Volkswagen Touran 1.9TDi TrendlineOdd, isn't it, how two of Europe's biggest manufacturers missed out on the explosion in family or midi-MPVs such as the Renault Scenic, Opel Zafira and Citroën Picasso to name but a handful.
It was Renault that started it all with Scenic and soon everybody was in on the act.
Not quite . . . only recently did Volkswagen launch its Touran and Ford's C-Max, launched last week at the Frankfurt motor show, will not go on sale here until late this year. Meanwhile, Renault has just introduced the second generation Scenic and replacements for the Zafira and Picasso are not too far away.
We've been driving the Touran on an extended Irish road test. It wasn't our first drive: Ford generously provided competitors when we sampled the C-Max a few months ago at its Lommel proving ground in Belgium. Other competitors present included Zafira and Picasso. We don't think Ford's hospitality had anything to do with it but the overwhelming judgement was that the C-Max was best in driving and certainly best in looks.
Touran sadly isn't a looker. All the conservatism of Volkswagen styling is there. Just as the C-Max benefits from the all-new platform which will provide the chassis for the next Focus, the Touran is the first VW to be derived chassis-wise from the new Golf.
The new layout uses a sophisticated independent rear suspension system which VW claims gives better comfort and handling compared with previous products. In practice, we found plenty of grip and safe, predictable handling. The ride, however, is on the firm side, compared with the Picasso.
Maybe Touran drivers will be people who don't put the foot down. If they do, they will find impressive high-speed stability and a minimal amount of body sway, a trait which might be welcomed by parents of children prone to motion sickness.
At first we thought the Touran was a bit ponderous, a bit heavy, but the notion eased the more we drove and electro-mechanical power steering does make it versatile when the going is slow.
On Irish sale since last month, there are no fewer than four engine options. The 1.6 litre petrol engine comes with power outputs of 102 and 115bhp while there are two diesel TDi versions of 100 and 136bhp.
Touran offers three equipment levels - Comfortline, Trendline and Highbline, as well as an optional third row of seats and an array of gearboxes, taking in five and six-speed manual and automatic, Tiptronic and direct shift options.
The 115bhp 1.6 petrol model has direct fuel injection: VW call it FSI.
The 1.9TDi with 100bhp was the power base in our test car and of course, it's found across the VW range. We found a wide swell of mid-range muscle, always one of the appealing characteristics of a diesel. It's significant that this engine has a 1,896cc ouput which just puts it on the right side of Minister McCreevy's iniquitous VRT barrier that used to be 2,000cc and is now 1,900cc. That's one advantage. The other is great fuel consumpion - we managed 44 and 46mpg on longish country runs.
Inside, the usual reserved VW ambience continues and, although dash design is appealing enough, there is very little to mark Touran out from standard VW fare. All major controls are logically placed and easy to navigate. Quality of trim and plastics is as high as we've come to expect from VW.
There's also a wide range of steering wheel and seating adjustments , as well as an elevated gear stick that provides an extremely comfortable driving position. If there's a fly in the ointment, it's the thick front A-pillars and wing mirror mountings, which spoil otherwise fine all-round visbility.
Space and practicality have to be the strong points of the MPV ilk and Touran is well fitted in this regard. It emulates Zafira somewhat by offering seven seats as well as five. You will, however, have to find an extra €600 over the price of the five-seater for the additional pews offered as part of the Zafira's standard package.
Although the rearmost seats are only suitable for youngsters, pay the premium and, as with the Opel, you'll get the instant solution to the thorny problem that afflicts many less-versatile seven-seat MPVs, namely what to do with the third row of seats when maximising luggage space.
Doing away with the need to leave a couple of chairs cluttering up the garage or hallway, the Touran's hindmost seats can be folded down either individually or as a pair, to provide a totally flat cargo bay.
If you want to turn the Touran into a delivery truck, to pick up bulky items such as an antique grandfather clock, the three middle chairs can be flipped forward and held in place with bracing struts or removed completely. Removal and refitting of the seats is simplicity itself, thanks to a pair of quick-release levers. Each is light not to bring on back trouble.
All three middle seats slide fore and aft independently to increase or decrease knee room. Parents in the front can easily reach the middle-seat adjuster while still belted in, to bring toddlers within easy reach.
Depending on the chosen equipment level, up to 39 storage areas are provided, including underseat storage and compartments in the centre and roof consoles, in the fascia, in the doors and in the boot. There are the usual MPV features such as seat backs that double as tables and fold-down trays.
Rear passengers can get in and out easily thanks to wide-opening rear doors and middle seats which easily flip forward providing good access to the third row. Simple but effective pull-release tags are located at the front and back of each seat giving an easy fold-down operation.
Irish prices start at €26,455 ex works, that for the 1.6 litre entry-level Comfortline. Our seven-seater Trendline with 1.9 litre TDi engine and seven seats has an ex-works tag of €30,960.
Touran, like C-Max, is a latecomer at the midi-MPV party and there's no doubt that VW learnt a lot of tricks. As an MPV, it has a versatile interior and the 1.9TDi gives it plenty of urge, especially in the mid-range. Top speed is 110mph with a 0-62mph time of 13.5 seconds.
Bland styling is Touran's problem. MPVs have to look emotional and enticing these days. That's certainly true of rivals such as the latest Scenic and C-Max. Pity VW's conservatism robbed Touran of visual flair.