Volkswagen Tayron: first units arrive in our market

With pre-orders open since the beginning of the year, the first units of the Volkswagen Tayron are now starting to arrive in our market.

Volkswagen’s new, more family-focused SUV stands out from the Tiguan - with which it shares its platform - by offering the potential for more room inside and a maximum capacity of seven seats, although that isn’t the case across the entire range.

Positioned as a worthy successor to the Tiguan Allspace, this new Tayron is aimed more squarely at the European market. Unlike its predecessor - built in Mexico - the Volkswagen Tayron is produced at the German brand’s main plant in Wolfsburg.

The entry-level version comes with the 1.5 eTSI petrol engine delivering 150 cv, paired with a DSG automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive. For the remaining versions, you can refer to the table below:

Class 1 or Class 2?

According to the brand, the new Volkswagen Tayron is more than simply a stretched Tiguan. When it comes to dimensions, the Tayron is 25 cm longer than its smaller relative, with 11 cm of that increase coming from the wheelbase. Width and height, meanwhile, change only marginally.

Visually, however, the differences are subtle. They largely come down to the styling of the bumpers and the alloy wheels, as well as the bonnet. In that last case, the change is slight but significant: on the Tiguan, the bonnet sits lower, ending up one centimetre below the threshold that separates Class 1 from Class 2 for toll charges.

On the Tayron, the bonnet is higher, placing it one centimetre above that limit, which results in Class 2 - but if you choose Via Verde it is treated as Class 1.

Seven seats, but not for everyone

One of the Tayron’s biggest advantages over the Tiguan is the option of a cabin layout with up to seven seats. Even so, that configuration is not available on every version.

Tayron models with a plug-in hybrid system cannot be fitted with a third row, because the battery pack is located under the boot floor. In other words, maximum capacity remains five seats - as with the Tiguan - but with considerably more space for both passengers and luggage.

Thanks to the different seating arrangements, the Tayron’s boot capacity can range from 345 litres to 1915 litres. What’s more, by folding down the second row and the front passenger seatback, it’s possible to create space to carry items around three metres long.

Engines for (almost) every taste

The Volkswagen Tayron engine line-up includes both petrol and Diesel options. These can be combined with plug-in hybrid systems or with a simpler 48 V mild-hybrid set-up. There is no fully electric version, and none is expected.

Power outputs span from 150 cv (1.5 eTSI and 2.0 TDI) up to 272 cv for the most powerful plug-in hybrid in the range. The other plug-in hybrid variant produces 204 cv. Both use a 25.7 kWh battery that allows up to 120 km of electric range, or almost 850 km of combined range.