Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Tayron – what are the differences and which should you choose?

Buying a family SUV can be tricky due to the sheer amount of cars you have to choose from, and it’s made even more difficult when you get two cars which look more or less the same on the face of it.

The Volkswagen Tiguan and Tayron are good examples. Here we have two cars which look very similar, but have different names and a £5,000 price difference between them. So which one is right for you? We’re going to break down all the key differences to help you decide.

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Tayron: size, space and practicality

This is where the main distinctions lie between these two cars, because the Tayron is larger than the Tiguan and therefore offers more interior space.

It actually replaces the old Tiguan AllSpace, meaning you can get seven seats. This is something which isn’t offered in the Tiguan, so if you need that third row then the Tayron is the Volkswagen SUV for you.

With the third row folded down the Tayron also has a slightly bigger boot than the Tiguan. It has 850 litres of space, whereas the Tiguan has 652 litres. The Tayron’s back seats are slightly more spacious, but there’s not much in it.

If you don’t need seven seats, the Volkswagen Tiguan is probably the more sensible option. It’s over 200mm shorter than the Tayron, making it easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces, and the boot is still one of the biggest in its class.

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Tayron: interior and technology

The interior design of these two cars is very similar, but there are some subtle differences if you look carefully.

Both have a big gloss black panel across the dashboard with ambient lighting, but the Tayron has a bit of wood effect trim underneath and slightly different air vents. Other than this the two cars have pretty much the same sleek, button-free design.

They also share a 12.9-inch infotainment system which is pretty slick and easy to use, although having all your climate controls routed through it is annoying. These cars also both get a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display as standard.

There’s not much to separate these cars in terms of standard kit either, because they both get adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard.

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Tayron: engines

While these cars do share a few engine options, there are some which are unique to each model.

Both are offered with a 2.0-litre oil burner with 150hp. It’ll return up to 52mpg, making it the most economical of all Tiguan and Tayron models if you ignore the pie-in-the-sky figures touted on the plug-in hybrids.

You can also get the Tiguan with an entry-level 1.5-litre petrol engine putting out 130hp which isn’t available in the Tayron, but it’s a tad sluggish so is best avoided.

Both the Tiguan and Tayron can be specced with an excellent 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150hp, which offers a great blend of performance and economy. You can also get this same engine paired to a plug-in hybrid system with either 204hp or 272hp and an electric-only range of 62 miles. It’s worth noting though that the Tayron isn’t available with seven seats if you go for the hybrid.

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Tayron: prices and savings

The Volkswagen Tiguan starts from £35,385 for the entry-level model, but we’d recommend going for the mid-spec Match version with the 150hp petrol engine to get the best value for money. This car will cost you just over £38,000, but you can get it through Carwow for around £35,600 through Carwow at the time of writing.

Being a bigger car, the Volkswagen Tayron is more expensive. It costs just over £40,000, but you’ll want the Elegance model to get luxuries like heated seats and a 360 degree camera system. This model, with the same 1.5-litre engine as the Tiguan, starts from £42,700. With Carwow savings it costs just over £39,800 at the time of writing.

So that works out at a price difference of between £4,000 and £5,000 depending on which trim and engine you pick, and seeing as the Tayron is much larger and has two additional seats that’s not a massive leap. It only works out to around £40 per month extra on a PCP finance deal.

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Tayron verdict: which should you choose?

If you don’t need a seven-seat SUV, then the Volkswagen Tiguan will suit you. It gets loads of rear legroom, a good-sized boot and similar levels of standard kit to the Tayron.

That said, the Tayron is even more spacious, and if you need the extra two seats then it’s the one to buy. It’s also not that much more expensive than the Tiguan, which makes it the better choice by the narrowest of margins.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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