Touran with space and safety

Ideal for larger families but price tag prohibitive for most

In America, folks simply call their people carriers "vans''. For Michael Moroney, a van conjures up two words: "solid'' and "spacious''. And that's his lasting impression, following his test drive of the new diesel-powered Volkswagen Touran

People carriers need to be spacious and strong. They must satisfy the need to be filled, and they must be able for that hefty load. That's why the Americans are happy to call them "vans''. Yes, they do have van like qualities, but people carriers need to offer creature comforts as well.

That's why the Volkswagen Touran left a lasting impression on me. It may not be as pretty as a Renault Scenic or as compact as an Opel Zafira, but it is spacious, and it feels very strong.

I've been driving the diesel-powered Touran, with the Trendline specification, which gives a bit more in terms of specifications than the basic Comfortline models. Despite the extra touches of electric windows, front and rear, and cruise control, the features that left the biggest impression were those of space and power.

Volkswagen has matched the lead that Opel had with the Zafira, by fitting a third row of two seats each. They are neat, because they can be easily folded flat into the boot space, and you hardly know that they've been there at all. Now Zafira has a real match.

The other factor that gives the Touran the edge is the use of three individual seats in the so-called second row. These seats come with their own integral seat belts and can be moved or removed to suit your load and passenger needs. That gives extra flexibility, and it's not available in any other model.

You do, however, pay more for those two extra seats. Volkswagen charges around €600 extra for the folding seats, pushing the base price for the seven-seater model well over €31,500 at dealer level, and that's expensive.

The second impression was on the issue of engine power. The Touran comes with a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine that's rated to give 100hp. It has a high torque output, and that's at the predictable low engine revs from a VW diesel.

The effect is impressive. The Touran is not the fastest in acceleration terms but, get it moving and it's easy to keep it there. It's not afraid of a load either; I had six adults on board for a trip to Drogheda, and the engine hardly blinked. It accelerated smoothly and effortlessly, held its pace whether it was a back-road journey or the return on the new motorway.

Compared with the seven other diesel-powered competitors in the sector, the Touran is close to the top in torque terms. Renault's new 1.9-litre Scenic can beat it on power and torque, but it needs more engine revs to do so. The real competition for the Touran is the Opel Zafira, and the VW version beats it on power, torque and acceleration. That's despite the fact that the Touran is just about the same weight.

Diesel power is the obvious choice when it comes to people carriers - that's if the extra cost is affordable. There is always at least a 20% bonus in terms of fuel economy, which can only be realised if you are a relatively high-mileage driver. The Touran compares well with the competition in the economy stakes. The combined economy rating is 47mpg, which is better than the diesel-powered Zafira, but lower than the smaller and less flexible Ford C-Max. If economy is your goal and you don't need seven seats, then the new smaller 1.5-litre diesel Renault will deliver the best possible economy figure.

I also liked the sense of space in the Touran, without having to feel that I was driving a big van. Entry and exit are easy too; as the Touran is at a comfortable height, you don't climb to enter.

The Touran is rated highly in the safety stakes, which is important when it's your turn to take the local team to an away match or you're on the party run. It received a four-star rating in the most recent crash tests, carried out by the European consumer protection organisation Euro-NCAP. Not only did it score well in terms of occupant protection, but it was the first vehicle ever to be awarded three stars for above-average pedestrian protection.

The Touran's standard safety equipment level is impressive. It includes ABS; an ESP electronic stabilisation programme, with brake assist function; airbags for the driver and front passenger; a key switch to de-activate the passenger's airbag, so that a child's seat can be fitted; front side airbags; head-level airbags for the front and second rows of seats; active front head restraints and preparation for an ISOFIX child's seat to be installed.

And lastly, the price; the Touran is simply too dear. The list price is €31,450, or £16,335, in Northern Ireland. Renault is charging a similar rate for the 1.9-litre Scenic. But here is the real dilemma: you have four children, so how do you take a family outing and still remain within the law? Answer: leave someone at home!

All passengers in a modern car must be under a seatbelt, but you only get five in the average car; we live in a three-child world. Those with larger families need a break, and more than a tax break. Four-child families and up should get a break, a VRT break, to help them stay within the law and to stay alive. It's a simple request and one that comes to light when you see the prices being charged for superbly safe people carriers that can cope with a family of seven.