Volkswagen Touran MPV - Practicality & boot space

The Touran is an indisputably practical family car, with plenty of space for occupants and their luggage, as well as clever touches that make everyday motoring easier and more convenient.

Volkswagen Touran interior space & storage

Space isn't a problem inside the Touran. A high roofline means even tall occupants won't be brushing the roof and there's lots of legroom, too. Unsurprisingly, the third row is best suited to children, although adults should be fine back there for a short journey. You can also slide the second-row seats back and forth a bit to make more space in the very back if necessary.

Volkswagen claims it has managed to cram 37 storage cubbies into the Touran – although we struggled to find more than 20 when we went looking for them. The glovebox is a good size, being big enough to hold a 750ml bottle of water. Some practical touches, such as fold-out tables or storage bins under the seats, are optional or reserved for the better-equipped trim levels.

Boot space

20

With all three seat rows in place, the Touran can carry 137 litres of luggage. The boot is slightly curved yet largely square in shape, so it handles big, bulky items well. It has a flat lip, too, so loading large boxes is easy, while a luggage net is optional.

The second and third rows of seats both fold flat into the floor, expanding the load area to a van-like 1,857 litres – almost enough to start your own removals business. The seats can also fold individually, allowing you to carry any combination of passengers and luggage. The front passenger seat also folds out of the way, so you can carry items up to 2.7 metres long.

Towing

The 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel engine is your best bet for towing a trailer or caravan with the Touran; it can tow a braked trailer of between 1,800 to 2,000kg in this guise. You can make this task much easier by adding the optional Trailer Assist system. This helps you park your trailer by projecting a rear-view image onto the car's central touchscreen. The 1.5-litre petrol can tow slightly less, so it’s important to check before buying if towing is important to you.