As a motoring journalist, one of the
commonly asked questions I get is, “What is your dream car?” That’s when I
would ask back a question – a car that I can realistically aim towards or a car
that will probably remain a fantasy for the rest of my life unless I suddenly
get a multi-million inheritance from a long-lost relative who has no kids? We
all have our dream cars, we all have a wish list. Usually they will be of
classics, flashy coupes or iconic performance models.
Truth be told, the Volkswagen Touran will
not be on many ‘Most Wanted Cars in My Lifetime’ lists, but it deserves a top
spot on the ‘Most Desirable Family Car’ list. This is the kind of car that you
buy with your head, not your heart, knowing that its functionality and
practicality will be a huge asset to your family. It will not send people
whipping their smartphones out for a picture or squealing at it in excitement,
but you know that it will do the job and do it well.
Despite
sharp new front and rear ends, the Touran still looks dull
Reliability and dependability become
increasingly important in a car as your life priorities change and you have
children in the car. It is just like how I want a life partner I can trust and
depend on, and how he need not be drop-dead gorgeous or has a well-sculpted
body with those washboard abs. Once upon a time when we were younger,
attractive looks seem quite important but as we grow up, we realise that when
things look good, they may not necessarily work well.
The Touran was flying off the shelves when
it was launched in 2010 and now it comes in a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel variant
that fits into the COE Category A as the only German seven-seater MPV. The
Touran TDI is not a brand new car, just that it was only made available in
Singapore in March.
The
interior is spacious and its construction is sound
About a year ago, Volkswagen Singapore
organised a drive-up to Malacca for the media with six of its TDI models in
anticipation of their comprehensive diesel roll-out for the Singapore market.
We got to test drive the Touran TDI then and was super impressed with its
driving range of more than 1,300km. That means, it is capable of going to Kuala
Lumpur and back (almost) twice without needing a refuel.
By no means would I call the Touran a small
car, as it can take seven passengers after all. But it comes with a pretty
small yet strong heart. The 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine gives just 105bhp and
250Nm, but really, that is enough for city commuting. You, or at least I,
wouldn’t be too fussed over its zero to 100km/h time (almost 13 seconds) or its
top speed (183km/h) because frankly, the purpose of getting this car is not to
go drag racing.
The
Touran can be ordered in either five or seven-seat guise
The TDI engine did not feel like it was
insufficient for the car and its size, getting up to speed promptly with its
peak torque kicking in at 1,500rpm and assisted by the seven-speed DSG gearbox.
I ferried some friends around and at near-full capacity, the engine still
pulled along well and did not give any signs or sounds of struggle. It is quick
in stop-start traffic and relaxing when cruising on the expressways.
Storage is always a key factor for such
cars and yes, the Touran can load up to 1,913 litres. You can slide and recline
the second row seats individually or just remove them completely. Standard
equipment include rear view camera to help you with parking and a panoramic
sunroof.
Already
available in other VWs, the impressive 1.6-litre diesel suits the Touran well
Previously pushed to COE Category B, this TDI
variant of the Touran brings it back to Category A, giving it an advantage in
price. In addition, low carbon emissions of 121g/km qualify the Touran TDI for
a $10,000 rebate under the CEVS scheme, giving it a price tag of $155,800 (COE
included).
Also, there are no direct contenders in
Category A for the time being. The Touran is a safe and predictable car, which
may not rank high on the adrenalin-rushing factor but it more than compensates
for that with good ride quality and versatility.
