The Volkswagen Tayron has been launched about a year after the arrival of its arch-rival and platform sibling, the Skoda Kodiaq. Volkswagen’s three-row SUV finds itself squaring off against segment stalwarts like the Jeep Meridian and Toyota Fortuner, with the former only being offered with a diesel heart. If you are mulling over the VW Tayron, here are some key factors that may (or may not) sway your opinion about getting one.
1. Does the exterior design of the Volkswagen Tayron stand out?
VW’s decision to bring the R-Line variant helps out in this department.
Following the direction set earlier by the smaller Tiguan, the Volkswagen Tayron is only available in India in the R-Line trim. While its overall proportions are similar to its Skoda rival, the Tayron’s R-Line avatar looks decidedly sportier without trying too hard in the styling department. The front fascia is home to a deep-set bumper finished in piano black, above which is an illuminated VW logo, a full-width LED strip and Matrix LED headlights.
The piano-black trim finds itself on the wheel arches, too, that house sophisticated yet sporty-looking 19-inch alloy rims. Adding to these are ‘R’ badges on the leading edge of the front doors, large wing mirrors with puddle lamps and a crisp character line that kicks up as it merges into the rear haunches of the Tayron. A notable design highlight here is a piece of silver trim that runs below the roofline from the A-pillar to just above the tail-lights.
Speaking of which, the tail-lights of the Tayron R-Line are an intricate affair. They consist of intersecting geometric patterns and wrap around the rear of this VW SUV. A neat bit of design here is the red illumination for the VW logo (contrasting the white one up front), with a connecting LED light bar wrapping up the suave ‘IQ Light’ tour. The obligatory roof spoiler aside, the Tayron R-Line’s rear facade comprises a faux diffuser and a piano-black trim with a honeycomb design on the bumper.
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Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Dimensions (in mm) |
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Length |
4,792 |
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Width |
1,866 |
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Height |
1,665 |
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Wheelbase |
2,789 |
2. How does the interior of the Volkswagen Tayron fare?
A sporty-looking yet well-appointed cabin that can seat up to 7.
The general layout of the dashboard and centre console seen in the Tayron R-Line has been carried over from the Tiguan R-Line mostly unchanged. However, a slight design revision means that the dash now wraps all the way around, enveloping the driver’s display and front AC vents in a more traditional and non-polarising sense when compared to the Tiguan’s.
The driver-oriented centre console and main display, along with the high-definition digital instrument cluster and steering wheel with ‘R’ branding, accentuate the sporty appeal of this interior further. VW has also integrated a premium-feeling suede material that highlights the contrasting blue stitching effectively. This premium feeling extends to the leatherette seats that get their own blue piping effect, further adding to the black-blue contrast of the Tayron R-Line’s cabin.
The second row is spacious enough even for tall passengers while also offering the convenience of a dedicated climate-control zone, window blinds, seatback pockets, LED reading lamps, USB ports and a centre armrest with cup holders. Accessing the third row requires effort, and while the scooped-out roof offers good headroom, kneeroom is tight and only bearable for adults over short jaunts.
As for the Volkswagen Tayron’s boot space, there’s up to 345 litres with all seats up. Folding down the third row results in 850 litres of space – this grows to a cavernous 1,905 litres with both the second and third rows folded. Accessing the Tayron’s cargo space is easy, courtesy of the gesture-activated powered tailgate. Let’s look at some of the other feature highlights of this SUV.
3. What is the equipment list like on the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line?
VW’s three-row SUV offers enough kit to satisfy most buyers.
Managing expectations right off the bat is a tri-zone automatic climate control system, an intricate 30-colour LED mood lighting setup, a twin-pane panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, plus a large 15-inch touch-infotainment system. The Tayron R-Line’s connectivity and entertainment options are handled by wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio rig, respectively.
The Volkswagen Tayron R-Line comes with powered front seats that can be heated or cooled. These perforated chairs also get extendable under-thigh support, three memory settings and a multi-mode massaging feature for additional comfort on those long road trips. Addressing the charging requirements are two wireless pads at the front, plus a couple of USB outlets for the first and second rows.
Equipment that specifically caters to the one in the driver’s seat is a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddleshifters, a head-up display, six drive/terrain settings, rain-sensing wipers, an electronic parking brake and 360-degree cameras. The Tayron R-Line also comes with Level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems). This integrates active safety tech such as automatic high-beam, driver drowsiness warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-change alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with front collision warning and automatic braking.
The Volkswagen Tayron’s safety suite further adds 9 airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, an electronic differential lock, a tyre-pressure monitoring system and ISOFIX anchorages, among a few other nannies. For a premium SUV, however, performance is as important as a lengthy equipment list.
4. What are the powertrain specifications of the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line?
The Tayron’s TSI engine feels peppy and pairs well with the DSG gearbox.
Propelling the 1.8-tonne Volkswagen Tayron R-Line is the brand’s 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder mill that puts out 204hp and 320Nm of torque. A 7-speed dual-clutch (DSG) automatic handles transmission duties, while Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system is tasked with translating the engine’s output into real-world tractive effort through the Tayron’s four contact patches on the road.
Mashing the accelerator at a standstill with Sport mode engaged, the Tayron R-Line should manage the dash to 100kph in 7.3 seconds. Volkswagen also claims a top speed of 224kph. This EA888 engine feels refined and is happy to rev to its 6,000rpm redline, but a lead foot will impact mileage. While VW is yet to disclose the Tayron R-Line’s claimed fuel economy, our review revealed this powertrain’s proclivity to guzzle fuel when driven enthusiastically.
5. What is the price of the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line?
The Volkswagen Tayron R-Line starts at Rs 46.99 lakh (ex-showroom), which the brand has listed as the three-row SUV’s introductory price. Unlike its fully imported Tiguan R-Line stablemate, the Tayron is assembled in India using the CKD (completely knocked down) kits.
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