Volkswagen’s Touran sneaks back into Category A
Amazingly, if you want three specific things from your next car, you have only one choice. Those things are: seven seats, a German badge, and eligibility for the Category A COE segment.
Roll forward, the Volkswagen Touran TDI, which is the only car that fulfills those criteria, at least until the seven-seater version of the Mercedes Citan hits showrooms here.
The Touran TDI’s 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine has 105bhp, and this allows it to sneak under the 130bhp threshold that has banished the petrol-powered versions of the car to Category B, giving buyers a strong choice to consider in Category A again. Guess you can't keep a good van down.
The TDI has a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox and 250Nm of peak pulling power, so it shouldn’t be left red-faced and gasping by the job of hauling seven people around.
At the same time, it’s something of a teetotaller. VW’s official fuel consumption claim for the Touran TDI is 4.6L/100km, which should enable it to hit more than 1,200km before needing another drink.
Versatility is the car’s man trump card, however. The second row of seats can recline or be adjusted forwards and backwards, or even removed altogether.
Volkswagen says the Touran can be configured to offer up to 1,913 litres of cargo room, enough for one heck of a kegger.
Standard equipment on the Touran TDI includes a panoramic sunroof, a ‘Rear Assist’ rear view camera and a touchscreen audio system.
The Touran TDI will be officially launched tomorrow, with prices starting from $153,800 with COE. If that sounds like a lot, just think of it as under $22,000 per head.
