What Car? really rates the new Volkswagen Touran, and named it MPV of the Year for 2016. Having spent some time with the car, we can see why.
It may be only mid-sized by MPV standards, but VW has really made the most of the car’s dimensions. There’s lots of space inside, and five ISOFIX child seat fixings – not many rivals have ISOFIX mounts in the third row as well as in the middle. What also separates the VW from most MPV rivals is how classy and well made it feels.
With all seven seats in place luggage space is relatively tight, but with the third row folded away we found room for a full load of holiday luggage. However, there’s a repair kit under the floor and a spare wheel isn’t available as an option, which may put some caravanners off.
If you don’t mind relying on a can of gunk to get you home, the VW Touran is very capable tow car. It’s nearly as stable as a Passat at speed, and that’s saying something.
It wasn’t so adept in the lane-change test, though, struggling to keep control of the caravan on faster runs.
Other than a little wheelspin when pulling away, the Touran had no trouble with the hill start.