VW Tayron - First Impressions

At 4.79 metres long, the Tayron is a sizeable chunk of SUV. But Volkswagen has given it just enough design muscle to look confident without tipping into cartoonish bulk. The LED headlights with their illuminated VW badge up front set the tone, mirrored at the rear by a full-width LED bar and another glowing logo. In profile, the sharp crease lines and stretched proportions give it a taut, upmarket stance that’s more restrained than some of its bling-happy rivals.

The Tayron range starts at Life, which already gives you the big screen, 17-inch alloys, three-zone climate, and a generous spread of airbags. Step up to Elegance and you get chrome flash, or go R-Line for the sportier bodywork. The R-Line we sampled featured athletic bumper detailing, suggesting a toned physique without being ostentatious.

Step inside and it’s hard not to notice just how grown-up the Tayron feels. The massive 15in infotainment screen sits neatly below the dashboard line, so you’re not craning your neck to look over it. Something shorter drivers will appreciate the thoughtful ergonomics. The trim and upholstery are high-quality too, with soft-touch plastics and neat stitching. Even the entry Life spec comes with ambient lighting, a fully digital cockpit, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

There’s no shortage of driver aids either. Adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, emergency braking, park assist, road sign recognition, and even a system that stops you from opening a door into a passing cyclist. Optionally, you can add the IQ.Light HD matrix headlights, Travel Assist (semi-autonomous driving), and DCC Pro adaptive suspension, plus a 700W Harman Kardon hi-fi that, from my brief playthrough, sounds rich and punchy.

In terms of space, the Tayron does family duty well. You get the choice of five or seven seats, with plenty of luggage room even with the third row up. The front seats are comfy and supportive, though you do notice the rear bench is a touch firmer, probably to keep long-haul posture in check. VW has also missed a trick by not offering electric seat adjustment and ventilation as standard, at least on the car I drove. Hopefully, the India-spec version won’t be shy about adding those comfort goodies.

The Tayron comes with a buffet of powertrains: mild-hybrid petrols (eTSI), plug-in hybrids (eHybrid), diesels (TDI), and straight petrols (TSI), all paired to a DSG automatic. There’s also 4MOTION all-wheel drive if you plan on straying beyond mall parking lots. The car I drove had a smooth and unflustered drivetrain 2.0L TSI engine that’s good for 261hp and 400Nm, making it perfectly suited to city cruising and highway glides. Most of my time was spent at sensible urban speeds, but even there, you feel the Tayron’s composure.

On the autobahn, it was predictably planted, refusing to be unsettled even when lane discipline around me wasn’t exactly textbook. The ride, however, leans firm. It’s not uncomfortable, but you’ll notice the tautness over patchy surfaces. Again, this might be tuned differently for India, where VW knows it can’t send out a suspension setup that treats potholes like performance kerbs.

After a day with it, the Tayron comes across as a very Volkswagen take on the family SUV: solid, thoughtfully engineered, and confident without gimmicks. The cabin quality is top-notch, the big screen doesn’t feel intrusive, the audio setup is genuinely impressive, and it feels composed whether you’re creeping through traffic or stretching its legs on the highway. Yes, there are a few niggles like the rear seat firmness, the slightly firm ride, and the absence of features like cooled seats on the test car. But these are the sort of things that are usually tweaked before porting a model for India.

If priced right, the Tayron could be the Goldilocks SUV for Indian buyers who want more space than a Tiguan but aren’t ready for the GLE’s price tag. And given how polished it already feels, I wouldn’t bet against it making a strong first impression when it does roll into Indian showrooms.