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Volkswagen Touran MPV (2003 - )

What's Good

Official details, pictures and name Touran released mid August 2002. UK sales began summer 2003 at list prices from £14,535 with £500 supplement for factory fitted 7 seats. 4,390mm x 1,790mm x 1,630mm.

Wide choice of engines, including 102PS 1.6 petrol, 115PS FSI 1.6, 100 and 105PS 1.9TDIs and 136 and 140PS 2.0 TSI 16vs. 150bhp FSI 2.0 and 185bhp 2.0T may come later. Six-speed gearboxes as standard.

Rigid bodyshell combined with electro-mechanical power steering and entirely new four-link rear suspension help handling. Five seats as standard. Three individual seats in the second row can be repositioned, folded or removed altogether, while the optional extra two full-size seats in the third row can be folded down into the floor. With five seats in use, the load area has a capacity of over 600 litres. Active front-seat head restraints, plus front airbags and side airbags for the front and second rows of seats. Three-point seatbelts are provided for all seven seats, while ABS, ESP and BAS are further active safety features. The fully galvanised body with laser-welded seams results in exceptional rigidity and strength. At Autumn 2003 Paris and Berimingham Motor Show. Best in class FIVE Star NCAP crash test rating and three stars for pedestrian protection. Full launch price structure:-

S 1.6 petrol 102PS 5-sts: £14,535; 7-sts: £15,035
S 1.6 FSI 115PS 5-sts: £15,620; 7-sts: £16,120
S 1.6 FSI 115PS auto 5-sts: £16,635; 7-sts £17,135
S 1.9 TDI PD 100PS 5-sts: £15,820; 7-sts £16,320
SE 1.6 FSI 115PS 5-sts: £17,025; 7-sts £17,525
SE 1.6 FSA 115PS auto 5-sts £18,020; 7-sts £18,520
SE 1.9 TDI PD 100PS 5-sts: £17,225; 7-sts £17,725
SE 1.9 TDI PD 105PS auto 5-sts: £18,225; 7-sts: £18,725
SE 2.0 TDI 16v 136PS 5-sts: £18,525; 7-sts: £19,025
SE 2.0 TDI 16v 140PS auto 5-sts: £19,525; 7-sts: £20,025
Sport 2.0 TDI 16v 136PS 5-sts: £19,960; 7-sts: £20,460
Sport 2.0 TDI 16v 140PS auto 5-sts: £20,960; 7-sts: £21,460

VW offer 7 seats for price of 5 from March 2004. 2.0FSI and DSG available from late June 2004. Improved spec from week 50 of 2004 build. S' gets cruise and multifunction computer, 'SE' gets 'free' alloy wheels. S gets new 1.9 90PS pumpe-duse engine with 155lb ft torque and 6 speed gearbox. Averages 47.1mpg. Still 5 or 7 seats at no extra cost. 5 star Euro NCAP crash safety rating. :ist prices from £14,380 for the S 1.6-litre 102, or £15,350 for the new S 1.9-litre TDI 90PS, but usually heavily discounted. Optional integrated Multimedia pack offers 7" screen mounted in centre of the roof, DVD, CD and MP3 player which also plays output from camcorders and games consoles. Has 3 sets of headphones. Operates independently of car radio/CD.

Road tests of TDI 140 at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=103 and and TDI 140 DSG at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=134

New supercharged/turbocharged CHAIN CAM 140PS1.4 TSI engine from summer 2006 offers 37.7mpg combined, 180g/km CO2 and costs £17,995 for the SE or £19,474 for the Sport. 1.4 TSI developed up to 240PS and won the 1.0 to 1.4 International Engine of the Year category 2006 and 2007.

Facelift for 2007 (last photo). Prices start at £14,750 on the road RRP for the entry-level S 1.6-litre 102 PS and rise to £23,310 for the range-topping Sport 2.0-litre TDI DPF 170 PS with DSG gearbox. This goes very well both at speed and in town, but steering wheel paddleshifts not standard so best left in full auto mode.

£1,000 price cut across the range from 1-2-07 to 31-3-07, with prices starting at £13,750 for 1.6S.

Touch screen DVD satnav system announced June 2007. For cars with this, Trafficmaster subscription included as from Week 22 2007 build.

Bluemotion versions announced 14-10-2008.

Touran BlueMotion S: 52.3mpg comb, 144g/km CO2, £16,725

Touran BlueMotion SE: 52.3mpg comb, 144g/km CO2, £18,800

Match model announced 29-7-2008, adds £1,600 worth of equipment for a £500 premium including New RNS310 satellite navigation system as standard, Park Assist with front and rear parking sensors also included in the price from £19,515 (RRP OTR).

Owner's group/helpsite www.clubtouran.net

More at www.volkswagen.co.uk

Last updated 18-11-2009

What's Bad

Not very inspiring to look at.

Nowhere to rest clutch foot on early RHD examples apart from under the pedal (corrected on later cars).

Front 3/4 blind spot.

Complaints of fumes from auxiliary heater of diesel on cars being used for short journeys, especially in colder conditions. VAG dealers now have a cure.

Very fiddly and difficult to replace rear light cluster bulbs.

All models apart from the Sport have only four speakers which are all in the front, so rearmost passengers can't hear much from the sound system. New Multimedia Pack is a stiff £1,500, or £1,560 for the S, which gets more speakers as part of the pack.

Some councils will not certificate 7-seater Tourans as mini cabs because they have no spare wheel and cannot be fitted with one.

Electric parking brakes can be slow to release (no return spring) with the result that the parking pads drag on the rear discs, wear rapidly and increase fuel consumption.

What to Watch Out For

Reports of failure of electronics that control the seat belt warning alarm and the indicator reminder failing.

Tyrefit kit on 7 seater no use after a blowout.

Spate of problems with PAS racks, replaced under warranty. Also software problem with electro-hydraulic power steering system.

One reader reported a problem of his DSG box sticking in 3rd on 3 occasions over 24,000 miles, with consequent buzzing from the electronics. Electronics close off some of the inlet flaps to prevent volumetric disturbances setting off the alarm. This can malfunction while the car is in use, shutting off airflow into the car. Many Tourans with DSG problems sitting awaiting parts in June 2008.

During June 2007, flywheels and clutches for diesels were "on back order" (see recalls). Seems to be a very common problem. Sometimes the self destructing DMFs damage the transmission. Continuing issue December 2008. Sometimes two reports of DMF/transmission casing failures a day.

On the 1.9TDI PD 105, if engine lube oil appears to rise, the reason may be that the injectors are leaking fuel oil into the bores. Very important to get this fixed or engine may start running on its lube oil and need to be stalled against the brakes or choked of air to stop. Alternatively it may be the 'Tandem pump" that is at fault
and has been leaking diesel into the engine. See Recalls below.

Updated 21-9-2009: ESP warning light can indicate Fault Code "Boost Pressure Sensor G201". This is embedded inside Teves Mk 60 ABS systems and requires replacement of ABS control unit/pump. Seems to be age-related, occurring mainly in 3 - 5 year old cars. Does not necessarily lead to an MoT failure. If car has been VAG maintained, VAG will meet 100% of replacement cost. If not VAG will still help towards £1,500 cost of replacement.

Also minor problems with hestitation when pulling away and car very prone to stalling.

On 6-speed twin shaft manuals the gearchange from 1st to 2nd can become still. First stage dealer cure is to replace the transmission oil. If that fails, it needs a synchro ring replacing. So if your box stiffens up, make sure it is attended to before the warranty expires.

Recalls

February 2004: TSB for cure for excessive smoking of auxiliary heaters on diesels. Involves change in the ECU software and new fuel pipe on auxiliary heater. Any Touran owners experiencing a problem can book the vehicle in to their Volkswagen Retailer to be modified at no charge.

3-3-05 on LUPO, POLO, GOLF, BORA, TOURAN, NEW BEETLE, PASSAT AND SHARAN (WITH 2 PUMP INJECTOR ENGINE) built 1-3-04 to 31-8-04 bolts on tandem fuel pump may break.

July 2005 Tourans recalled in France to replace a bleed valve that could cause a problem with the PAS and possibly cause a fire.

June 2005: "Volkswagen is recalling Touran 2.0 TDI models with the six speed manual gearbox to have their dual-mass flywheel checked. A fault with this component could lead to increased noise and damage to the clutch. Around 44,000 Tourans built for the 2004 and 2005 model-years are affected; Volkswagen is contacting all known owners of these models, and owners can call Volkswagen Customer Services for further information."

05/10/2005 R/2005/091 VW TOURAN & GOLF AND GOLF + flywheel may fail WVG0001T04W044331 WVG0001T04W177262 01/10/2003 31/05/2005