It seems Dieselgate has not cured Volkswagen of its natural cockiness. Because they know the Touran is one of the best cars in its segment, its commercials are not about driving sensations or adventures. In fact, they're not about anything in particular other than showing people in embarrassing circumstances.
The first one comes from Germany and is titled "Volkswagen Touran - Everyday Heroes." The German manufacturer tries to convince us that it knows being a hero dad is a tough job, so you might as well enjoy it.
Making the point abundantly clear is the fact that "hero dad" is seen wearing the most embarrassing superhero costume of all time, complete with purple balaclava and spandex overall that accentuate the belly fat.
Of course, kids have no notion of shame, which probably means they aren't going to mind driving around in a Volkswagen with a TDI engine either.
The second commercial is also part of the Touran's marketing push but comes from Sweden. It's called "Family car that makes everyone happy" and shows how a father has to put up with the oversized punk hair of his progeny. Meanwhile, the typical suburban mom chauffeurs her son and two other punk-loving kids.
So why is the 2016 Touran good? Well, it's 130 mm (5 inches) longer than its predecessor, but thanks to the MQB modular toolkit, the MPV is 19% more efficient and 62 kilograms lighter (136 lbs).
Most buyers are going to go for the 1.4 TSI, available in two stages of tune, or the entry-level 2-liter TDI with 150 PS. Other engines offered at launch include a 1.2-liter base turbo with 110 PS and a 2-liter turbo rated at 180 PS. Diesel options start with the 110 PS 1.6 TDI and work their way up to the 190 PS flagship. Which is the most frugal? Volkswagen says that the seven-seater version fitted with the 1.6 and DSG will return 4.1 l/100 km (68.9 mpg UK).
The model is also up-to-date with the latest features offered by the manufacturer, including the LED headlamps with dynamic main beam control function (Dynamic Light Assist), Mirrorlink capability with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You may also notice this R-Line body kit and full-length moonroof have been installed on the blue Touran in the videos.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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