So you're a responsible parent. You've resisted the temptation to buy an exciting car and instead, invested in a practical mini-MPV. Something like Volkswagen's 7-seater Touran. In which case, why not go the whole hog and buy the most socially responsible BlueMotion version with its 144g/km of CO2 showing and 52.3mpg combined fuel economy. After all, in for a penny..

Eco motoring is big business these days, with countless superminis and family hatchbacks now offered in low emission form. It's a trend however, that has left MPV people carriers largely untouched, something that Volkswagen is keen to put right. Having already brought us a BlueMotion version of their Sharan large MPV, the German brand felt it would be remiss not to make the same technology available to those in search of something slightly smaller. Hence their Touran BlueMotion.

Volkswagen has chosen to use the more powerful of its two 1.9-litre TDI diesel engines as a basis for this BlueMotion model. This unit puts out just 105PS, so don't expect to be beating any GTis away from the traffic lights.

On the road, the Touran is a reasonable, though not a memorable drive. We found the ride to be a little on the firm side but the car's body control is excellent even over quite challenging undulations, twists and turns. The steering, too, has a surprisingly firm and communicative feel. Volkswagen have produced a very stiff body structure and that means the car is quietly refined over rough roads, as well as being safer in a crash.

Under-bonnet changes apart, the basic Touran recipe remains untouched - and very flexible. The rearmost pair of seats, whilst only really suitable for kiddies, can fold flat into the floor which means that for most of the time you'll have an easily accessible and spacious luggage bay. You can even fold the middle seat of the middle row, making a four seater that can transport long items like skis with supreme ease. All three of the middle seats slide backwards and forwards on separate runners. Quick release levers take care of seat removal and it's good to see seats that don't weigh a tonne when you lift them out.

"Whether this model will make sense will probably depend on how environmentally conscious you are. ."

With 39 separate storage areas around the cabin, you may need to make a mental checklist of what you left where. Included in that number are under seat trays to keep valuables out of sight, three fold-down roof mounted cubbies, a rear under floor bin and more cup holders than the Real Madrid trophy room. Pockets in all four doors can accept a litre drinks bottle so nobody's going thirsty and there are the usual MPV accoutrements such as seat backs that double as tables and aircraft-style fold down trays. Access to the rearmost set of seats is refreshingly easy due to the thoughtful way the middle row flips and slides forward.

There's only two Touran BlueMotion models on offer (S and SE) and both come with six airbags, ABS, a CD stereo and air conditioning. There's just the one engine choice too, so if you're set on making a 'green' choice with this car, then there won't be too much head-scratching to be done.

That's until you come to the options list of course. This generation Touran is the first Volkswagen available with ParkAssist, an optional parking guidance system developed by Volkswagen engineers. ParkAssist enables automatic parking, using front and rear ultrasonic sensors to detect available parking space and a control unit to calculate the ideal manoeuvring path. Acoustic and visual displays guide the driver to the correct parking start position, then once reverse gear is selected the car parks itself in less than 15 seconds. All the driver has to do in this time is accelerate and brake - the Touran does all the steering. Say goodbye to dinged bumpers and kerbed alloys.

The BlueMotion concept is to combine a series of small changes to the vehicle's body, drivetrain, engine and even the tyres in order to reduce strain on the engine and, in turn, reduce emissions and increase economy. The outworking of that on this Touran has led to a number of small but collectively significant modifications.

There are subtly redesigned front grille elements for example, with the air ducts redirected to allow the usual airdams to be blanked-off and allow for smoother airflow over the front of the vehicle. The ride height is also lowered to reduce drag. Other visual and practical changes include the adoption of hard compound tyres to decrease rolling resistance and the inevitable addition of small BlueMotion badges on the grille and tailgate.

A revised gearbox with lengthened ratios in third, fourth and fifth gears is linked to the 1.9-litre TDI engine that in this guise, has been fitted with a new variable turbocharger to further increase efficiency. An oxidation catalyst and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) are also added to reduce oxides of nitrogen and carbon particles to almost zero. The result is a combined fuel economy figure of 52.3 mpg (about 4mpg better than the standard range model), while carbon dioxide emissions are reduced from 156 to 144g/km.

Whether this model will make sense will probably depend on how environmentally conscious you are. Given the £250 pricing premium applied to this Touran over the equivalent 1.9-litre TDI 105PS model in the standard range, you'd have to cover quite a few miles to make the difference back at the pumps. The same would probably apply to any tax savings made through the BlueMotion's lower emissions.

Still, saving the planet shouldn't just be about saving money. If we all have to do our bit at the same time as keeping family life moving, it's hard to think of a more painless solution than this one.

TOP 2 TOURAN DEALS

The results below show the top TOURAN deals on buyacar

	Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI DPF BlueMotion SE 105 5dr People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £262	Saving £3,818	Price £14,796
	Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI DPF BlueMotion S 105 5dr People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £223	Saving £3,569	Price £12,974

typical 12.15% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000