The latest generation of Volkswagen’s Touran MPV goes on sale in Ireland this November.

The popular people carrier was first launched in 2003, and since then, some 1.9m have been sold globally.The new Touran is 130mm longer, 41mm wider and has a 113mm longer wheelbase than the model it replaces. It does, however, sit fractionally lower at -6mm. With a total of 47 storage areas, the Touran is purpose-built for families and sitting alongside the Golf SV and the Sharan will form the basis of a three-strong MPV line-up in Ireland.

With emissions and fuel economy so important, weight has been reduced by up to 62kg, and together with a host of cleaner engines, this adds up to 19% better fuel economy depending on the engine you choose.

There are five- and seven-seat options for the Touran, but for the Irish market, Volkswagen are going to offer the Touran as a seven-seat version only. The rearmost row of seats can however fold flat to offer a generous 663-litres of luggage space when the extra seats are not in use, 48-litres more than the previous generation Touran. Significantly, there are ISOFIX points in all five rear seats of the Touran.

For Ireland, there is a choice of three engines, one petrol version, a 1.2-litre 110 PS (175Nm of torque) unit mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which is capable of returning up to 5.4 l/100km and has low-emissions of just 126g/km. This model is likely to be chosen by those buyers who don’t do larger mileage and primarily use their Touran for urban use. Buyers that do more mileage may prefer one of the two diesel offerings. The 1.6-litre 110 PS (250Nm of torque) diesel is likely to be the largest-seller and this comes with a choice of a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG automatic. The manual version is capable of fuel economy figures of 4.4 l/100km and 116g/km CO2 and with the DSG version this is even more frugal, returning up to 4.2 l/100km and with lower emissions of 111g/km. At the top of the range for Ireland is the 2.0-litre TDI with 150 PS (340Nm of torque) and this despite the additional power can manage to return equally impressive fuel economy figures to the 1.6-litre, with 4.4 l/100km possible and a CO2 figure of 116g/km in the 6-speed manual and 4.8 l/100km possible  and CO2 figures of 124g/km from the 6-speed DSG automatic.

Specification for the Irish market has yet to be fully finalised but highlights will include Front Assist and Volkswagen’s City Emergency Braking system as standard on all models. All models will get Air Conditioning and Bluetooth and buyers who move up from Trendline to Comfortline will gain 16” alloy wheels, cruise control with fatigue detection and a leather multifunction steering wheel. At the top of the range, the Highline model will feature Adaptive Cruise Control as standard, 3-zone climate control, 17” alloy wheels and folding mirrors.

Pricing, too, has yet to be finalised but the model will start from €29,715 and the best-selling 1.6-litre 110 PS diesel model will start from €31,715. The new model will go on sale in November, in time for the 161 registration and full pricing and specification will be released prior to this.