VOLKSWAGEN has upgraded its popular compact Touran model and further improved its technology to the state of the art.

The Touran celebrates its 20th birthday this year and has many fans due to a spacious and variable interior, efficient engines and agile handling as well as a wide range of safety equipment.

‘More than a family car' was the claim for the Touran market launch on March 14, 2003. And, with more than 2.6 million units now sold, it is one of the most successful multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) in the world.

Standard features of the latest Touran include Active Cruise Control with speed limiter, Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist, Lane Assist lane departure warning and Side Assist lane change assist while there's now also PreCrash at the rear.

The latter system uses the sensor technology of the Side Assist lane change assist whereby radar sensors detect the position and speed of cars behind the Touran.

If PreCrash at the rear detects an imminent rear-end collision due to the position of the following vehicle and the excessive speed difference between the two vehicles, the proactive occupant protection system is activated - not only while driving, but also while stationary with the engine running or in start/stop mode.

A multifunction camera is also now on board every Touran to identify objects or people as quickly as possible.

The optional ‘IQ.DRIVE including IQ.LIGHT' package also now includes, among other things, the Travel Assistdriver assist system in conjunction with the Lane Assistlane departure warning.

The Dynamic Light Assistmain-beam control is also part of the new assist package and ensures better visibility at night.

The system can detect oncoming vehicles as well as vehicles ahead and automatically fades out corresponding areas of the vehicle's main beam.

The Touran has also received an upgrade in terms of comfort with a latest-generation steering wheel including contact detection, a programmable digital eight-inch instrument cluster and the air con control console with touch controls at the front and rear.

Volkswagen has continued to develop its 1.5 TSI petrol engine and is now also using the latest generation in the Touran - the TSI evo2 with 148bhp.

The Touran is available with five to seven seats, depending on customer preference. The interior width means there's enough space for three child seats fitted side by side in the rear.

Due to ISOFIX retaining rings in the second and third row of seats, a total of as many as five child seats can be securely attached to the Touran.

The interior can be used in a variety of ways thanks to the fold-flat seating system, which allows for a storage volume of up to 1,980 litres. There are also 47 storage options.