Volkswagen Tayron SUV arriving soon: First SA details announced

Volkswagen South Africa has opened the order book for its Tayron SUV, which is set to go on sale later this year.

The carmaker describes it as a premium seven-seat SUV, which will be positioned between the Tiguan and flagship Touareg.

The Tayron is closely related to the Tiguan, however, essentially filling the shoes of the previous Tiguan AllSpace. At 4790mm from bumper to bumper, the newcomer is 230mm longer than its sibling, making it longer than the Chery Tiggo 8 but slightly smaller than the Kia Sorento.

Interestingly, the larger Touareg looks set to be retired internationally after 2026, with Autocar reporting that there is no successor planned for this model. With the Atlas not being sold in South Africa, that means the Tayron will assume the role of the brand’s local flagship.

Pricing for the Volkswagen Tayron will be announced closer to launch, but it will naturally command a premium over the Tiguan, which starts at R668,100.

VWSA has announced that three specification grades will be available locally, the Tayron (base), Tayron Life and Tayron R-Line.

All three are powered by the familiar 1.4-litre TSI turbopetrol engine, delivering 110kW and 250Nm to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

The Tayron base version is only available as a five-seater, but it is well stocked, with standard features including a 12.9-inch infotainment system and a slew of driver assist features, including Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Keeping Assist and Park Assist. Visually, the base model boasts 18-inch Bologna alloy wheels and Eco LED headlights.

The Tayron Life ups the ante with three-zone automatic climate control, wireless App-Connect for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital instrument cluster, 10-colour ambient lighting, multi-functional diving experience control and nine airbags.

Aesthetically, it gains illuminated VW badges at the front and rear, LED headlights with automatic main-beam control and 3D LED taillight clusters.

The R-Line flagship treats its customers to ergo Active seats with heating and massage function up front, Varenna leather upholstery, and 30-colour ambient lighting.

The R-Line can also be told apart by its unique front bumper, LED Plus headlights and 19-inch Coventry alloy wheels.

Full details, including pricing, will be announced closer to launch.

IOL Motoring