Volkswagen Touran – Tour de Force

While Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV) in general might be the last thing you think of when it comes to spirited driving, that has not stopped the Volkswagen Touran from becoming one the world’s most popular mid-sized people carriers. The first Touran that came ashore in sunny Singapore might have had marginal success but that did not stop it from becoming a massive hit worldwide.

Thus, Volkswagen (VW) is hoping its all-new second generation Touran will change all that. Built upon the skeleton of the German car maker’s scalable MQB platform (think: Golf, Passat, Tiguan), the new Touran’s exterior styling is more of an evolution than a revolution of the outgoing model though under its skin, just about everything else is new.

Thanks to the MQB’s flexibility, the Touran has now grown bigger in all dimensions and yet shed over 60kg off its curb weight while its wheelbase has been stretched a further 113mm, drastically increasing overall cabin space. Parked beside the previous car, the new Touran is definitely a lot bigger, though it still retains a similar silhouette, albeit with a sharper look due to the addition of strong shoulder lines that run the entire length of the MPV.

Upon closer examination, you would also notice the slightly more aggressive facade with piercing LED headlamps that merge into the front grille together with a sleeker roof line that lends a sportier air to the Volkswagen’s boxy outlook. Needless to say, the new Touran’s vast interior is one of the best in the business, built to the typical high standards of VW with a focus on practicality and ride quality, it seats seven with impeccable space plus leather-clad individual seats for everyone.

As for the driver, you will notice that everything you need to be within reach with most of the essential controls all mounted onto the steering wheel. Scan the centre console and you would also see the all new Volkswagen Pure Air Climatronic climate-control system that features an active biogenic filter to keep the cabin air fresh and pollutant-free.

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