What Car? Car of the Year 2005 - Compact MPV

VW Touran 1.9 TDi S 7-seat
List Price £15,920
Target Price £15,003

If you want to fit lots of people and luggage into a car that’s still easy to park and manoeuvre around town, look no further than the Volkswagen Touran. It offers seven seats in a class where five is the norm, but it isn’t unwieldy like some larger MPVs.

The Touran’s two rear seats fold into the floor, individually or as a pair, to provide a flat luggage bay. If more space is needed, the middle row of seats can be tilted forward and held in place with bracing struts. They can be removed completely too.

If people rather than luggage is the priority, the three middle seats can be slid back and forth independently, and there are nearly 40 storage areas dotted throughout the cabin.

The VW is a decent drive as well, with plenty of grip and enough body control to stop the kids feeling car sick. We’d plump for the 104bhp diesel. There’s plenty of pull, but it delivers 42.1mpg on the combined cycle, so it’s also kind to the wallet.

Entry-level S trim has a full complement of airbags, while air-conditioning, a CD player and electric front windows are standard fit.

There are cheaper compact MPVs, but the Touran is worth the extra.

Broadband users click here to see our video review of the Volkswagen Touran

Dial-up users click here to see our video review of the Volkswagen Touran

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