2026 Volkswagen Tayron R-Line India Review: When Class Meets Performance

Everyone loves a big SUV. The Toyota Fortuner, Skoda Kodiaq, and MG Gloster have been the crowd favourites in this space so far. And now, Volkswagen is making a comeback in this segment with not just a three-row SUV but something that also knows how to go fast while keeping the family happy. The new Volkswagen Tayron fills in the void left by the Tiguan AllSpace, which was discontinued in 2021. The Three-row SUV is based on the Tiguan R-Line, sharing the same underpinnings and powertrain. But the Tayron is being locally assembled in India, allowing VW to pack more features and maybe a lower price tag. The promise here is stronger - a proper family SUV that can do a lot more than just carry more people.

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Design 

The Tayron comes to India in a single-spec fully loaded R-Line trim. Much like the Tiguan R-Line, it gets sportier elements on the exterior and interior to give it a sharper appearance. The front profile is nearly identical to the Tiguan R-Line except for the slightly tweaked grille. The illuminated VW logo graces the front with the LED DRL running across the width of the car… The ‘R’ detailing sits on the grille, while the bumper gets the blacked-out treatment with large air intakes. 

Volkswagen has equipped the Tayron R-Line with HD Matrix LED IQ Lights, which not only bring improved illumination but also custom animation patterns at the front and rear. Up till the C-pillar, the Tayron R-Line is identical to the Tiguan R-Line. But what you see here is a longer wheelbase here. It’s 109 mm longer compared to the Tiguan, and that means on the inside of the car. In fact, the position beyond the C-pillar also changes. You have a larger overhang here, and the haunches here lend a muscular feel. The larger design is softer than the Tiguan - I do like it - and it’s more family-oriented. 

The rear gets a completely new look with the connected lights and combination tail lamps. The detailing is fantastic adding to the premium quotient on the SUV. Overall, the lines are softer and curvy, and it’s a less busy design overall, which I think will age better. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Interior

The Tayron R-Line is not only longer, but also stands wider and taller than its five-seater sibling, improving overall cabin space. It packs a more premium cabin, which certainly feels a better fit for the price. There’s a good mix of functionality and style, coupled with a host of tech. There are soft-touch materials on the dashboard and all across the cabin, which give it a premium feel. There’s even felt-lining in the door storage spaces, which ensures no rattles from the bottles. The plastics are of good quality and everything feels sturdy. 

When it comes to ergonomics, the seats are fantastic. There’s ample under thigh support and the front seats come with 12-way adjustability and they also get ventilation - heated and cold both. The seats come with a massage function and I think this is one of the nicest massage features that I have experienced in a mass premium car or anywhere under 60 lakh rupees. The driver positioning is nice, I have a good view of the road, and the ingress and egress is quite easy too. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Tech

On the tech front, you have a 10.25-inch digital screen for the driver and you have a massive 15-inch screen for the infotainment system. There is a pain point here though. This generation of VW cars have all the controls embedded into the touchscreen system, including the climate control, radio, navigation, and nearly everything else. There are no shortcuts either. It gets distracting to use and we need to go back to physical buttons. The screen in itself is actually quite nice. You also get wireless charging with two charging pads, twin cupholders in the centre console, and additional storage space under the armrest. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Third Row Space 

The third-row space is best reserved for children and young adults. Calling it a squeeze for older folks would be an understatement. It’s not a practical space to be in, and the Tayron can be better used as a five-seater with a larger boot. In fact, it gets about 850 litres of boot capacity with the third row folded, and one can increase it further to a generous 1,905 litres with both rows down. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Second Row Experience 

But, it’s the second row that benefits the most from the longer wheelbase. For a taller occupant like this writer, the seating position is quite comfortable. Headroom is plenty and the massive panoramic sunroof further adds to the sense of space in the cabin. Legroom is fantastic and under-thigh support is good too. I can stretch my legs up front and it is a nice place to be in. There’s three-zone climate control and Type-C charging ports. The centre armrest drops down with cupholders.The second-row bench comes with a sliding function, and also gets a reclining function up to 15 degrees.  Three can sit in comfort but the tunnel eats up into the centre passenger’s leg space. There are sunblinds too, which are the new crowd favourite.

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Performance & Handling

We are driving the new Tayron R-Line in scenic Jaisalmer and the location plays a big difference - smooth and winding roads - and this feels like the right car to bring here. Power comes from the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that makes 201 bhp and 320 Nm. Power goes to all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic transmission. That combination is just flawless. Performance is right up there and makes the Tayron R-Line one of the best driving SUVs you can get your hands on. 

It’s not a very tall car and that makes a big difference. The handling and responses are more car-like. Handling, particularly, is quite on point. Lane changes are sharp. The steering feedback is quite sharp. The deceptively quick with 0-100 kmph coming up in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 224 kmph. Not only do you get up to higher speeds fast, but it stays impressively stable there. At the same time, you can cruise at 80 very comfortably. And you will see about 8-10 km per litre if you drive sedately, in terms of fuel efficiency.

There is slight turbo lag right at the bottom but beyond that I never really find this engine to be problematic. It’s an extremely driver-friendly engine that powers a host of options in the VW Group family. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Ride Quality 

Volkswagen has nailed the ride quality quite well. While we drove the Tayron R-Line mostly on well-paved roads where it stayed calm and collected, the off-road sections weren’t bad either. Yes, there is an underlying firmness to the ride quality and a nasty pothole will throw you off. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: What Could Be Better 

The third row space could have been better. If you are looking to have seven people in the car regularly, this is not the one to get. On the flip side, those looking at comfort would want to maximise the first two rows. The other bit is camera quality. For car priced around the ₹50 lakh mark, this is just unacceptable. Cars like the Hyundai Venue and Kia Syros with significantly less price tags offer much better cameras in comparison. The Tayron R-Line could also do with a ‘Boss mode’ where essentially you have controls on the front passenger side for the rear passengers to operate. You see it on the XUV 7XO and a lot of other cars now, and for a car that's really positioning itself as a premium family car, this would be a nice comfort feature to have since most owners of the Tayron R-Line would also be chauffeur driven. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Safety 

The Tayron R-Line scores big on safety with nine airbags, ESC, Hill Ascent & Descent Control, as well as Level 2 ADAS. Braking performance comes from all four disc brakes that complement the powerful motor, and the car comes to a halt without any drama. 

Volkswagen Tayron R-Line: Verdict 

The Tayron R-Line isn’t as imposing as its rivals, nor is the third row comfortable for adults. What it loses out on in terms of road presence, it certainly makes up for in performance. It also scores big on exclusivity, and a very classy design, which is hard to replicate. If you are looking at something very exclusive and a lot more fun, the Tayron R-Line is something that will appeal to you. It is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Drive it leisurely to drop the kids to school, but have fun on the way back. A dual personality, if you will. Can it ruffle the feathers of its rivals? Now that’s a story for another day.