Volkswagen Touran review: Peak practicality

The world might have gone SUV and crossover mad, but if you’ve a brood of three (or more) to cart around then a mid-sized crossover like the Nissan Qashqai doesn’t actually cut it. That’s why – despite their perceived lack of sexiness – MPVs like the Volkswagen Touran continue to prevail.

If you need five or seven seats, want more than two isofix child seat fixing points and, frankly, aren’t looking to spend oodles of cash on a car, then a mid-sized MPV such as this really is your best bet when buying new.

Handy, then, that Volkswagen has just refreshed the Touran as part of its on-going range renewal. Based on the underpinning of a Golf (the MQB platform), the Touran comes with seven seats as standard and starts from £22,270 in the UK. Is this the family “Wagen” to go for?

Volkswagen Touran review: Petrol heads

You can choose from two petrols and three diesel engine options in the Touran. You’ll have read a lot about diesels recently – not least in regard to Volkswagen. The company’s new-generation engines, fitted to the Touran in 1.6-litre (110hp) and 2.0-litre (150 or 190hp) are modern units which use ad-blue technology to reduce NOx emissions, and are highly efficient. But they cost more to buy and will still produce higher NOx and particulate levels than a petrol engine.

Pocket-lint

Given that many cars like this will be put to use on the school run, working at low speed and covering comparatively low mileages, we’d therefore reckon many buyers would do well to try a petrol engine. And with Volkswagen’s new turbo petrols being some of the best, we chose to test the 1.2 TSi 110hp engine in this car. It’s the lowliest powered Touran you can buy, and this isn’t a small car – so we were interested to find out if a small capacity petrol unit felt right here.

Start up a modern direct-injection petrol like this, and beyond a slightly audible injector tick from the engine, one of its most pleasant attributes is quietness. The Touran’s unit is a winner in this regard – it’s refined, yet set out along the road and it’s eager too. It revs happily, doesn’t feel as slow as you might imagine and is generally a pleasant thing to drive.

The engine is aided by light yet precise controls and a nice, positive action gearshift – just as we’ve come to expect from the Volkswagen group. The ride is pliant and clam, helped by this model’s small wheels, and the handling is tidy and neat. The Touran doesn’t drive like a van, in fact it feels more car like than many crossovers.

The real surprise though is that it returned 47mpg during our test route. Whether you’d get those kind of figures just driving the Touran around town, we’re unable to verify. But taken at face value, the smallest petrol version of the car is frugal enough to make you think twice about going diesel – which will cost you £1,600 more in list-price terms.

Pocket-lint

Just be careful if your driving involves a lot of high-speed, out of town work, or if you’re regularly loaded up with a full cargo – because then you need to work the engine harder and it can occasionally feel lacking in power. But it never gets too noisy and harsh. It’s just if we were using our Touran that way, we’d be swayed towards the diesel – or the more powerful 1.4 TSi petrol.

Volkswagen Touran review: People power

Where MPVs come into their own is inside. And here, Volkswagen truly raises the bar in the Touran. Everything feels incredibly high quality and works with a high level of precision. Perhaps most importantly, the Touran is stuffed full of clever storage spaces, compartments, nets and bins that make family life in the car just so much easier. Volkswagen says you can specify up to 47 of them in total.

The ones that we would “drawer” your attention to (sorry, couldn’t resist) that came with our SE-spec car were the four bins/slots on the dashboard (two to the right side of the driver, one on top of the dash, one in front of the passenger) – plus the glovebox. The net on the passenger side footwell, huge (lined) door bins which can store 1.5-litre bottles in each front door, and an overhead drop down console which will store two pairs of sunglasses. In the back, we got airline-style fold up tables, another roof-mounted sunglasses holder and storage units for the third row passengers. Be warned, you’ll lose stuff in your Touran. But at least it’ll stay tidy.

Pocket-lint

Storage for things is one skill, but seating seven can be a headache. Yet here, too, the Touran seems to have things licked. Each chair feels chunky, sturdy and high quality. They’re well trimmed with no odd sharp edges to catch unsuspecting hands, and high quality fabric. Parents will be interested to hear that every single rear seat (including the middle perch and the very rear-most third row seats) have isofix attachments. Middle row leg room is great for 6-foot adults. And the rear seats can cope with adults for a short journey. Kids and teenagers are likely to be happy for longer runs.

But the bug bear of this type of car has always been accessing that rear row of seats, and folding seats quickly to transport more load and less people. Handily, a new fold-flat system means that the rear-most seats fold flat into the floor with a single tug of a lever. When they do this, there are no odd gaps in the floor either, so the Touran should be easy to keep clean. The middle row all topple to fold flat too. And unlike many cars, the front passenger seat can be folded forwarded – meaning the Touran makes a great impromptu IKEA / DIY van.

There’s other clever stuff too. The outer rear seats feature a simple pull-and-lift mechanism to allow reasonable access to the back row, and the rear parcel shelf stores below the boot floor when it’s not being used. When this is in place, a simple tap gets it to retract half way back into the boot, creating easy access to stuff.

Pocket-lint

Many cars of this ilk get this stuff wrong – and having a young family ourselves, we appreciated the fact that the Touran has clearly been designed by a sympathetic, smart team that’s clearly used to the trials of shepherding a herd of young people (and their paraphernalia) around.

If we’re being picky, though, it’s all terribly dull. There’s no flash, and a lot of black and grey to go with this review car’s brown exterior. Oh, and the boot lid is heavy to pull down, as it isn’t powered (that’s a £335 option).

Volkswagen Touran review: Technical spectacle

The Touran comes in five spec levels. Our SE-grade car is an obvious choice over the base S car, because it comes with alloy wheels, a USB port, lots more of the storage cubbies (and the folding front passenger seat), rear tinted glass and parking sensors.

Pocket-lint

Higher spec models – there’s the SEL “luxury” and R-Line “performance” cars – get bigger wheels, more storage, nicer upholstery and bigger, better tech (CarPlay / Android Auto is standard from next-step up SEL grade). However, nothing that jumps out as a must have.

But our pick of the specs is SE Family which adds a sat nav system, VW’s Car-Net “Guide and inform” online data system, a panoramic sunroof, rear door sunblinds and adaptive cruise control. There’s even a system which amplifies the driver’s voice around the car so those in the back can hear (it’s £95 in the other models, included in the SE Family). It’s a £1,485 jump from SE to SE Family.

Like most new cars, you can add (at cost) a raft of advanced driver support and safety systems like lane keep assist, high beam assist, a driver concentration alert system and park assist (which steers into parallel park bays for you and is a reasonably priced £190 option on all models about S spec).

Pocket-lint

All models allow Bluetooth streaming of music, have a DAB radio and come with a number of 12-volt sockets. What we’d like to see is a few more USB sockets dotted around the cabin, given how tech-focused modern families are.

Volkswagen Touran review: A van with windows

If only the exterior looked as good as the interior, eh?

Ultimately the Touran’s exterior finish follows the same functionally-led approach as the car’s inside, meaning it puts function over form. And all of that boxy interior space can’t be magic-ed from nowhere, as reflected on the outside.

Pocket-lint

But we still wish the Touran didn’t subscribe quite so closely to the “van-with-windows” formula of MPV design. Perhaps that’s unfair – it does have some neat design details here and there.

But in silhouette, a Citroen Grand Picasso easily out-styles it, and Renault’s forthcoming Scenic is about to set the cat amongst the pigeons in this class, with its crossover-like design, and standard 20-inch wheels laying on the style with a trowel.

Verdict

The Volkswagen Touran is a sleeper car among a vehicle fleet of look-at-me crossovers. It wears its practicality on its sleeve and that creates a boxy-looking car, which – particularly when rendered in the brown of our test model – isn’t what you’d describe as a looker. But you already knew that from our pictures.

Still, if you really need the space – for stuff and people – then the Touran does an admirable and impressive job. It never wows, as such, but just constantly supports your life and impresses with it ability to cope with almost anything you throw at it. The interior space, storage and seat design makes it a go-to model for anyone with three or more children.

Add that it’s good value, a decent drive for this type of vehicle, highly refined and well built, and the Touran is a car that has truly surprised us with its blend of abilities. And with its range of engines and specs, there’s a Touran to suit most budgets and most needs.

It might not be all the car you’ll ever desire – but for a young or growing family crowd, it is arguably more than all the car you could ever need.

New iPhone 7 leaks show off dual-camera setup and new home button

Apple is likely getting ready to unveil new iPhone models in just a few weeks, so it’s no surprise to see more sets of photos leak out, purportedly revealing the upcoming devices and what they might feature.

Rumours claim Apple might offer up to three different models of the iPhone 7 this year, including a “Pro” model that would bring major features such as a dual-camera setup. That said, the most recent leak (from LSA) seems to only reveal a pair of phones, though one of them appears to feature the dual camera. There are no metal connectors on the back, however, which conflicts with previous reports about the Pro model.

Keep in mind these pictures, which supposedly show the exterior of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, could simply depict dummy units.

As for that other set of leaked photos (via MacRumours), which show the screen assembly for the iPhone 7, they seem to be missing the cutout for a traditional home button, coinciding with previous rumours about Apple using Force Touch-like technology in conjunction with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. In other words, the next iPhone might have a pressure-sensitive home button.

Check out Pocket-lint’s rumour round-up for more details about the the next iPhone models, which will presumably sport the iPhone 7 brand. They are expected to be an interim update ahead of a 2017 overhaul in honour of the iPhone’s tenth anniversary.

The gallery above has all the new leaks.

Access to 3,000+ tech training courses with OSTraining Developer Bootcamp: Lifetime subscription (97 per cent off)

If you have developer ambitions, you can qualify for a significant career upgrade or new professional path in the world of coding with the OSTraining Developer Bootcamp. Establish key foundations of web development as you build a comprehensive command of programs such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and beyond.

A lifetime subscription can be yours for just £45.91 ($60) on Pocket-lint Deals, giving you access to more than 3,000 tutorials, with more added every week to keep your skills on the cutting edge.

The wide range of OSTraining Developer Courses set you on track for mastery in the foundations of web development. Your subscription grants you lifetime access to a massive archive of lessons from industry experts, with a massive category selection to choose from.

OSTraining Developer Courses are a one-stop-shop for everything you need to start creating professional websites and more, offering fluency in a host of webpage services and operations. Master essential coding languages like HTML, CSS, and PHP, and start down the path to developer success with your newfound fluency in web creation.

The OSTraining layout allows you to choose the instruction of your specific focus and begin where you like. Learn at your own pace, and pick what you’re most interested in – you’ll be learning with guidance from experts with years of experience.

Additionally, OSTraining adds two new classes every week, ensuring you’ll have no shortage of new material with which to bolster your skill set. You’ll even receive printable certificates upon each course completion!

Learn at your own pace and on your own time – lifetime access to OSTraining’s classes means there’s no pressure or schedule beyond your own motivations.

Don’t miss your chance to get a lifetime subscription to OSTraining Developer Courses at 97 per cent off from Pocket-lint Deals.

Build high-demand Linux expertise with this 5-course bundle (82 per cent off)

The numbers don’t lie. Linux is the #1 operating system for web servers around the world, powering 94 per cent of the world’s supercomputers and over a billion Android devices.

Through the 5 courses provided in the Linux Essentials Bundle, you’ll master the skills that 97 per cent of hiring managers have prioritizing in their talent searches, and set yourself up for a significant career upgrade. At 82 per cent off from Pocket-lint Deals, your path to Linux expertise has never been more direct or affordable.

Linux system administration is one of the most in-demand skills in IT, with Linux serving as the architectural foundation for everything from mainframes to mobile, implemented in a massive variety of hardware. Position yourself to become a high-level Linux master as you learn how to administer a Linux/UNIX system to utilizing the valuable tools of vi Editor in your programming.

You’ll learn comprehensive essentials such as how to install a Linux system from scratch, as well as developing familiarity with the command automation theories behind BASH and Shell Scripting, and much more.

Lifelong access to the materials allows you to work at your own pace, moving forward to the next course only when you’re in comfortable command of the lesson materials.

These courses are included in your bundle:

• Fundamentals of Unix and Linux System Administration
• Learn Docker from Scratch
• Linux Shell Programming for Beginners
• Linux for Absolute Beginners
• Learn To Code Like a Pro With vi Editor

With the training in this bundle you’ll qualify for any number of the 50,000+ open job listings requiring Linux on dice.com. The #1 operating system for web servers, cloud computing and beyond has grown so rapidly, there’s actually a deficit of fortified Linux professionals on the market.

Stack the odds in your favor and tap into a world of career potential with the Linux Essentials Bundle, now 82 per cent off from Pocket-lint Deals.

Rogue One trailer shows Star Wars prequels can work after all

To be completely honest, we’ve not been as excited on the build up to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as much as we were ahead of Force Awakens. After all, the track history of Star Wars prequels hasn’t been great.

But this new trailer changes everything.

Director Gareth Edwards seems to have not only grasped the concept of a Star Wars movie, he adds his own rapidly improving flair. For example, the scene where the tie-fighter rises to directly face Rebel spy Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is glorious. And the brief glimpse of Darth Vader? Consider our spines thoroughly shivered.

Check out the trailer for yourself below. It’s more than two minutes of Star Wars goodness for sure.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits UK and US cinemas on 16 December, although some nations, including France and the Netherlands, get it a couple of days earlier, the lucky beggers.

• Best films to look forward to in 2016: Here are all the top movie trailers
• EA is working with Titanfall’s Respawn on a new Star Wars game
• May the 4th be with you: Best Star Wars gadgets and toys to celebrate

It will set the stall for the next chapter in the new trilogy, planned for Christmas 2017, with talk that even though it leads up to the events of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Rogue One contains information that could be important to the sequel movies too.

We’ll see you in the queue outside.

Weed spit test can detect if you’re driving high in 3 minutes

A new speedy spit test could be the breathalyzer’s counterpart when it comes to roadside testing for marijuana. The technology, developed by Shan Xiang Wang from Stanford University, can detect the presence of THC (the main chemical in weed that makes you high) in saliva within three minutes. Cops don’t even need to bring samples to the lab — the sensor that can detect THC is portable and delivers results to phones via Bluetooth.

Professor Wang told Digital Trends:

“Detection of marijuana from blood or urine in a reference lab is not difficult, but it is difficult or impractical at the roadside. Most law enforcement officers are not authorized to take blood samples, while taking a urine sample on spot is extremely inconvenient. Detection of marijuana from saliva would bypass the trappings with either blood or urine samples.”

The professor’s technology works by using nanoparticles that fit THC (or reagent molecules) perfectly. When the results come back, the tester can see how many nanograms of THC there are for every milliliter of saliva. At the moment, Wang’s technique is merely a proof of concept, though his lab plans to begin making the actual handheld device law enforcement can use.

Lawmakers are still trying to iron out marijuana-related driving rules in the US, since it’s pretty tough to say if one is too high to drive. A recent study commissioned by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, for instance, determined that THC in the blood might not be a useful indicator for how intoxicated a person is. Our body absorbs the chemical in a different way than it does alcohol. And since THC dissolves in fat rather than water, it can remain in fatty tissues such as the brain for a very long time. An NHTSA expert told New Scientist that devices like this still need to be tested more thoroughly in order to establish what THC measurements typically lead to bad driving.

Via: New Scientist, Digital Trends

Source: Stanford University

Local Canadian police station admits it owns a Stingray

The Edmonton Police Service has fessed up to Motherboard that it owns a Stingray and that it “used the [surveillance] device in the past during investigations.” After Vancouver cops admitted to using the phone tracker to investigate an abduction in 2007, the publication called up other local police stations in Canada to ask if they had also previously used one. As you can imagine, the other stations kept mum. In the US, Stingrays are a regular part of government and law enforcement agencies’ surveillance arsenal. But Vancouver’s and Edmonton’s police services are the first law enforcement offices in Canada to confirm that they’ve used the device.

The main difference between the two is that the Vancouver cops said they borrowed their device from Canada’s equivalent to the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Edmonton’s police service, however, actually owns a Stingray, which could cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit.

As Micheal Vonn, the policy director of BC Civil Liberties Association, told Motherboard: “We have to assume, having made this investment, that they’ve used it more than once.” Vonn’s non-profit org thought only the RCMP owns Stingrays in the country, which they then loan to local law enforcement. That’s clearly not the case.

Stingrays mimic cell towers to force all phones in an area to connect to it. The device can then obtain identifying information from phones and SIM cards, as well as people’s locations and carriers. Newer models can even intercept and record voice calls and texts. Stingray has many critics, because you can’t program it to target only persons of interest or suspects — it gathers info from everyone in an area, even those who have nothing to do with the case under investigation.

Source: Motherboard