NO set of wheels announces one’s parenthood more emphatically than a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). After all, many MPVs’ higher seating capacities, flexible cargo-carrying configurations and generous ground clearances make them the ride of choice for many families who travel with a nanny, grandparents and the assorted paraphernalia young kids require. One downside to family-oriented MPVs is they are generally boring to drive and have little sex appeal.
However, the Volkswagen Touran Comfort Line 2.0 TDI is not your typical MPV. With its handsome front end that is unmistakably VW, large greenhouse, compact exterior dimensions, and outstanding diesel engine, the Touran exudes a fun and sporty demeanor that belies its MPV positioning.
Like the growing number of space-efficient compact MPVs available locally, the Touran can seat seven passengers, although the third row is tight on legroom and eats up most of the cargo space. Leaving behind more of your friends will allow you to take along more inanimate objects; simply fold and tumble the second- and third-row seats for more cargo-carrying versatility.
The passenger cabin has a few elements that seem spartan in a vehicle costing P1.775 million. Instead of leather, the Touran’s seat upholstery is a fabric that VW calls “Miu.” There are also a few cheap-looking plastic panels here and there. Leather does find its way into the steering wheel, gear shift lever and parking brake lever. Overall, the cabin is not a bad place to pile the kilometers in as everything is put together well.
Shutting the heavy doors produces a loud, authoritative thud that reminds you that the Germans build cars differently from the Japanese and South Koreans.
The Touran’s pièce de résistance is its creamy powertrain consisting of a 2.0-liter turbo direct-injected diesel engine mated to a six-speed DSG transmission. The oil burner may have a modest 110 ps maximum output but its 280 Nm maximum torque is what makes the Touran one of the most compelling MPVs in the market. Squeezing the go pedal delivers torque instantly with a level of finesse one would normally associate with a gas engine, making the Touran feel quick and nimble. Gear shifts come quickly and seamlessly courtesy of the dual-clutch transmission.
Fuel efficiency is another strong suit of the Touran’s powertrain. On the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, the Touran managed to squeeze 19.5 km per liter of diesel with the help of cruise control. Given the fuel tank’s 60-liter capacity, this MPV could have a cruising range of over 1,000 km on one tankful. Around Metro Manila, fuel efficiency hovered between 9 km and 10 km per liter.
Think of the Touran as a sports wagon and you won’t be disappointed when you throw it into high-speed corners as it tackles turns confidently with very little body roll. The suspension is on the firm side but the ride is reasonably compliant for a vehicle with a relatively short wheelbase. The speed-sensitive steering requires a bit more effort than a typical Japanese car and promises precise vehicle placement.
The standard safety equipment list is a long one and it includes dual front airbags, side and head curtain airbags, three-point seatbelts for all seven passengers, Electronic Stabilization Program that helps prevent excessive oversteer or understeer, and Comfort Brake Assistant that automatically increases braking pressure when emergency braking is detected. Anti-Slip Regulation prevents wheelspin during hard acceleration, while electronic differential lock will apply the brake on a slipping wheel when necessary and direct power to the wheel with greater traction. Hill Hold Control will prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when taking off on a slope.
If I were a product planner at Volkswagen, I would give the Touran a minor style makeover in the form of larger and sportier 18-inch wheels, drop the price a bit, offer funkier colors, and have it target the same demographic that the boxy, youth-oriented vehicles such as the Kia Soul, the Toyota bB and Nissan Cube are going after. That should be able to transform the Volkswagen Touran from dad-mobile to an upscale hip-mobile for the Generation Y.
Image credits: Eric Ayrton S. Soriano