0 TDI diesels are all in group 17, irrespective of whether you choose SE or one of the ritzier trims.

If you opt for a sensible 12 months or 10,000-mile routine, the Touran's servicing costs shouldn’t be notably greater than you’ll find with its MPV rivals. Earlier Tourans will by now have been taken out of the VW garages sphere and been taken to one of the many VW independent specialist garages for servicing. This can save you a considerable amount of money.

Engine: The later 148bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is the pick of the range, offering plenty of performance for a lower price than the 2.0 TDI 150 diesel. It'll rev freely and hits 0-62mph in 8.9sec and officially returns over 40mpg.

Trim: Our pick is SE which includes 16in alloys, automatic lights and wipers, all-round electric windows, privacy glass, air-conditioning, rear picnic tables, front and rear centre armrests, drawers under each front seat, front and rear parking sensors, an 8.0in colour touchscreen, six speakers and adaptive cruise control.

Our favourite Volkswagen Touran: 1.5 TSI 150 SE

The Volkswagen Touran fights for top honours in the mid-size seven-seat MPV class with the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (later Grand C4 Spacetourer) and the Ford S-Max. It’s not quite as comfortable as the former, and nor is it as much fun to drive as the latter. However, it’s roomier than both and is arguably the best all-rounder.

The larger Ford Galaxy is an extremely practical and thoroughly capable people carrier easily up to the task of transporting seven people smartly from one location to the next. In fact, so good is it that it’s almost the de facto choice for taxis on the airport run.

The Seat Alhambra matches the Galaxy for size, both inside and out, with a simple engine range of one petrol and one diesel, plus a choice of handsomely kitted trims. It rides and handles well, especially for a car of this type and size, and its space and practicality are superb.

Consider also the Volkswagen Sharan, which shares much with the Alhambra, although it is a little more pricey.

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Interested in buying a used Volkswagen Touran? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.