New Fortuner Rival has been seen for the first time in India with launch expected to take place by the festive season.

Volkswagen is gearing up to expand its SUV lineup with the all-new Volkswagen Tayron, a seven-seater premium SUV. It was spotted undisguised for the first time in India with launch expected to take place during the festive season 2025. The Tayron in India will rival the likes of will rival models like the Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner, and Jeep Meridian.

Volkswagen Tayron: Design and Styling

The Volkswagen Tayron follows the brand’s signature design language, drawing inspiration from its sibling, the Tiguan. However, Tayron stands out with unique styling elements such as redesigned headlights, bumpers, and grille, giving it a slightly curvier and more dynamic look compared to the sharper lines of the Tiguan. The spy images reveal an Oyster Silver paint scheme and 18-inch alloy wheels, hinting at a premium stance.

At the front, the Tayron features Matrix LED headlamps, while the rear sports connected LED tail lamps, differentiating it from the Tiguan. Another noticeable design update includes flush-fitting door handles, adding a modern touch. Despite its similarities with the Tiguan, Tayron has a longer wheelbase of 2,791 mm, making it significantly larger to accommodate the third row of seats. This longer wheelbase results in better legroom and overall cabin space.

Premium and Feature-Rich Cabin

Inside, the Volkswagen Tayron is expected to share many elements with the Skoda Kodiaq, reflecting their shared lineage under the Volkswagen Group. The cabin is designed to be spacious, comfortably accommodating seven passengers. At the center of the dashboard, a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system offers advanced connectivity options, seamlessly integrated with a 10.25-inch digital cockpit that provides essential driving information.

The sense of space is further enhanced by a panoramic sunroof, allowing ample natural light to flood the cabin. Comfort is prioritized with multi-zone automatic climate control, premium upholstery, and matrix LED headlamps for a sophisticated ambiance. Safety has also been given a strong focus, with the Tayron equipped with nine airbags, Park Assist Plus with park distance control, a Head-Up Display (HUD), a 360-degree camera, and a rear-view camera, ensuring a secure driving experience.

Powertrain

Under the hood, the Volkswagen Tayron for India is likely to be powered by the same 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine that powers the Skoda Kodiaq. This engine delivers 184 bhp of maximum power and 320 Nm of peak torque. It will be paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (DCT) and will feature an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

While the international version of the Tayron is available with petrol, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and diesel engines, the India-spec model will solely feature the petrol variant. The expected ARAI-certified fuel economy is around 14.86 kmpl, similar to the Kodiaq.

Local Assembly and Expected Pricing

To keep the pricing competitive, Volkswagen is likely to locally assemble the Tayron at its facility near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, where the recently launched Skoda Kodiaq is also produced. The Tayron is expected to start at around Rs. 40 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base variant, while the top-spec version with all the premium features might go up to Rs. 45 lakh (ex-showroom).

Launch

The Volkswagen Tayron is expected to make its Indian debut around the festive season of 2025. Once launched, it will mark Volkswagen’s re-entry into the 3-row SUV segment in India, where it will compete against the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner, and Jeep Meridian.

With its blend of premium features, spacious cabin, and robust powertrain, the Volkswagen Tayron aims to cater to buyers looking for a versatile family SUV with German engineering.