Volkswagen currently offers a dime a dozen different SUVs and crossovers in all shapes and sizes, and that’s just here in the UK alone… From humungous family haulers to hot hatchbacks on stilts, and even a cabriolet! Well, if you needed something on the larger side, then you might be in luck, as VW has since unveiled their new Tayron, offering you 7 seats, enough for the whole family, and a vast boot to do all your shopping in.
That said, with brutal competition out there among full-sized SUVs, why should you pick the Tayron? Is the VW brand name strong enough to get you excited for it, or is there anything more underneath that now puts it a cut above the rest? Maybe it’s the diverse array of engines for every possible whim, the fancy new tech, or even the nice, pleasantly posh interior? To find out, let’s take a closer peek and figure out if it’s worth it.
What Is The VW Tayron R-Line 1.5 eTSI DSG About?
Replacing the old Tiguan Allspace, the brand-new VW Tayron definitely has a familiar silhouette, though it does carry Volkswagen’s newer, more contemporary design ethos. Looks-wise, besides a bit of flair and flamboyance here or there, especially when you’re looking at it from the rear three-quarter, with that garnishing on the rear bumper and the jewel-like taillights, the Tayron as a whole is quite conservatively styled.
Granted, if you spec the R-Line variant, like this one that I have here, you do get a lot more exterior styling cues that set it apart from all the other, ‘regular’ Tayron models. Most notably, I do like just how much illumination there is, between the ambient lights and the VW logo being projected onto the ground, or even the illuminated VW logo on the front and rear.
Aside from that, this R-Line model does have a lot more chrome and brightwork, contrasting against your usual dark black and grey sporty trim fore and aft. It does help to accentuate that very sporty R-Line bodykit a tad bit more. Plus, how could you not love this gorgeous Ultra Violet metallic paintwork, and it does look ravishingly gorgeous along with the humungous 20-inch diamond-cut black-and-grey alloy wheels.
How Does It Drive?
When you’re cross-shopping between the many different models and trim levels of the new Tayron line-up, it’ll get dizzyingly confusing very quickly, so let’s try to break it down… There are 5 variants in total, including the R-Line model that I have here, which sits closer to the top-end of their hierarchy and price range. Meanwhile, you could also spec your dream VW Tayron with a number of different powertrains and drivetrains.
There’s a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid (petrol) engine with a 7-speed DSG transmission, a 2.0-litre petrol engine with the 7-speed DSG, a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid (petrol) engine with a 6-speed DSG gearbox, and finally, a 2.0-litre diesel engine with that familiar 7-speed DSG. On top of that, some of these engines have multiple different power outputs, and some of them come with VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, while others don’t.
In short, you have endless options to pick and choose which specific variant may suit your needs or budget best, but to keep things simple and sweet, let’s focus on the specific Tayron R-Line that I have here, fitted with the 1.5-litre eTSI mild-hybrid engine. This combination basically bolts a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-4 petrol engine to a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which we’ve seen in some other VW models.
Specifically, Volkswagen’s clever eTSI system combines a 48-volt lithium-ion battery with a 48-volt belt starter-generator. The latter of which replaces the need for a traditional alternator and starter motor. Altogether, you are looking at a modest 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque, pushing power solely to the front wheels (FWD) via VW’s popular and well-regarded 7-speed DSG automatic transmission.
Performance is decent for such a large SUV, with the Tayron capably managing a 0 to 62 mph sprint in a fairly relaxed 9.4 seconds, before reaching its 127 mph top speed. Yet, despite such a large vehicle, in the first place, the Tayron R-Line, with this 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid, is shockingly fuel-efficient. Most of that is no doubt thanks to Volkswagen’s neat little 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which does help to save a bit of fuel.
In my short time with it, the Tayron would readily manage low to mid-40s mpg in mixed driving conditions, which is a fantastic result among other enormous full-sized SUVs. Personally, I think these more conventional engines may end up becoming very popular among would-be buyers, as they are more easy-going and familiar. In particular, the 1.5 eTSI that I have here works just like any other petrol-powered car that you’ve driven in the past.
This might add some much-welcomed familiarity to your ownership experience, instead of having to go through the learning curve of figuring out how EVs work, at least. To drive, though, the all-new VW Tayron R-Line isn’t a rocket ship, that’s for sure, despite all that sporty design and trim, plus putting the ‘R’ badge on there. However, the Tayron is well-sorted handling-wise, so I do commend the chassis, steering, and suspension tuning.
Despite how gigantic and heavy it is, you really don’t feel that added bulk at all behind the wheel, which is truly some dark magic form of engineering. Aside from that, while it’s not at all a fast car, for a relatively tiny 1.5-litre mild-hybrid engine, the Tayron R-Line does have a bit of shove when you push it hard, and it is shockingly light and nimble for such a large box-on-wheels, adding a bit more excitement to the driving experience.
What Is It Like Inside?
Built atop Volkswagen’s now-ubiquitous MQB evo platform, the new VW Tayron is, as I mentioned quite a few times already, properly massive, the moment you lay your eyes on it. Measuring at roughly 4.8 metres, from tip to tail, it doesn’t just come with an imperious road presence, but there’s a cavernous amount of room once you take a step inside the brand-new VW Tayron, as well.
There are 3 rows of seats to make room for 7 whole passengers, and even in the third row, which is often quite compromised when it comes to legroom and headroom, and it’s usually reserved for kids, has a decent amount of space. Further in the front, you aren’t going to find faults here either, with ample space in every direction for your rear passengers, even with the front seats moved far back to fit my driving position.
Then, there’s the extremely roomy boot, which offers you up to 345 litres of storage space with the third row of seats up. Nonetheless, it could easily expand to 850 litres (with the third row folded down), or a ginormous 1,905 litres (with the second and third rows folded down). If you’re going to use this as your family runabout, I’d reckon you’re definitely going to fall in love with just how much modularity there is in here.
The boot itself has a ton of cargo organisation, if you need to keep all your stuff organised, and the second and third row seats have a bucket load of adjustability, which is perfect if you’re trying to stow your kids in them. In addition, I have to respect Volkswagen’s strides in improving their in-car tech and gadgets, as it was something that a lot of people, have sharply criticised them for being lacklustre in the past.
First up, the new Tayron comes with Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster, showcased through a vibrant and crisp 10.25-inch screen. Next to that is an expansive 15.0-inch infotainment system, though the car that I have here has the upgraded multimedia kit, which is an optional extra (more on that later). Meanwhile, a regular Tayron is fitted with a still-huge 12.9-inch display for your infotainment, regardless.
Either way, the user experience itself is equally great, with slick, easy-to-use menus and functions, and the entire system underneath is fairly intuitive to navigate. Now, the rest of the cabin is an awesome place to be, too. I do adore all the amenities in here, such as the wireless charging pad for your phone, as well as a generous amount of USB-C charging ports front and rear, and even a couple of full-size 12-volt sockets.
If that huge boot is somehow not large enough, then worry not, as you’ll find endless cubbies and other storage compartments elsewhere in the cabin. Moreover, we then have the general fit and finish of the new VW Tayron, which is superbly well-put-together. Beyond that, it looks and feels especially posh and sporty with this racier R-Line model, which even comes with a dose of retro Volkswagen nostalgia.
VW’s ArtVelours material is used throughout the interior, which is a sort of sustainable fabric, and you can find this prominently covering the seats, as well as on the dash, door cards, and other bits of trim. With a somewhat subtle hark back to the old tartan seats in Volkswagens of yesteryear, this fabric looks particularly handsome if you pair it with the R-Line’s signature blue piping and contrasting stitching in the upholstery.
Coupled with the ambient lighting and matte finishing, which you get with the R-Line spec, the end result is a pleasingly luxurious interior by VW standards. Yet, there’s still that sense of familiarity that you’re in a Volkswagen, which will feel right at home among the Wolfsburg faithful. Aside from that, the R-Line also gives you some superb-feeling, Golf GTI-esque bucket seats, with lots of support and heavy bolstering in them.
The Experience
Like any new car these days, the VW Tayron comes bundled with a myriad of safety systems, which encompass your usual ADAS suite, including… Adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a lane-change assist function, road sign detection, hill start assist, a parking assist system with parking sensors in the front and rear, and more. Best of all, most of these do come as standard, but you could opt for more.
On the subject of tacking on even more kit, safety systems or otherwise, Volkswagen has an extensive optional extras list with the VW Tayron. Tick all the right boxes, and you may walk away with nice goodies such as VW’s Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC Pro), a set of active two-valve shock absorbers, and LED matrix headlights. Some other neat options that you might want to consider may include the Trailer Assist system.
And, just in case you tow stuff rather frequently, it even comes with a folding trailer hitch system. Furthermore, for what it’s worth, you could also option VW’s IDA voice assistant, which comes with ChatGPT integration, and this will include an upgraded infotainment system. If you have deep pockets and if you want to splurge, there’s also the 10-speaker 700-watt Harmon Kardon sound system, which includes a 16-channel digital amp.
VW Tayron R-Line 1.5 eTSI DSG Cost
With such a varied and diverse line-up within just one model range, there really is a VW Tayron that will fit into every budget possible. The all-new Tayron family starts from £40,130, but this will get you into the entry-level ‘Life’ trim. Meanwhile, the range-topping ‘R-Line Edition’ model starts from a rather more pricey £47,490. Then, there’s the second-most expensive trim, the ‘R-Line’, like the one I have here, which starts from £43,105.
Nevertheless, the one that I’m driving now, with a few options, would’ve set you back £47,755. The options here include the Q.LIGHT HD matrix headlights for £595, as well as the Infotainment Package Plus for £1,130, which is how you get that upgraded 15.0-inch centre screen. Other than that, there is the Comfort Package for £1,140, as well as the Driver Assistance Package for £975, and this lovely Ultra Violet paint, which is an £810 extra.
Verdict
In conclusion, the new Volkswagen Tayron is a hugely impressive 7-seater family SUV, and it excels in more ways than one. From the plethora of powertrains to the driving experience, as well as all the refinement, tech, and the luxury that you get once you step inside, in addition to outstanding practicality all-around, the new VW Tayron is a fantastic package. For the price, it’s certainly one of the best, most capable family SUVs on the market today.
Specification
VW Tayron R-Line 1.5 eTSI DSG Specs
- Price: £47,755 (as tested)
- Engine: 1.5-litre eTSI mild-hybrid petrol
- Power: 150 PS
- Torque: 250 Nm
- Transmission: 7-speed DSG automatic
- 0-62mph: 9.4 seconds
- Top speed: 127 mph
- Weight: 1,723 kg
- Economy combined: 42.9 mpg
- CO2: 150 g/km