VOLKSWAGEN TAYRON ESTATE 1.5 eTSI Life 5dr DSG7 [7 Seat]

The Tayron is a sharper-looking kind of Volkswagen seven-seat family SUV. Jonathan Crouch checks it out.

Ten Second Review

Filling the gap in Volkswagen's SUV range between the Tiguan and the Touareg, the Tayron is a much more convincing seven-seat family crossover than its Tiguan Allspace predecessor. And brings a premium feel to the mainstream brand seven-seat crossover segment.

Background

'The Tayron is a bona fide Volkswagen'. This slightly strange statement from the brand's CEO conceals a veiled reference that perhaps its predecessor wasn't. That car, the Tiguan Allspace (which sold for seven years from 2017) was nothing more than a slightly stretched Tiguan with an extra seating row; in a segment where customers expect seven-seat mid-sized SUVs to be bespoke designs. Like the Peugeot 5008, the Nissan X-Trail and the Skoda Kodiaq. The Tayron shares virtually all of its engineering with the Kodiaq - and of course with the Tiguan. But is, Volkswagen assures us, very much its own car with a unique, quite premium look inside and out that supposed to better fill the brand's SUV segment gap between the Tiguan and the Touareg. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Spec

One area where the Tayron couldn't be any different from its Tiguan stablemate was in terms of engineering. The drivetrains, all paired of course to DSG auto transmission, are pretty much exactly as you'll find them in that sister model - and very similar to those in that Volkswagen's Skoda Kodiaq close cousin. That means a defiant diesel offering - or if you really want to move on from that, the latest in Plug-in Hybrid tech. But like its VW Group stablemates, the Tayron lacks the self-charging full-Hybrid tech that you'd find in this sector with rivals from Kia, Hyundai, Peugeot and Toyota. Your dealer might tell you that the entry-level 150PS 48V mild hybrid 1.5 eTSI petrol-powered Tayron model offers much the same sort of thing, but it doesn't, as an efficiency figure comparison will demonstrate. We'd prefer the 2.0 TDI 150PS diesel. For 4MOTION 4WD, you have to have the 2.0 TSI petrol variant, which is offered with either 204PS or 265PS. Both these Tayron 4MOTION models are designed for maximum trailer weights of up to 2,400kg. It's a pity that VW's 4MOTION system can't be had on the PHEVs, which pair a 1.5-litre petrol engine to a 19.7kWh battery and offer a choice of 204PS or 272PS outputs, with a range of up to 75 miles.

Design and Build

Unlike its Tiguan Allspace predecessor, the Tayron shares nothing visually with the Tiguan it's based on. At 4,792mm in length (7cms longer than the old Tiguan Allspace), it's significantly bigger too, though still a size smaller than the Touareg. The overall look is very recognisably Volkswagen, with sharp LED lighting front and rear and a full-width illuminating bar across the tailgate. Predictably, the big black plastic- clad wheel arches house large rims - of up to 20-inches in size. Plus there are subtle roof rails and the upper glasshouse trim flows into interesting silver fin on the D-pillar. Top 'R Line' trim gives a much sportier look. Indoors, you might be expecting a dashboard carried over from the Tiguan or maybe customised from the Kodiaq but refreshingly it's neither, bespoke to the Tayron. There's a curved wing feature under the usual Volkswagen black panel dashboard, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a single knob on the lower centre console for the control of everything from audio volume to interior lighting and drive modes. There's a huge 15-inch centre touchscreen with of course the latest much improved VW Group operating system and ChatGTP integration built into the voice command functioning, plus wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. Rear seat space in the sliding and reclining second row is generous and there's a choice of five or seven-seat models. With the third row fitted, there's a one-touch sliding feature for access to the very back of the car. Once there, you're find that space in the very rear-most pews is child-friendly but tight for adults - as usual in this class. The PHEV version can't be had with seven seats. As for boot space, well in the seven-seat model there's 850-litres with the third seating row folded.

Market and Model

Pricing starts from around £40,000 and most Tayrons will be sold in the £45,000-£50,000 bracket, which is pretty par for the course when it comes to upwardly mobile mid-sized seven-seat SUVs these days. Expect the usual trim choice of 'Life', 'Elegance' and 'R Line' specs. The eHybrids get specific 'Match' and 'R-Line Edition' spec levels. With an eHybrid, you have to have five seats. All the other engine choices come with seven seats. Even base 'Life' trim gets you 18-inch alloy wheels, an illuminated Volkswagen logo at the front and rear, 3D tail light clusters, sun blinds in the rear doors, nine airbags, a three-zone automatic air conditioner, 10-colour background lighting, a multi-functional driving experience controller, digital instruments and LED headlights including automatic main beam control. The centre infotainment screen measures 32 centimetres across the diagonal with an activatable navigation function and App-Connect Wireless for 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. The Tayron 'Life' model's standard assist systems include adaptive cruise control, an oncoming vehicle braking when turning function, a lane change system (Side Assist), a lane keeping system (Lane Assist), an automatic emergency braking system including pedestrian and cyclist monitoring (Front Assist), Park Assist Plus, a rear view camera system, dynamic road sign display and an exit warning system. As an extension of the lane change system, the latter can - within the system limits - prevent one of the doors from being opened if another road user approaches from behind. Optional highlights include adaptive chassis control, IQ.LIGHT HD matrix headlights with interactive lighting functions and Travel Assist for assisted longitudinal and lateral guidance. You might also want a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, a 700-watt sound system from Harman-Kardon, leather upholstery with electrically adjustable seats including a massage and ventilation function, plus an electrically activated child safety lock for the rear.

Cost of Ownership

The economy figures aren't too much different from those of a Tiguan. Which means that if you opt for the base eTSI petrol 1.5-litre petrol variant, in base 'Life' trim you're looking at 44.1mpg on the combined cycle and 146g/km of CO2. The base 2.0 TDI diesel improves that to around 55mpg and around 135g/km. As we told you in our 'Driving' section, the eHybrid PHEV models are capable of 75 miles of range before you need to use fossil fuel. Volkswagen reckons that will allow many families to use this car as an EV, given German market research suggesting that 95% of journeys are less than 31 miles long and 99% are shorter than 62 miles. In both its forms, the eHybrid returns up to 11g/km of CO2. The 204PS eHybrid is rated at up to 592.6mpg on the combined cycle; for the eHybrid 272PS version, that figure is 608.0mpg. A Tayron eHybrid can be charged with up to 11 kW AC and 40 kW DC, the latter of which means the car can be topped up from 10 to 80 per cent in just 26 minutes. As for servicing across the range, well as usual with Volkswagen models, there's a choice of either 'Fixed' or 'Flexible' maintenance packages. You'll choose the 'Fixed' approach if you cover less than 10,000 miles a year and with this, the car will typically be looked at every twelve months. If your daily commute is more than 25 miles and your Tayron will regularly be driven on longer distance journeys, you'll be able to work with a 'Flexible' regime that can see you travelling up to 18,000 miles between garage visits - or every two years, whichever is sooner. And warranties? Well the standard package is three years and 60,000 miles.

Summary

Don't expect the Tayron to be a common sight on our roads, but there are grounds for Volkswagen to hope that it will do rather better than its quickly forgotten Tiguan Allspace predecessor. For a start, unlike that old car you don't have to have a third seating row for this model to make sense - though customers are probably going to mostly want it. If you've ever wished you could have the posh premium feel of, say, a BMW X3, an Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC but with the added convenience of seven seats, the Tayron could well be your car. It's efficient to run, easy to live with and practical to own. Other segment alternatives make similar claims, but after trying them following a Tayron test drive, you might end up feeling you'd be prepared to pay just a touch more for Volkswagen ownership. And we'd understand it if you did.

Body Glass

Heat insulating glass in side and rear windows

Laminated safety glass windshield, heat insulating

Rain sensor windscreen wipers

Rear wiper

Brakes

Autonomous emergency braking front assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring

Electronic parking brake with auto hold

Front disc brakes

Hill start assist

Rear disc brakes

Carpets/Rugs

Carpet mats, front and rear

Chassis/Suspension

Front shock absorption G01

Front wheel drive

Communication

E-Sim card for online connectivity

eCall emergency call system

Wireless App-Connect

Driver Aids

Tailgate unlocking from outside

Driver Convenience

Adaptive cruise control (ACC)

Driver alert system

Driver attention monitoring system

Driving profile selection

Dynamic road sign display

Lane change system, Side assist, Rear traffic alert and Exit warning system

Lane keeping system Lane Assist

Multifunction front facing camera

Oncoming vehicle braking when turning including swerve support

Park Assist Plus with Park Distance Control

Power assisted steering with speed sensitive

Rear view camera

Driver Information

Digital Cockpit Pro - 10.25" high resolution dash display screen with customisable menus and information

IDA voice assistance with ChatGPT

Navigation system

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming interior rear view mirror

Body-coloured exterior mirror housings

Exterior mirrors convex on the left and aspherical on the right

Remote electrically foldable door mirrors

Reverse activated passenger's door mirror

Embellishment Trims

Decorative material set

Engine

Start/stop system with regenerative braking

Entertainment

12.9" infotainment display

8 Speakers

Digital radio reception (DAB)

Diversity antenna for FM reception

Exterior Body Features

Black roof rails

Body colour door handles

Chrome moldings on the side windows

Comfort bumpers

Rear side wing doors

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlight control system

Coming/leaving home lighting function

Cornering light and poor weather light

Dynamic headlight range control

High Beam Assist, automatic sensing for switching between dipped and main beam

Illuminated Volkswagen logo in front and rear

LED 3rd brake light

LED headlamps

LED separate daytime running light

Puddle lights

Rear combination lamps with special signal pattern

Rear fog light on one side, reversing light on both sides

Surround lighting with welcome light

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

3 zone air care climatronic with rear air conditioning control panel

Interior Features

12V outlet in center console rear and in luggage compartment

12V socket in centre console

2 USB-C ports in the front, 2 USB-C charging sockets on the centre console in rear, charging capacity up to 45 W

Centre console with illuminated storage compartment with sliding cover and two drinks holders

Cloth upholstery

Flat luggage compartment floor

Front centre armrest

Inductive smartphone charging

Leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel with paddle shift

Interior Lights

10 colour interior ambient lighting

Safety

3 Point seat belts in front with pretensioners

3 point seatbelts in outer rear with ECE label

Driver and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation

First aid kit with warning triangle and safety vest

Front and rear curtain airbags

Front and rear side airbags

Front centre airbag

Manual rear child locks

Proactive passenger protection system

Two tone horn

Tyre pressure loss indicator

Warning signal and warning light for front and rear seatbelts not fastened

Seats

3 rear headrests

3 rear seat bench in 2nd row, backrest split folding with centre armrest and 2 seats in 3rd row of seats

Front comfort seats

Front seats with manual height adjustment

ISOFIX anchors for child seats on outer rear seats and front passenger seat compatible with i-Size

Mechanical rear seat release

Power adjustable lumbar support in front

Safety optimised front head restraints

Single front passenger seat

Security

Alarm with interior protection

Central locking system keyless entry

Vanity Mirrors

Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Emissions - ICE

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Standard Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 139

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 142

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 143

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 153

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 139

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 142

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: DOHC

Catalytic Convertor: No

CC: 1498

Compression Ratio: 12.0:1

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Cylinders: 4

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 74.5

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 85.9

Engine Code: R413BM

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Gears: 7 SPEED

Number of Valves: 16

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 6.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 6.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 6.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 6.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 6.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 5.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 5.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 5.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 5.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 8.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 8.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 7.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 8.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 6.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 6.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 5.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 6

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 42.2

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 44.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 44.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 46.3

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 40.9

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 44.1

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 44.1

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 44.8

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 48.7

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 52.3

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 52.3

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 54.3

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 33.2

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 34.9

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 34.4

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 35.8

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 43.5

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 45.6

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 47.1

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 47.9

General

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Badge Engine CC: 1.5

Badge Power: 150

Based On ID: N

Coin Description: eTSI

Coin Series: Life [7Seat]

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Generation Mark: 1

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 24E

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 87

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 85

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 83

NCAP Safety Assist %: 80

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Service Interval Mileage: 18600

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

0 to 62 mph (secs): 9.6

Engine Power - BHP: 150

Engine Power - KW: 110

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 184

Engine Torque - MKG: 25.5

Engine Torque - NM: 250

Engine Torque - RPM: 1500

Top Speed: 129

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 235/55 R18

Tyre Size Rear: 235/55 R18

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Style: NAPOLI

Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height: 1668

Length: 4792

Wheelbase: 2788

Width: 1853

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 55

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2320

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1905

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 345

Max. Loading Weight: 668

Max. Roof Load: 75

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1800

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Minimum Kerbweight: 1652

No. of Seats: 7

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.1

Exterior Body Features

Additional solid paint

Metallic paint

Premium pearlescent paint

Tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof with rear panoramic sunroof

Interior Features

Net partition and luggage net

Tool kit and car jack

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Cipressino green

Metallic - Dolphin grey

Metallic - Grenadilla black

Metallic - Nightshade blue

Metallic - Oyster silver

Metallic - Ultraviolet

Paint - Solid

Additional solid - Pure white

Solid - Urano grey

Paint - Special

Premium pearlescent - Oryx white mother of pearl effect

Towing

Folding tow bar with electric release, incl. trailer assist

Trim - Cloth

Cloth - Melange -Soul / Instrument panel soul / Carpet black / Roof lining ceramique

Wheels - Alloy

19" Catania alloy wheels with black diamond turned surface and anti theft wheel bolts

Wheels - Spare

Space saver spare wheel with tool kit with jack