Volkswagen Tayron Australia launch in Sept – Tiguan Allspace replacement, 7 seats, coming to Malaysia?

The Volkswagen Tayron, the replacement for the Tiguan Allspace, is headed to Australia in September, slotting between the five-seater Tiguan and Touareg SUVs. As per its predecessor, it’s essentially a lengthened version of the Tiguan, this time the latest third-generation model.

Based on the same updated modular transverse platform (MQB Evo) as its sibling, the Tayron will be offered with a choice of three petrol engines Down Under – the long-serving 1.4 litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 150 PS and 250 Nm in the 110TSI Life, and a 2.0 litre unit paired with 4Motion all-wheel drive churning out 204 PS in the 150TSI Life and Elegance and 265 PS and 400 Nm in the 195TSI R-Line.

Both mills are mated to a seven-speed DSG wet dual-clutch transmission. No mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid models here, unlike in other markets where the latter offers an all-electric range of up to 100 km.

Measuring 4,792 mm long, 1,852 mm wide and 1,660 mm tall, the Tayron is 253 mm longer, 10 mm wider and 21 mm taller than the Tiguan, while its 2,791 mm wheelbase is 114 mm longer. Against the previous-gen Allspace, the new model is 66 mm longer and 13 mm wider and has a two millimetre longer wheelbase.

The Tayron shares the same general design language as the Tiguan, with a more modern and confident look headlined by the full-width front (optional) and rear light bars and a large, toothy lower grille. The main differences are trapezoidal headlights, an inset bonnet shutline separated from the lamps, jutting side skirts, prominent rear haunches and extended upper window trim running into the rear windscreen. As per the Tiguan, you get matrix LED headlights with 19,200 multi-pixel diodes, fitted to the R-Line.

Inside, the Tayron gets a rectangular insert on the dashboard to distance itself from the Tiguan, along with a tall centre console topped with a driving experience control knob for adjusting the volume, drive modes, AWD system and ambient lighting and audio themes. Volkswagen promises plenty of soft-touch materials on the upper surfaces and centre console, along with genuine open-pore wood trim on the Elegance, while the R-Line model receives lots of stitched faux leather and aluminium.

Australian models come as standard with the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument display as well as a 12.9-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Volkswagen’s much-maligned capacitive air-con controls (at least they’re illuminated).

The R-Line bumps the centre screen up to a 15-inch Discover Pro Max unit and adds a head-up display and a Harman Kardon sound system. ErgoActive front seats with power adjustment, heating, ventilation, memory and massage functions are fitted to the 150TSI Elegance and up.

Meanwhile, second-row passengers get a sliding and reclining 60:40-split bench with an armrest; the latter hides an extendable panel that can be tilted left or right, housing twin cupholders and a clip for holding a phone or tablet. The third-row seats can be folded to boost luggage space to 850 litres (15 litres more than the Allspace), while the sole five-seater, the 150TSI Life, has an 885 litre boot.

The Tayron comes as standard with XDS brake-activated torque vectoring and a Vehicle Dynamics Manager that was first introduced on the Mk8 Golf GTI, with the R-Line adding DCC Pro adaptive dampers. Also on all models is Travel Assist Level 2 semi-autonomous driving functionality, along with autonomous emergency braking, front and rear cross traffic alert, park assist, a door opening warning and nine airbags.

With the seven-seat Tiguan Allspace being one of Volkswagen’s better-selling models in Malaysia, we can expect the Tayron to be offered here sooner rather than later as its replacement. This is helped by the offering of pure petrol engines, including the carryover 1.4 litre base mill.

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