Car Launch: Volkswagen Tayron

Positioned between the Tiguan and Touareg in size, weight, and price, the Tayron steps in to replace the outgoing Tiguan Allspace. So yes, it’s technically a new vehicle, but it’s also a spiritual successor the Volkswagen’s current seven-seater. General Manager of Volkswagen New Zealand, Chanelle McDonald says “it’s spacious, intelligent, and adaptable – whether you’re navigating the weekday commute or heading away on a weekend adventure”. 

The question is whether the Tayron brings anything fresh to the table or is it just a rebadged Allspace. To find out, we headed to Te Arai Links for an exclusive launch event, where Volkswagen NZ unveiled the Tayron in style. With sweeping coastal views and winding roads, it was the perfect backdrop to meet VW’s newest family hauler.

Standout design

Built on the same MQB evo platform as the third generation Tiguan, the Tayron is slightly taller, longer, and wider than the Tiguan Allspace it replaces. And it makes good use of that extra space on the inside. With 859 litres of boot space with the third row folded down, it extends out to a whopping 1905 litres with both rear rows folded down. 

Although the Tayron’s silhouette mirrors the Tiguan’s, the Tayron is visually distinguishable through the squared off wheel arches, reworked bonnet line, different bumpers, and distinctive headlights. A sleek ‘hockey stick’ trim runs the length of the roofline, adding a touch of modern flair. And for the first time ever in a VW, both the front and rear badges are illuminated.

The Tayron stands out from the Tiguan in that it has been developed and built in Wolfsburg (while the Tiguan was built in Mexico) and even features a new Ultraviolet Metallic paint option providing a welcome splash of colour in a lineup that’s traditionally stuck to grayscale. 

Two variants

The Tayron is offered in two variants; the Elegance starting at $78,990 and a sportier R-Line for $96,990 which is expected to make up half of all Tayron sales. That’s a decent jump – especially considering the Tiguan R-Line topped out at $79,990. However, VW’s aiming higher these days as the brand no longer wants to be the premium choice in the mass market; instead positioning themselves as the entry point into the premium segment. A bold move for a company whose star performers includes the Beetle, Golf, and Polo – some consider these to be people’s cars. 

Under the bonnet, the Elegance gets a 150kW turbo petrol engine that’s claimed to get 8.0L/100km, while the R-Line receives the 195kW engine from the Golf GTI which aims to get 8.8L/100km. Both are paired with a seven-speed DSG, 4Motion all-wheel drive, and can tow up to 2500kg.

Inside the cabin

The Tayron continues to impress on the inside. The pick of the bunch is the R-Line with its black trim and electric adjusted ventilated/heated front seats that even have a massage setting. The Elegance is a great second option as it also gets massage heated seats (although manually adjustable and not ventilated) and features a wood grain trim.

There are also more differences between the two variants when it comes to technology. While the R-Line gets a massive 15” infotainment screen and heads-up display, the Elegance features a slimmed down 12.9” infotainment screen. Both models come with satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless phone chargers, and Volkswagen’s IDA voice assistant – which can tell jokes or run quizzes while you drive. Because why not?

How does it drive?

We took the Tayron for a decent drive from Auckland to Te Arai Links which allowed us to experience how it coped with motorways, urban streets, and even a bit of gravel. The ride was smooth and balanced thanks to the Adaptive Chassis Control which smoothed out even the corrugated gravel sections. There were a few minor rattles and some tyre noise on the open road, but overall, the ride was quiet and composed. 

As expected, the Tayron comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and a full suite of driver assist features. In practice, these assists offered a more hands-off approach than other manufacturers and prioritised visual and audible warnings rather than intervening aggressively. 

Final thoughts

The Tayron is more than just the spiritual replacement of the Tiguan Allspace. It’s a reimagined version that’s more refined, more spacious, and more premium. Because of that, it’s also pricier. But it’s also packed with features, technology, and style. If Volkswagen’s goal was to step up into the premium SUV space, then the Tayron is a confident first step.