Used Volkswagen Touran review and buying guide (2003 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Volkswagen Touran should you buy?

A manual 2.0 TDI from 2010 to 2015 is the lesser risk, though it isn't trouble-free. Its weak spot is the EGR valve, plus a blocked DPF after Volkswagen's emissions software fix, usually between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. The 1.6 TDI from the same years suffers the same EGR failure far more often, with 50 owner reports behind it, and going manual keeps you clear of the seven-speed DQ200 DSG, which can lose drive on 2009 to 2014 cars.

Early Tourans, from 2003 to 2010, are mostly diesels, and their dual-mass flywheel and clutch are the big worry. Volkswagen recalled 2.0 TDI manuals from the 2004 and 2005 model years to have the flywheel checked, new flywheels and clutches were on back order in 2007, and failures were still turning up in late 2008. If you're buying one this old, a recent clutch and flywheel on the receipts is worth more than low mileage.

There's no recognised fault on the current Touran, on sale since 2015, just a few one-off complaints, such as a 1.5 TSI DSG that kangarooed pulling away and stalled on steep hills, and another owner whose 1.4 TSI 150 rattled from its high-pressure fuel pump. That's a short record rather than a clean one, so don't assume a late car's sorted: check it as hard as an older one.

Which Touran engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

Skip a 2009 to 2014 1.6 TDI (EA189) unless there's proof its EGR valve and cooler have already been replaced. They clog and fail between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, worst on cars used for short runs or after the emissions software fix, putting the car into limp mode with a flashing glow plug light. Two 2013 cars went wrong at 38,000 and 40,000 miles straight after the fix, and another owner was asked to pay £1,500 for a new EGR valve.

The 2010 to 2015 2.0 TDI (EA189) gets EGR and DPF trouble after the fix too, but it's the less serious version of the problem. Older 2.0 TDIs carry bigger risks: the 170 (BMN engine) of 2006 to 2009 has Siemens piezo injectors that can short out and cut the engine dead at 60,000 to 100,000 miles, and on the PD 140 and 170 the oil pump's small hexagonal drive shaft can wear round after about 50,000 miles.

The 1.4 TSI petrols aren't the easy way out. Between 2008 and 2012 the 1.4 TSI's timing chain can stretch and its tensioner fail at 40,000 to 80,000 miles, and the twin-charged version (supercharger plus turbo, 2008 to 2014) can crack its pistons or lose the supercharger's water-pump clutch. The 1.2 TSI 105 drew reports of heavy oil use when new. There's no known fault on the early 1.6 petrols, but that's thin evidence rather than proof they're tough.

A manual gearbox is the lower risk, though the six-speed can go stiff from first to second, which fresh oil sometimes cures and a new synchro ring otherwise fixes. The seven-speed DQ200 DSG, fitted with the smaller engines, was filled with synthetic oil that can leave conductive deposits in its control unit and cut drive on 2009 to 2014 cars. The older six-speed DSG had a recall on 2008 to 2009 cars to reprogramme it after sudden losses of drive.

What should you check when viewing a used Touran?

Pull the dipstick on any diesel: oil sitting above the full mark means fuel's getting into the sump, which on the 1.9 TDI 105 points to leaking injectors or the tandem pump and needs fixing before the engine runs on its own oil. On a 2009 to 2015 TDI, a flashing glow plug light or sudden loss of power means EGR trouble, so ask for the emissions fix paperwork and any EGR receipts. On a 2006 to 2009 170, ask whether the piezo injectors were replaced.

On a DSG, set off from cold, reverse up a slope and drive it in traffic. Juddering or hesitation pulling away, slipping into neutral, a flashing gearbox light or a car that won't move in drive all mean the gearbox needs work. Ask for receipts showing the gearbox oil and filter were changed every four years: one owner whose 2005 Touran missed that had the DSG fail at 50,000 miles and was quoted £4,600 for a new one.

On a 1.4 TSI, start it from cold and listen: a metallic rattle on a cold start, a rough idle or an engine light point to a stretched timing chain, so ask for proof the chain has been done. On the twin-charged engine, a screech from the water pump area when you accelerate means the supercharger clutch is failing, and misfiring or rough running can mean cracked pistons. Pull away gently on any manual too, feeling for clutch judder from a worn flywheel.

Watch the ESP warning: an amber light on an older car can mean a new ABS control unit (though a loose ABS fuse sets it off too), faulty ESP has failed the MoT since January 2012, and some sellers have unplugged the unit to hide the light. Check the electric parking brake lets the rear wheels turn freely, both tailgate gas struts are firmly bolted on, and on a current car, ask for proof the airbag and seatbelt pretensioner recall was done.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

Is a used Volkswagen Touran Mk1 (2003 to 2015) a good buy?

Buy a Touran Mk1 as a 2010 to 2015 manual 2.0 TDI with its EGR history on paper, and pass on an early diesel whose clutch and flywheel record is a blank. It's a flexible seven-seater, but this generation covers a long run of engines, so the individual car matters more than the badge. Even the later 1.6 TDI CR manual has had flywheel trouble: one 2014 car needed a new dual-mass flywheel and clutch at 15,000 miles, and a 2011 car at 53,000.

Diesel Mk1s carry an auxiliary heater that can push fumes into the cabin when the car only does short trips in cold weather. Volkswagen released a software and fuel pipe fix in 2004, yet one 2010 1.9 TDI still smoked whenever its heater ran below 5C and needed a heater software update to cure it. A diesel smell inside the car after a cold start points straight at the heater.

The DQ200 automatic on later cars isn't only a cold-start worry: one 2013 1.6 TDI lost reverse and was stuck in first at 77,000 miles when a magnet came loose inside and wrecked a sensor in the control unit. Smaller niggles on this generation include headlight lenses that mist up in the cold, a digital instrument display that can corrupt below freezing, and a 2018 recall for diesels with stop/start whose starter solenoid could stay engaged and overheat, so ask for proof that was done.

What does a used Volkswagen Touran cost to run?

What do Touran owners like about them?

The cabin's the big draw: it's practical and versatile, with a large boot. The three middle-row seats are separate, so each one can be moved, folded or lifted out, and the two optional rearmost seats fold away into the floor when you don't need them. The folding system's easy to work, which matters when you're switching between passengers and luggage every week.

Seven-seat versions suit family life, and with the back row folded flat you've still got a proper five-seater with a big load area. It handles tidily for something this tall, helped by a stiff bodyshell and a four-link rear suspension. The 2.0 TDI 170 is quick enough to feel at home both on the motorway and in town.

• The Touran features a rigid body, new four-link rear suspension, and electro-mechanical power steering, contributing to good handling and a five-star NCAP safety rating.
• The Touran offers a highly practical and versatile interior layout, providing excellent adaptability for various needs and passengers.
• This Volkswagen model conveys a strong sense of being well constructed, reflecting its overall robust build quality and durability.
• The available TDI diesel engines deliver strong performance and impressive fuel efficiency, making them a good choice for many drivers.
• The Touran is exceptionally practical, featuring a generously sized boot that provides ample storage capacity for luggage and gear.