2016 saw the Volkswagen Touran take the number one spot throughout Europe as best selling MPV.

• Touran developed in 2016 into No. 1 in all MPV classes
• Handles stop-and-go traffic automatically with new ACC

Volkswagen's Touran is, for the first time, Europe’s most successful MPV. According to renowned market research company IHS Automotive, the Touran took top spot on the European Continent as the best-selling MPV with a total of more than 112,000 new registrations in 2016. 

The latest generation of the all-rounder, with its innovative driver assistance and infotainment systems, is sold in more than 40 countries worldwide. 

Thanks to the fold-flat seating (with up to seven seats and 834 litres of boot space) the Touran ranks as one of the most versatile multi- purpose vehicles of any class.

Volkswagen recently updated one of the Touran's most important driver assistance systems: the ACC (including Front Assist surroundings monitoring and City Emergency Brake function). 

The adaptive cruise control now covers the speed range from 30 to 210 km/h (previously 30 to 160 km/h). Combined with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG), this spectrum widens from 0 to 210 km/h. 

With ACC and DSG, the Touran now moves through stop-and-go traffic almost automatically, as – within the system limits – it slows to a stop and pulls away again autonomously. 

The specialist family vehicle’s further highlights include technologies such as the 3-zone-Climatronic system (high air quality thanks to an active biogenic filter) and the Car-Net Cam Connect camera system – where a GoPro® camera removes the need for parents to turn around by showing a picture of children in the back on the infotainment system’s monitor.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - The VW Touran wins best MPV and the Tiguan a best buy recommendation.

• Touran is once again named Best MPV by What Car?
• New Tiguan SUV secures a ‘best buy’ recommendation
• Tiguan also features among finalists in Safety Award

Volkswagen is celebrating an award-winning start to 2017 with the brand’s popular and flexible Touran people carrier maintaining its pole position as Best MPV in the renowned What Car? Awards.

Meanwhile, the recently-launched Tiguan takes a price point title in the awards’ Small SUV category, with the Tiguan 2.0 TDI 150 SE Navigation named ‘Best Buy, more than £25,000’ at the annual celebration of motoring excellence. 

And the Tiguan shows its breadth of capability by also being named a finalist in the What Car? Safety Award.

Scoring a second consecutive win in the hotly-contested MPV class What Car? judges said of the seven-seat Touran – winner of the ‘Best Buy £20,000-£26,000’ section in 1.6 TDI 115 SE form as well as overall victor in the MPV category: “For class-leading space and practicality, look no further than the Volkswagen Touran. This seven-seat MPV has an impressively roomy interior, with masses of space in the front and back, as well as a third row of seats that can be easily folded away to increase boot capacity.

“The interior is well built and all the materials used feel classy, and it’s roomier than rivals such as the Ford S-Max and Citroën Grand C4 Picasso. As well as being incredibly practical, the Touran is also great to drive. The Touran is big, but isn’t at all cumbersome or heavy to manoeuvre. The 1.6-litre diesel engine offers gutsy performance and will easily haul around seven people and a full load of luggage.

“It’s efficient too: the Touran achieved 50.9mpg in our real-world True MPG fuel economy test. SE trim gets all the kit you’ll need, including an intuitive infotainment touchscreen, a DAB radio and automatic lights and wipers. It’s good news on the finance front, too, with some great PCP deals available.”

Turning to small SUV price point victor the new Tiguan, which launched in the UK in the summer of 2016 and is already building on the sales success of its predecessor, What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford said: “Inside, its slick switches, piano black plastics and soft surfaces make it feel worth its premium. But it doesn’t just look the part because the Tiguan has a massive amount of interior space, while its rear seats can be slid back and forth for increased practicality. It’s rounded off with a spacious boot.

“We think the 2.0-litre diesel engine makes a great companion, and it has enough low-rev pull to ensure hauling a fully loaded car is no issue. Couple that with competitive CO₂ emissions and fuel economy, and it’s a mighty fine package.”

Commenting on the Tiguan’s finalist position in the What Car? Safety Award Steve said: “The Tiguan has the highest adult occupant protection score of any car here, and because that’s the score most buyers will look towards first when choosing a car, we’ve given it extra credit.

“The Tiguan also scores very well when it comes to keeping children and pedestrians safe, and it’s those consistently high scores which impressed our panel.”

Discussing the early year silverware Alison Jones, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: “The Touran’s second successive What Car? award underlines this practical Volkswagen’s brilliance. Safe, flexible, efficient and stylish, the Touran is the family MPV that ticks every box.

“Meanwhile, for the new Tiguan to have been recommended above all others in the £25,000-plus price point underscores the brilliance of this exceptional new SUV. That the Tiguan was also in the running for What Car?’s Safety Award should also reassure families that, in selecting this as their next new car, they’re buying into one of the most impressive new SUVs on the road today.”

Volkswagen replaces the SE Estate Golf with the Match Edition and adds plenty of extra kit to boost it's appeal.

• High specification Match Edition joins Volkswagen Golf Estate line-up
• Extra equipment brings even greater value to Golf R and Passat
• Award-winning Touran compact MPV receives more power

The already appealing Volkswagen Golf Estate range is getting more attractive still with the arrival of the compelling Golf Estate Match Edition, which replaces the SE trim and brings with it an abundance of important equipment upgrades.

The new Volkswagen Golf Estate Match Edition includes elegant 16-inch ‘Dover’ alloy wheels and front fog lights, while external features are further enhanced by the addition of a Mirror Pack which delivers remote electrically folding door mirrors, as well as door mirror puddle lights and reverse activated kerb-view adjustment on the passenger’s door mirror.

The German manufacturer is also adding parking sensors to the level of comfort and convenience already offered by the Golf Estate Match Edition, and that is in addition to the high spec 6.5-inch colour touch-screen, Bluetooth telephone and audio connection, car information display, DAB digital radio and a CD player.

The offering is bolstered by an upgrade of the infotainment system to the impressive Discover Navigation system, with Car-Net Guide and Inform.  Discover Navigation adds, as standard on the Golf Estate Match Edition, dynamic navigation with branded points of interest, speed limit display and a choice of three route options (Fast, Short or Eco).  

And in addition, the dynamic Car-Net Guide and Inform programme provides online access to a range of useful information such as live traffic updates, current local fuel pricing, parking space availability, weather and news feeds.  A three-year subscription is included, and these services are accessed via a compatible mobile device.

All of this extra equipment is complemented by heated front seats, headlight washers and heated windscreen washer jets.  The cost of these features when specified separately is £1975, but the items have been added to this Golf Estate for a mere £100 supplement, meaning the Volkswagen Golf Estate Match Edition starts from £22,045 RRP OTR.

A further breath of fresh air is the addition of an allergy filter to the 2Zone electronic air conditioning system, and this is now standard across the Performance Golf and Performance Golf Estate ranges (GTI, GTD, GTE, R and Alltrack models). 

Driving further into the range, the Golf R and the Golf Estate R now include the Discover Navigation infotainment system, with Car Net Guide and Inform, factory fitted as standard.  

In addition, both R models now come equipped with heated front seats, headlight washers and heated windscreen washer jets. That’s an extra £1145 of equipment for only a £500 addition to the on-the-road price.  Thus, the Golf R starts from £31,685 RRP OTR and the Golf Estate R is £34,455 RRP OTR.

The Volkswagen Golf and Golf Estate of course feature a wide variety of comfort and convenience boosting features.  These engaging driver’s cars come alive on the road, and that’s especially true when Driver Profile Selection – available on the Match Edition and above trims – is selected. 

This enables the driver to choose different settings that will adjust the Golf’s character and driving experience.  And now, when Sport or Dynamic modes are selected, more information is displayed on the car’s centre console.  

A lap-timer and g-meter, which measure the gravitational forces generated by the car’s performance, are now relayed to the driver.  Boost pressure and oil temperature are also added to the display.

The Golf’s big brother, the Passat saloon or estate, is also a beneficiary of an enhanced level of technology.  

For instance, the impressive new Active Info Display system – a 12-inch high definition TFT dash display screen with customisable menus and information – can now be selected no matter which level of infotainment system the Passat has.  Volkswagen has also developed an enhanced version of the Nivomat self-levelling suspension.  

This is available as an option on all Passat Estate trims except the S, BlueMotion and Alltrack or where the 240 PS engine, Dynamic Chassis Control or a tow bar have been specified.

Both the saloon and estate versions of the Passat GT and R-Line now feature Active Info Display and a Panoramic Sunroof as standard equipment.  

This passes a significant saving of £1265 to Volkswagen Passat customers, so the Passat GT saloon now starts at £26,025 RRP OTR and the R-Line at £28,145 RRP OTR – just £245 more than the models they replace.  

The Passat Estate is available to order from £27,575 for the GT and £29,695 for the R-Line – also just a £245 increase.

The latest Touran was launched last year to international acclaim.  It is one of the most successful compact MPVs in the world and now packs an extra punch: the 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine now produces 115 PS, up from 110 PS in its previous iteration.  

The engine is available on the entry-level S model, as well as the SE and SE Family trims, and CO₂ emissions aren’t altered. 

Finally, the extensive Volkswagen Polo range has been joined by a variety of special editions thanks to the recent addition to the line-up of the Volkswagen Polo Beats.  

These hatchbacks feature, among other things, Beats-inspired styling and a class-leading 300-watt sound system.  The car is available in three- or five-door configuration and has a choice of four engines.

UK RECALL #10 - Volkswagen follows its other brands in recalling models for Gas Can airbag failure.

Vehicle Details
Reference :	R/2016/065
Manufacturer Ref :	69L9
Make:	VW
Model :	Sharan & Touran
Launch Date :	06/04/2016
Numbers Involved :	38
Build Start Date :	23/01/2015
Build End Date :	28/01/2015

Recall Details
Concern :	SIDE AIRBAG GAS GENERATOR CANISTER MAY FAIL
Description :	For certain vehicles manufactured within a specific period it is possible that the gas generator housing may be damaged if a side airbag is deployed. If the airbag/s were deployed, the gas generator could explode and dislodge small metal parts which could cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedial Action :	Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the dates of manufacture for the left and or right side airbags. Where a possibly affected airbag is found it will be replaced.
Vehicle Id :	WVWZZZ7NZFV030164 to WVWZZZ7NZFV030750 WVWZZZ7NZFV030164 to WVWZZZ7NZFV030750

Other Vehicles Affected (Click the vehicle to perform an extended search)

VW - TOURAN VW - SHARAN

Volkswagen is bringing more than a dash of sports style to the MPV class with the new Touran R-Line.

Volkswagen is bringing more than a dash of sports style to the MPV class with the announcement of the new Touran R-Line.

The brand’s latest award-winning seven-seater – most recently named ‘Best MPV’ by respected automotive publishing brand What Car? – is now available to order in stylish R-Line guise for the first time.

The R-Line trim level is Volkswagen’s most overtly sporty mainstream equipment grade and provides a raft of exterior and interior styling enhancements, all carefully calculated to dial up kerb appeal, cabin style and on-road attitude. 

The range-topping new Touran R-Line is available with a selection of potent yet frugal turbocharged petrol or diesel engines ranging in capacity from 1.4-litre TSI to 2.0-litre TDI, and with outputs of between 150 PS and 190 PS.  These are mated to a similarly broad selection of transmissions which, depending on engine choice, comprise either six-speed manual or six- or seven-speed DSG.

Of course all the new Touran R-Line models also feature a selection of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technologies such as Start/Stop, brake energy recuperation and low rolling resistance tyres, meaning economy is maximised.  Combined fuel consumption* ranges from 49.6 mpg for the 1.4-litre TSI 150 PS six-speed manual, to 62.8 mpg for the 2.0-litre TDI 150 PS six-speed manual.

Outstanding R-Line is styled to stand out   

Instantly recognisable outside, the new Touran R-Line benefits from a selection of exterior design enhancements including unique front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, and side skirts; plus chrome mouldings for the rear bumper, and 18-inch ‘Marseille’ alloy wheels.  Unique R-Line badging completes the external additions.

Inside, the sporty new Touran adds ‘Black Lead Grey’ decorative inserts in the dash, centre console and front doors; a black roof lining and grey stitching on the leather-trimmed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, which also includes aluminium inserts and R-Line logo.

The seating, meanwhile, includes contrasting microfibre side bolsters and front seats with R-Line logo on the rear backrests.  Completing the stylish upgrades are stainless steel pedals, and unique R-Line sill protectors.

Practicality that’s highly-praised

Praising the new Touran in its recent awards issue, What Car? said: “This new Volkswagen is great to drive, classy-feeling inside and has better safety credentials than most of its rivals.”

The judges added: “There are cheaper and bigger MPVs, but none that so brilliantly balances all of the things that matter to big families.  Crucially, Volkswagen’s latest seven-seater is more practical than all of its similarly priced rivals.”

Now, with the addition of this stylish new range-topping trim level, the Touran offers this renowned practicality in its most eye-catching form. 

The new Touran R-Line is available to order from Volkswagen Retailers now, with prices starting at £27,740 RRP for the Touran R-Line 1.4-litre TSI six-speed manual.

Volkswagen Touran R-Line
Engine	Gearbox	Power	CO2 (g/km)	RRP
1.4 TSI BMT	Six-speed manual	150 PS	133*	£27,740.00
1.4 TSI BMT	Seven-speed auto DSG	150 PS	127*	£28,910.00
2.0 TDI SCR BMT	Six-speed manual	150 PS	117*	£29,210.00
2.0 TDI SCR BMT	Six-speed auto DSG	150 PS	126*	£30,510.00
2.0 TDI SCR BMT	Six-speed auto DSG	190 PS	123*	£31,505.00

The Volkswagen Touran MPV takes a "Best-In-Class" award from the Euro NCAP 2015 assessment programme.

• Touran wins in 'Compact MPV' category
• Affirmation of the popular family car's comprehensive safety concept

The New Touran has been acclaimed by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) as the best compact MPV. The Touran is thus one of the most crash-resistant vehicles of 2015.

The latest generation of the popular family MPV passed the demanding series of Euro NCAP crash tests in September and gained the highest rating of five stars. The rating takes account of the results from four sub-sections: occupant protection for children and adults, pedestrian protection and driver assistance systems.

The NCAP test specifications were toughened in 2015. The introduction in particular of an additional head-on collision of the entire front of the vehicle into a solid obstacle saw increased significance placed on occupant safety. The Touran showed itself to be well equipped to cope: thanks to its optimised vehicle body structure and standard systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with countersteer assistance, including ABS and Automatic Post-Collision Braking, it is one of Europe’s safest cars.

The Pre-Crash proactive occupant protection system also plays a special role. It activates ahead of any crash in order to minimise its severity by taking preventative measures. In addition to automatic tautening of the safety belts, the system recognises if the vehicle is in danger of skidding and automatically closes the windows and sliding sunroof. The best possible support of the head and side airbags is thus guaranteed.

Euro NCAP publishes a list of the top-ranking vehicles each year. In 2015, a total of 40 models from a range of manufacturers were subjected to the demanding series of NCAP tests.