The Volkswagen Tayron is a new SUV from the brand to sit between the existing Tiguan and Touareg models. It effectively replaces the outgoing VW Tiguan Allspace and can be had with up to seven seats. Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models will be offered, along with the option of four-wheel drive.
Does it look like a Tiguan?
The similarities are inescapable, and unsurprising given the Tayron and Tiguan share the same core ‘MQB evo’ platform. Looked at dead on from the front or rear it’ll take someone that knows the Tiguan’s design very well to point out the differences. From the side, it’s a different story of course as the Tayron is significantly longer (by 231mm) and it has a longer wheelbase as well. This all translates into a more elegant roofline and an extended rear overhang to balance out the design. Interestingly, the Tayron is the same height as the Tiguan, so the change in proportions gives the new car a unique appearance, and the muscular haunches, for example, are seemingly emphasised. Of course, the detailing is carried across, including illuminated VW badges and high-tech ‘IQ. Light’ matrix-LED headlights - depending on specification.
Can the Tayron tow a trailer?
Volkswagen knows its buyers well, and in this section of the SUV market, they regularly like to tow things - boats, caravans, classic cars, that kind of thing. Hence a big deal is made in the launch material about a towing capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes for the Tayron. That only applies to versions fitted with 4Motion four-wheel drive, though that can be paired with a choice of two 2.0-litre TSI petrol options (204- or 265hp) or a sole 2.0-litre TDI diesel, producing up to 193hp. Trailer Assist makes reversing with a trailer easier and there’s also a specific Trailer driving mode to divide up the engine’s output front and rear to suit the altered balance when towing.
A front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre diesel Tayron will also be offered, producing up to 150hp, and the same peak power is quoted for the 1.5 ‘eTSI’ petrol engine, which uses mild-hybrid assistance. All models feature a dual-clutch automatic gearbox (the DSG unit) with six or seven ratios depending on the engine.
Of particular interest for Irish buyers will be the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, badged ‘eHybrid’. Offered in 204- or 272hp guises, they’re both front-wheel drive and employ the same core 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine and electric motor, while the 19.7kWh battery (that’s the net energy capacity) enables an electric-only range of over 100 kilometres. The finalised official figure will be confirmed at a later date. Usefully, that battery can be charged up from an external source at up to 11kW on AC power or 50kW on a DC rapid charger.
How big is the Tayron’s interior?
The stretch in the wheelbase and overall length frees up enough space for the Tayron to be offered with three rows of seating, though not in conjunction with the five-seat-only eHybrid model. The middle row slides forward and back, with tilting backrests and a split-fold facility that can be used to carry long objects and ease access to the rearmost row. There are two further seats there, and they can be folded into the floor for maximum luggage-carrying capacity. To put some numbers on all that, the seven-seat Tayron fits in a useful 345 litres even when all seats are in place, or a massive 850 litres if the third row is folded down. The Tayron eHybrid manages 705 litres, which is still considerably more than the Tiguan can accommodate.
Up front, the Tayron will feel familiar to owners of the Tiguan as the same all-digital dashboard is carried over, including a sharp 10.25-inch display for the instruments in front of the driver and a large standalone touchscreen (up to 15 inches across the diagonal) in the middle of the car with illuminated sliders at its base for temperature and volume control. Supplementing that is a multi-use rotary control in the centre console.
How much is the VW Tayron in Ireland?
As the Tayron won’t launch on the Irish market until a few months into 2025, Volkswagen Ireland is understandably reticent to disclose pricing. It’s fair to assume the Tayron will cost a few grand more than the equivalent Tiguan, which starts at just under €50,000.