Used Volkswagen Touran for sale: everything you need to know
In a market where MPVs are nearly extinct, the Volkswagen Touran is, at the time of writing in mid-2024, amazingly still on sale. But with no competition, perhaps Volkswagen is simply hoovering up all the customers that still need a proper multi-purpose vehicle, rather than an SUV. Either way, it’s good news for used buyers too, since used Tourans are easier to find than many equivalents.
The Touran is a seven-seater, with a rear bench big enough for a couple of kids, and if you fold the rear row down, enough luggage space to shame much larger cars. It’s not as stylish as the SUVs that have taken over the seven-seater market but it’s more practical, and being slightly unfashionable just makes it more affordable too. You can read more about the Touran’s engines, trim levels, and features below.
Should you buy a Volkswagen Touran?
The Volkswagen Touran won’t wow you with its looks. In fact, you might even forget where you parked it sometimes. But it’s a people-mover from the old-school, less concerned about pretending to be an off-roader and instead offering as much interior space as possible from a relatively compact footprint - at 4.5 metres long, it’s half way between a VW Golf hatchback and Golf Estate in length.
Into that length it packs seven seats, and while the rearmost row doesn’t exactly get captain’s chairs, and results in a small 187-litre boot, they’re plenty big enough for a couple of kids. Flip them down and use the Touran as a five-seater, and the boot space quickly expands to 927 litres too, bigger than almost any SUV on sale in the UK - in five seat mode, the five metre long Land Rover Discovery still has five litres less than the Touran.
The rest of the interior is a model of VW logic, with a dashboard design similar to the previous-generation Golf, decent standards of build and materials, and comfortable seats for all. It’s a typical VW on the road too - easy to drive, with neat handling, a pliant ride, and a range of frugal engines. It won’t blow your socks off, but you knew that already.
There aren’t many compact MPVs left any more, and unusually those that remain have premium badges: the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class (the latter strictly a five-seater). In a newer, more estate car like form there’s the Dacia Jogger, while van-based MPVs like the Citroen Berlingo are popular and brilliantly practical. Older MPVs like the Ford S-Max are worth a look too.
What’s the best used Volkswagen Touran model to buy?
Don’t ignore the diesel Tourans, which still make a lot of sense even if the fuel has started falling out of favour in recent years. The 1.6-litre model feels a little hard-worked so we’d aim for one of the 2-litre versions, which still promise economy figures of around 50mpg. They may be overkill if you don’t do huge mileage though, so also consider the 1.4 and 1.5-litre TSI petrols, which are peppy and frugal. Spec-wise, the sweet spot is SE Family or SE L, though the SE is fine if you want to save a few pennies on the purchase price.
Used Volkswagen Touran fuel economy and performance
- Volkswagen Touran 1.0 TSI 115: This engine replaced the 1.2 TSI below in 2019. It’s a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol rated at 115PS, capable of 41.5mpg.
- Volkswagen Touran 1.2 TSI 110: The original entry-level petrol engine was a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol with 110PS. On paper it can do 51mpg, though this is recorded on an earlier, less realised fuel economy cycle.
- Volkswagen Touran 1.4 TSI 150: With a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine you get 150PS, and claimed economy of up to 49mpg, once again on the earlier economy test cycle.
- Volkswagen Touran 1.5 TSI 150: In 2021 the 1.5 TSI replaced the slightly smaller 1.4 TSI. The quoted power output is identical, and as with the 1.0 TSI, fuel economy looks lower than the model it replaced, but is probably more accurate - 42.2mpg in this case. 0-62mph comes up in under nine seconds.
- Volkswagen Touran 1.6 TDI 110: The first of the diesel engines is a 1.6-litre TDI with 110PS (later 115PS), and offers 51.4mpg average economy.
- Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI 115: Available from mid 2019 until 2021, this entry-level 2-litre engine was capable of up to 49.6mpg.
- Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI 150 diesel: In 150PS diesel form the Touran could get from 0-62mph in nine seconds flat, and return up to 52.3mpg.
- Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI 190: In more powerful 190PS form (with a six-speed DSG automatic as standard) the Touran could get from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, and on the older NEDC test cycle, return up to 58mpg.
What used Volkswagen Touran trim levels are available?
- The Volkswagen Touran S kicked off the range at launch with equipment including a 6.5-inch infotainment display, DAB, Bluetooth, and air conditioning, while alloy wheels were relegated to the options list.
- The Volkswagen Touran SE later took over as the entry-level engine and included a seven-seat layout as standard, plus more equipment than the S, and standard alloy wheels.
- The Volkswagen Touran SE Family got satellite navigation built into its touchscreen, plus a panoramic sunroof and rear sun blinds.
- The Volkswagen Touran SEL gets a smattering of chrome trim inside and out, larger alloy wheels, velour-trimmed seats, and Apple CarPlay connectivity for its infotainment screen.
- The Volkswagen Touran R-Line has a sporty look with a body styling kit, 18-inch alloy wheels, R-Line logos on the seats, stainless steel pedals, and a black headlining.
Used Volkswagen Touran dimensions and boot size
The Volkswagen Touran’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4527mm
- Width: 1829mm
- Height: 1659mm
- Ground clearance: 155mm
The Volkswagen Touran’s boot space is:
- 187 litres
- 1857 litres with rear seats folded
Used Volkswagen Touran road tax
The Touran arrived in 2015 so models registered from then until April 2017 are taxed based on CO2 emissions - this means the most frugal 1.6-litre TDI can cost as little as £35 a year to tax. From April 1, 2017 onwards you’ll pay a flat rate of VED, of £190 per year as of the 2024/2025 tax year.
How much is it to insure a Volkswagen Touran?
Insurance is a little more than you’d expect from an equivalent Volkswagen Golf, but the Touran still shouldn’t be too expensive to cover. The range sits between groups 9 and 21 (out of 50), with a 1.6 TDI in S trim theoretically costing the least, and a 190PS 2.0 TDI in R Line trim at the upper end of the scale.
