The first all-new Touran for what seems like a lifetime has adopted the latest, sharp-edged Volkswagen styling and takes on the look of a Golf Plus… err, Plus.
The new seven-seater is longer but still only about 4.5 metres from nose to tail.
New engines make it more efficient, with well over 60mpg possible according to the official tests.
But ultimately Volkswagen knows this is about as far from a sexy poster car as it gets, so steers clear of any misplaced claims of dynamism.
From the front only the roof height would tell you this isn’t
a Golf; everything else is so similar.
It’s a good looking thing from the front angles and only really falls down at the inevitably frumpy rear. That’s MPVs for you.
On the other hand it’s a Volkswagen and we Brits like our Volkswagens.
It’s going up against some stiff competition in the likes of the Ford Grand C-Max but the badge appeal here will count for something.
If you’ve got time to count them there are 47 storage areas in the cabin; almost seven per seat on average. Blimey. They range from elasticated belts to split pockets on the back of the front seats, drawers under the front seats and deep bins at the sides of the tailgate aperture.
With all seven seats up there’s nominal boot space, but lower the two individual perches on row three and van-like proportions are revealed.
Don’t expect any driving thrills here. And, unless you’re buying into the top trim levels, don’t expect much cutting-edge technology either.
There are one or two old-tech features that are a bit disappointing, like the oddly outdated LCD screen between the two main dials.
On the plus side the new Touran is noticeably more stable and composed, especially around corners.
The butter-smooth Dutch test route revealed little about the ride quality but there is a much greater sense of oneness about the car.
Avoid the wheezy and relatively clattery 1.6-litre diesel, which is fine for the low-speed school run but will struggle to haul a large family and their luggage along.
The 2.0-litre diesel is a vast improvement and the smooth 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol has its merits too.
More good news comes with the seats and the space around them. Three sub-six-foot adults can just about sit in line down each flank of the car, and the front two rows of seats are nicely shaped and comfortable.
While it’s true that you can get a very high-spec Golf for the price of a decent Touran, it does have practicality on its side.
Prices are yet to be finalised but are expected to clear the £20,000 mark even for the cheapest petrol version.
Think well north of £25,000 for a top-spec 2.0-litre diesel. While it’s true that the Touran is a fantastically practical and unexpectedly spacious thing, it’s more expensive than rivals.
Growing families looking to upgrade from a Golf or even a Golf Plus will find the Touran a natural step up.
The layout is very user-friendly and is likely to make everyday life that bit easier for its owners.
Volkswagen also suggests that empty-nesters might get on board with the Touran’s sensibilities, and grandparents could see an advantage in having space for all their grandkids.
THE FACTS
Model: Volkswagen Touran R
Price: From £20,000 (TBC)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbodiesel producing 148bhp and 251lb/ft of torque
Performance: Top speed 129mph, 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds
Economy: 64.2mpg combined
CO2 rating: 116g/km