The Volkswagen Touran, a hero for French families for many years, is about to take its bow. Victim of the relentless rise of SUVs, this once-essential MPV finds itself sidelined, caught between prohibitive prices and crushing Euro 7 standards. The observation is bitter: the Touran will disappear, leaving behind a legacy of unmatched practicality and comfort.
A Road Companion at Dusk
Long considered the Volkswagen favorite among families, the Touran has seen its star fade in the face of the SUV craze, particularly the Tiguan. With constantly rising prices and a glaring absence of hybrid options, this MPV has gradually sunk into anonymity. Although the model is still offered in a few European markets, it is preparing to leave the French scene for good, a victim of new automotive trends.
The Volkswagen Touran is the ideal ally for families, but it has aged and will soon be removed from the catalog © Alex Krassovsky
A Love Story That Is Fading
There was a time when the French loved MPVs. But with the strong arrival of the Nissan Qashqai, Toyota RAV4, and other Honda CR-Vs, MPVs have experienced a rapid decline. These faux SUVs, often more urban than adventurous, have seduced with their looks and image. Unfortunately, the MPV has begun its slow descent into oblivion. Currently, few mainstream manufacturers still offer an MPV in France. Aside from BMW with its 2 Series Active Tourer, the list has considerably shrunk: goodbye to the Fiat 500L, the Renault Scénic (in its traditional form), and even the Citroën C4 Picasso. The small Honda Jazz stands as an exception, but it remains marginal in the market.
The Volkswagen Touran, while practical and spacious, is now facing outdated design and the demands of the Euro 7 standard. This regulatory wall poses an insurmountable obstacle for a vehicle that has shone for its habitability and ingenuity. Yet, in terms of volume and practicality, the Touran remains one of the best options in the Volkswagen lineup.
A Final Lap
The Touran has had a noteworthy career, launched in 2015 and revamped in 2023 after a long resistance. It is still available for order, but for how long? The 2.0 (150 hp) and 1.5 (150 hp) diesel and gasoline versions are still on the market. However, the prices are discouraging: €44,800 for the entry-level gasoline model with a manual gearbox and up to €51,200 for the diesel version. At this price level, it’s hard to justify buying a Touran compared to an ID.4, a more economical electric model.
Orders for the Touran will remain open until next April, but beware! Volkswagen France has specified that these orders could be closed earlier if production quotas are reached. Indeed, last year, just over 1,500 Tourans were sold in France, while in the golden age of MPVs, this figure approached 25,000 units per year. Today, it’s the score… of the Polo.
The Clash of Titans: Touran vs. Tiguan
In a world where the Tiguan evolves with a new generation incorporating plug-in hybrid technology offering comfortable electric range, the Touran remains stuck on an entirely thermal recipe. This leaves little chance for the MPV among professionals, rental companies, or businesses. Private individuals, for their part, will lean more towards SUVs, often electric, that better meet current market expectations. The rise of a model like the Skoda Elroq within the Volkswagen group perfectly illustrates this trend.
A Page Turns
With the imminent announcement of the end of the Touran, a chapter closes for Volkswagen. The MPV, emblematic of family trips and daily commutes, leaves behind a void that SUVs may not necessarily fill in terms of comfort and space. The evolution of the automotive market is relentless, but it is hard not to feel a twinge of nostalgia for these vehicles that have brought so many generations together.
As we prepare to say goodbye to this iconic model, we can only hope that manufacturers will offer other worthy family alternatives that can combine practicality and modernity without succumbing to the sirens of design at all costs.
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