Volkswagen Tayron Review 2025

The Volkswagen Tayron adds another ‘T’ to expansive range of VW SUVs. Sitting between the best-selling Tiguan and range-topping Touareg, it effectively replaces the old Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace seven-seater. Getting its own name is a sign of the potential bosses think this car represents — but is it justified? Find out with our full Volkswagen Tayron review.

The Volkswagen Tayron is a more elegant take on family-focused motoring, compared with the dynamic Tiguan. While the two are clearly similar in appearance, the extra length of the Tayron gives it an upmarket look, while the glassier bodywork means it’s brighter inside. There’s even a beautiful bespoke colour for the Volkswagen Tayron, called Ultra Violet.

Unlike the seven-seat Volkswagen ID.Buzz, the Tayron isn’t pure electric. Rather, it has a range of petrol and diesel engines, including a mild hybrid petrol, plus a long-range plug-in hybrid. This again mirrors the Tiguan and reflects current customer preferences.

Volkswagen Tayron buyers can take their pick from a 1.5-litre eTSI mild hybrid, a 1.5-litre TSI eHybrid PHEV with two different power outputs, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel and a high-performance 2.0-litre TSI 4Motion petrol. The top-spec versions have more power than the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The Volkswagen Tayron’s rival seven-seaters largely mirror its engine range approach. The Nissan X-Trail has a range of petrol engines with varying degrees of hybridisation, while the Skoda Kodiaq line-up largely mirrors the related Tayron. Only the Peugeot 5008 currently offers a pure electric seven-seat alternative, the Peugeot E-5008.

Other alternatives include the much cheaper and less SUV-like Dacia Jogger as well as the larger, pricier Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

From the front, the Volkswagen Tayron shares more than a passing resemblance with the Tiguan but there are differences. Its bonnet has a more robust profile and the front wings lack the sporty creases of the Tiguan, looking more upright and assertive. The wheelbase is longer, the rearmost windows are larger and the wheelarches bulge powerfully.

All Volkswagen Tayron feature illuminated VW logos front and rear. Interestingly, it is the first time a non-electric Volkswagen has been fitted with them. There’s also a full-width LED light bar at the front that illuminates when the headlights are on.

Inside, the Volkswagen Tayron again feels familiar to the Tiguan, but also more upmarket. There’s a clever touch here — the main dashboard is shared, but the Tayron has a lower ledge that curves around the side air vents, visually widening it. The open-pore wood-effect finish in Elegance models is particularly appealing.

Those in the front have an upright seating position, while those in the second row of seats get loads of legroom and plentiful headroom. And the third row? Well, firstly note that not all Volkswagen Tayron are seven-seaters — the eHybrid PHEVs are five seats-only. But those with seven seats are suitably accommodating, particularly for children. Or, fold them flat and enjoy an enormous boot.

The Volkswagen Tayron is a good all-rounder. As a super-practical family-focused SUV, it is a convincing step on from the Volkswagen Tiguan, as well as a more interesting proposition than the old Tiguan Allspace. The Tiguan will still outsell it but it’s an interesting new alternative with a nice extra dose of premium finesse that we’re sure will appeal. 

The Volkswagen Tayron builds on the accomplished, viceless dynamics of the Tiguan. It feels safe and secure, with handling that won’t serve up any surprises. You’ll sense the ride quality is a bit better, thanks to the longer wheelbase and high-speed stability is excellent. The Tayron feels a cut above its smaller Tiguan sibling

Volkswagen Tayrons with the eHybrid and 2.0-litre TSI engines are even better. They have Dynamic Chassis Control DCC Pro adaptive dampers as standard which provide even greater suppleness and agility, with a broader scope of soft and firm ride qualities in Comfort and Sport modes. They also ensure the ride remains smooth even on the largest 20-inch alloy wheels.

The Volkswagen Tayron is admirably refined. Roughness from poor road surfaces is kept at bay and the wheels don’t loudly crash into potholes. Wind noise is well-managed, something that’s aided by laminated acoustic glass being fitted as standard in the front.

A broad range of power types and levels ensures that, unless you were looking for an electric-only option, there’s likely to be a Volkswagen Tayron to suit your needs.

The entry-level 1.5-litre eTSI 150PS engine in the Volkswagen Tayron is electrified, using a 48-volt mild hybrid system, allowing the engine to shut down when you lift the accelerator, not just when you come to a halt. It has silent start-up and is refined enough in everyday use, albeit boomier and more vocal when revved. It produces 250Nm of torque enabling a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds.

All Volkswagen Tayron have an automatic gearbox, a DSG unit with either six or seven speeds. In the 1.5-litre eTSI 150PS, with seven gears, you’ll notice the need to down-change a ratio or two even when you lightly press down on the accelerator.

It doesn’t have the low-down pulling power of the 2.0-litre TDI 150PS with 360Nm of torque, despite assistance from the mild hybrid motor. The diesel, which does 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds, therefore feels more powerful and relaxing. It’s better able to handle a fully-laden Tayron so is the one to go for if you plan on often driving seven-up. It does, however, also sound diesely, albeit not objectionably so.

Fancy a Volkswagen Tayron with a hot hatch engine? Then choose the 2.0-litre TSI with 4Motion four-wheel drive. In fact, there’re two to pick from — the 204PS version has 320Nm of torque resulting in a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds, but it’s the 265PS edition that’s particularly attention-grabbing. It’s free-revving, effervescent and with 400Nm of torque the 0-62mph benchmark takes 6.1 seconds — it’s a lot of fun.

The all-weather grip will be handy, although its thrusting, up and at ‘em nature does feel slightly at odds with the Tayron’s overall sensibilities.

With the proviso of them only being available with five seats, the most appealing drive systems are the two plug-in hybrid versions — VW labels these as eHybrid and are offered with either 204PS or 272PS of total power.

Both use a 1.5-litre TSI engine and are fitted with an electric motor, the six-speed DSG transmission and a 19.7kWh lithium ion battery. Start off with a full charge and they effectively operate as silent-running pure EVs, even at motorway speeds. The engine only starts up if you floor it or, of course, if the battery runs low.

With 350Nm, the less powerful Tayron eHybrid manages the 0-62mph dash in 8.6 seconds, while the gutsier 272PS version’s 400Nm of torque trims that down to 7.3 seconds — neither is short of oomph.

The Volkswagen Tayron hasn’t yet been crash-tested by Euro NCAP but its Tiguan sibling was in 2024. It scored five stars with 83% for adult occupant and 88% for child occupant protection, pus 84% for vulnerable road users. The usual array of standard safety assist tech was rated 78% by Euro NCAP.

The Volkswagen Tayron has standard adaptive cruise control, an oncoming vehicle braking when turning function, plus autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring. The rear-view camera is combined with Park Assist Plus, while a new exit warning system prevents the doors being opened if another road user is approaching from behind.

The Volkswagen Tayron is a great choice for those who tow. It has a maximum braked trailer weight of up to 2400kg in 2.0-litre TSI 4Moition guise, while the 1.5-litre eTSI and eHybrid are rated at 1800kg, while the 2.0-litre TDI can haul 2000kg.

The drawbar load is a heavy-duty 100kg. The Volkswagen Trailer Assist manoeuvring system comes as standard when owners choose the optional folding tow bar, which the engineers reckon makes ‘even large horse boxes and trailers easy to handle’.

The Volkswagen Tayron is a very accommodating car all round. In the front, the easy-access seats are mounted high, underlining its large-car feel behind the wheel. The view across the bonnet, with its raised and squared-off side sections, is commanding and confident. The seats are excellent, particularly those in higher-grade models, which are approved by AGR, the German campaign against bad backs.

Leather upholstery is optional — ticking the box for that also adds a massaging function. They are also heated and ventilated, with Volkswagen-developed sensors automatically detecting occupants’ sweaty backs to combine heat and air to dry off your clothing.

With its longer wheelbase, the Volkswagen Tayron has superb second-row legroom. The doors are longer than the Tiguan’s as well, so it’s easy to step in and out, plus the seats are as supportive and comfortable as those in the front. They slide back and forth, plus the backrests recline for comfier long-distance cruising. Three-zone climate control, with a dedicated second-row control panel, is standard, as are sunblinds in the rear doors.

Access to the third row of seats, where fitted, is aided by those large rear doors, chunky sill step and sliding second-row seats which also tip forwards. It’s still a bit tight for adults to squeeze into the third row and space once there won’t be abundant, but it’s still passable — perfectly fine for children. The rearmost seats are individual, so you can either fold one flat into the floor for a six-seater or drop both down for larger loads.

Mind you, even in seven-seat mode, there’s a fairly decent 345 litres of space — broadly the same as a Volkswagen Polo. In five-seater mode, that expands to 850 litres — so by our maths, that means just under 600 litres in six-seat mode. You get around 200 litres more boot space than a Tiguan in five-seat mode, which is another reason to choose a Volkswagen Tayron even if you don’t really need seven seats. As for the five-seat-only eHybrid versions, they have a 705-litre boot.

With the second-row seats folded down, the Volkswagen Tayron offers 1905 litres of space. Surprisingly, the eHybrid is a bit larger still, at 1915 litres. This is vast, as big as the largest estate cars. There’s even a handy compartment beneath the boot floor to store the retractable load cover. 

The Volkswagen Tayron has a welcome feeling of well-built substance. There are plenty of high quality plastics and trims up front — not quite to Audi levels, sure, but still a cut above most mainstream alternatives. The Tayron feels solid and robust, with low noise levels on the move and a lack of creaks and rattles.

While second-row passengers get the same stitched door tops as those in the front, other plastics feel a bit harder and scratchier. The engineers can’t resist saving a few pennies by dialling back quality a little for those in the rear — although we must stress that the seats themselves are just as ample as those in the front.

From the outside, the Volkswagen Tayron is also very well finished, with even panel gaps and rich paint quality.

The Volkswagen Tayron comes as standard with a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is wireless smartphone charging — there are dual charging pads in the centre console, below a handy flip-up oddments shelf, so your house keys don’t have to rattle alongside your phone.

The latest Volkswagen infotainment software and hardware is much-improved. It operates quickly and crisply, with a more logical layout and more colourful icons. There are also rows of shortcut icons both at the top and bottom of the screen, which are contextual and pleasingly handy.

There is an even larger 15.0-inch touchscreen available as an option. This features the Volkswagen IDA voice assistant which is supported by ChatGPT technology. Using the voice control button on the steering wheel, you can ask it free-form questions such as what the weather’s like in your destination and even how your favourite sports team is doing.

The larger touchscreen comes as part of the Discover Infotainment Package Plus. A comprehensive head-up display is also included here, which again is crisp and colourful, proving particularly good when using the native navigation system. The package costs £1130.

Volkswagen Tayron prices start from £40,130 for the entry-level Life specification with the 1.5-litre eTSI 150PS engine. It was the only version to dip under the £40k barrier when launched, an advantage eroded by April 2025’s price rises (the time of writing), so is one for bargain-hunters to find if they want to avoid the Expensive Car Supplement that adds to the standard rate of VED tax from years two to six.

Another notable model is the Volkswagen Tayron Match, which costs £44,515. There is only one Match variant, the 1.5-litre TSI eHybrid 204PS PHEV, which Volkswagen reckons it offers the best value for money of all Tayrons. It’s therefore likely to be one of the most popular versions.

The Volkswagen Tayron Elegance costs from £42,700 and the R-Line is priced from £43,105. Both versions are available with a wider range of engines. Priciest of all is the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line 2.0-litre TSI 265PS 4Motion which will set you back £52,320.

Even the Volkswagen Tayron 1.5-litre eTSI serves up pretty good fuel economy, averaging 42.9mpg according to the WLTP Combined cycle. This will be boosted a little in town by its mild hybrid tech, while the 2.0-litre TDI diesel will more reliably deliver closer to its 49.5mpg combined average on a run.

Needless to say, the 2.0 TSI 4Motion engines have more hot hatch-like fuel economy. The 204PS version averages 35.8mpg and the 265PS alternative averages 33mpg.

Those who really want to save fuel should choose the eHybrid plug-in hybrids. On-paper fuel economy of over 600mpg isn’t realistic, but they will cut fuel costs significantly if you can keep them charged regularly. We’ve heard of those with a home wall box covering more than 2500 miles without having to top-up the fuel tank.

The low CO2 of the eHybrids — emissions from just 9g/km — deliver the all-important low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate that’s so important for company car drivers. CO2 of the 1.5-litre eTSI and 2.0-litre TDI are similar, at around 145g/km, with the 2.0-litre TSI 4Motions starting from 180g/km.

As for car insurance, the eTSI starts from group 25, and the TDI starts from group 26. The eHybrid 204PS is group 30, the more powerful eHybrid 272PS is group 33 and the TSI 265PS is highest of all at group 35.

Volkswagen Tayron eHybrid: Range and charging

All Volkswagen Tayron eHybrids have a WLTP Combined cycle electric driving range of 71-76 miles — even with the battery exhausted they will still operate as a part-time hybrid, switching off the engine when you lift off and come to a halt.

They also have a 40kW DC fast-charge speed, which can take them from 5-80% charge in 26 minutes at a public charger, if you don’t mind EV drivers scowling at you. Using an 11kW AC connection for a flat-to-full battery recharge requires 2 hours 30 minutes, while a conventional three-pin plug hook-up increases that to 12 hours.

The Volkswagen Tayron trim level structure stretches across five variants — Life, Match, Elegance, R-Line and R-Line Edition.   

The Volkswagen Tayron Life opens the range with a step-up in kit compared with the entry-level Tiguan. As standard it has the 12.9-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch driver display, three-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging and 18-inch alloy wheels. There’s also 10-colour ambient lighting for the interior, plus a rear-view camera and exit warning system.

The Volkswagen Tayron Match has a tilt and slide panoramic glass roof, silver roof rails, an alternative design of 18-inch alloy wheels, dark-tinted rear privacy glass, an electric tailgate and keyless entry. The panoramic glass roof is the big highlight of Match trim and is a £1385 option on other versions.

Move up to the Volkswagen Tayron Elegance and the wheels grow to 19 inches, with a black-painted and turned metal two-tone finish. The LED headlights are upgraded with a separate LED signature strip and the door handles are also illuminated. Inside, there’s ArtVelours upholstery, heated front seats with massage function, an enhanced rear parking camera and 30-colour interior ambient lighting.

The sportier themed Volkswagen Tayron R-Line has 20-inch alloy wheels with R-Line sports style bumpers — it immediately stands out with its enlarged, more aggressive side air intakes. Inside, there are R-Line-specific front sports seats, which are fantastic.

Flagship of the range equipment-wise is the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line Edition which also has the Match model’s panoramic glass roof as standard as well as an alternative design of 20-inch alloy wheel.