We get behind the wheel of VW’s newest SUV – the seven-seater Volkswagen Tayron household automotive…
Successfully changing the Tiguan Allspace, the Tayron (pronounced tie-ron) is a mid-sized SUV, slotting in between the five-seat Tiguan and the range-topping Touareg.
Accessible with 5 or seven seats, it’s constructed on the identical MQB Evo platform because the Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq and Cupra Terramar and is priced from £40,130.
After all, the Tayron’s USP is its additional house, and although the bags capability varies relying on whether or not you go for the 5 or seven-seat variations (or the plug-in hybrid), it’s very sensible.
With the third row folded down, my seven-seater take a look at automotive had an enormous 850-litre baggage capability (or 345 litres with all of the rows in use). Alternatively, flip down all of the rear seats and it will probably swallow 1,905 litres.
There’s a great deal of head and leg room within the center row, which is adjustable, because of the sliding bench.
It’s attainable for adults to sit down within the third row, however it’s a must to slide the seats in entrance ahead for legroom, and clambering in is a efficiency, so that they’re greatest left for kids or small individuals.
Trying very like a stretched Tiguan, the Tayron has an elegantly modern design, with full-width mild bars, slim lights entrance and rear, a big entrance grille and illuminated VW logos.
My Tayron 1.5 eTSI (with 48-volt delicate hybrid petrol expertise) is only one of many powertrain choices (all fitted with a DSG automated gearbox).
Patrons can even select from 2.0-litre petrol and diesels, plus a plug-in hybrid (badged ‘eHybrid’) which pairs a 1.5 TSI engine with a 19.7kWh battery, giving an EV vary of greater than 70 miles.
Creating 148bhp, my 1.5 eTSI has an official gasoline consumption of 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 146g/km. Most velocity is 127mph, whereas the 0-62mph spring takes 9.4 seconds.
With 4 adults and baggage on board, it felt faster than the official dash time, and I managed greater than 50mpg on longer motorway runs.
The engine is refined for essentially the most half, solely changing into vocal throughout aggressive acceleration.
It additionally tends to carry a decrease gear on steeper hills, however fortunately you’ll be able to manually change up through the small paddles behind the steering wheel.
Clearly it’s a considerable automotive, however you’re solely conscious of its bulk when manoeuvring.
In reality, the Tayron is way simpler to drive round city than you may count on, because of its spectacular all-round visibility, sensors, mild steering, massive mirrors and rear-view digicam.
It’s a snug automotive to drive, absorbing velocity bumps and huge potholes effectively. Nevertheless, it does tend to wallow round a bit, and it’s unlikely to place a smile in your face.
So, regardless that Sport mode dials up the throttle response, there are extra partaking SUVs to drive.
That mentioned, physique management in more difficult corners is surprisingly good, although much less spongey brakes would encourage extra confidence.
Inside, the Tayron has a cultured feel and appear, and it’s effectively put collectively.
There’s a ten.25-inch driver’s show, plus a 12.9-inch infotainment display screen as commonplace (it may be upgraded to fifteen inches), with crisp and clear graphics.
Swiping and prodding for central touchscreen for thus many necessities, corresponding to local weather management, isn’t perfect on the transfer, however no less than VW has changed the much-criticised haptic touchpad on the steering wheel with bodily buttons.
A particular point out for the revolutionary Central Driving Expertise Management (a dial down within the centre console), which lets you alter audio quantity, in addition to choose drive modes, ambient lighting and all-wheel drive (if fitted).
It’s additionally price mentioning that the Tayron is able to towing between 1,800-2,400kg (engine dependent), the two.0-litre petrols can be found with ‘4Motion’ all-wheel drive, and the automotive was awarded a most five-star Euro NCAP security score.
Verdict: In case you’re in search of a cultured seven-seater SUV that’s sensible, refined and surprisingly economical, the Volkswagen Tayron ought to positively be in your shortlist. Not unusually inside the VW Group, it’s greatest competitor is arguably its cousin, the Skoda Koadiq.
Volkswagen UK
