Volkswagen’s facelifted Touran MPV is now available in South Africa. Apart from being the latest model to receive the new VW “face”, the new car offers improved efficiency and performance thanks to valuable time spent in the wind tunnel, together with the and adoption of the company’s impressive TSI engines.
New Touran has not only received a new face, but also a revised tailgate section. Among the changes at the rear are new tail lamps, a larger glass section for improved visibility and optimised gas springs that make the opening and closing of the tailgate altogether lighter operations.
Fashionable LED daytime running lights and adaptive bi-xenon headlights are optional features.
The cabin of the new Touran has been enhanced to bring it in-line with the look/feel and perceived quality levels of the latest Golf. Changes include white back-lit instruments and a new three-spoke steering wheel.
Three specification levels are available. Fittingly for a family transporter, a wide selection of active and passive safety features are standard throughout the range. These include Isofix anchorages, a total of six airbags (with front passenger deactivation) and individually adjustable head restraints.
Entry-level Trendline models offer air conditioning, radio/CD, electric windows, rain-sensing wipers, a leather multi-function steering wheel and cruise control. Comfortline specification adds, among other things, a luggage compartment cover and net, chrome interior trim and 16-inch alloy wheels, while top-of-the-line Highline models gain heated and Alcantara trimmed seats, aluminium-look trimmings and climate control. Park Assist and Rear Assist rearview cameras are optional throughout the range.
ESP traction control and ABS braking (with ASR and EDS) are standard fitment across the range.
As before all three of the second row seats can be operated individually to suit owners needs and an optional third row of seats can be folded flat into the luggage bay floor when not required.
In the interest of frugality, but without compromising overall performance, a new line-up of engines has been added to the Touran package. Two TSI petrol engines and a new common-rail TDI unit deliver significantly improved fuel consumption and emissions figures, while still offering impressive go.
The new 1,2-litre TSI engine delivers 77 kW and 175 N.m of torque, while returning a claimed 6,4 litres/100 kilometres. The 103 kW 1,4-litre TSI unit is claimed to consume only 6,8 litres/100 kilometres, with a 159 g/km CO2 rating. Both these engines are mated with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The 2,0-litre common-rail TDI engine has a maximum torque of 250 N.m, available at 1 750 r/min, and can be ordered with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG transmission. Fuel consumption for this engine (fitted with the manual ‘box) is claimed to be a low 5,4 litres/100 km.
A standard 3 years/120 000 km warranty and 5 years/90 000 km Volkswagen AutoMotion Service Plan are included in the purchase price.
VW Touran 1,2 TSI Trendline R260 300
VW Touran 1,4 TSI Highline R299 800
VW Touran 2,0 TDI Comfortline R286 500
VW Touran 2,0 TDI Comfortline DSG R301 000