Volkswagen Tayron vs Volkswagen Passat

What's the difference?

So, does the new Volkswagen Tayron 195TSI R-Line sink or swim? It's definitely swimming as it delivers a solid blend of features and comforts for families seeking a 'sometime' seven-seater. It's not yet on the podium as it doesn’t hit every mark. Purchase price and servicing costs may put some buyers off but it packs in a number of thoughtful, family-oriented features. Whether it will go on to become Volkswagen’s standout seven-seat offering remains to be seen, but it’s a capable, well-rounded option in the segment.

I so enjoyed driving the Volkswagen Passat 206TSI R-Line. It's a roomy wagon that should fit a lot of different types of families. It still has sporty performance that will entice even the most reluctant family car buyer, so don't be turned off by its large proportions! I really like the comfort, convenience and handling of this one, so it gets an easy 8.0/10 from me.

My kid thought the blue colour was cool and loved having so many things to play with in the back seat. His only complaint was about the heavier doors but he still managed. He gives it an 8.0/10, too.

The Tayron has a robust silhouette but avoids tipping into boxy territory. Its long wheelbase is balanced well by the overall shape and the large 20-inch alloy wheels give it a planted, purposeful stance. It’s a pleasant-looking family SUV, though it stops short of being particularly distinctive. Beyond the illuminated Volkswagen badges (which are a genuine highlight and lend the Tayron some subtle Tron-like flair) the design is fairly unassuming.

Inside, the Tayron makes its strongest impression after dark. Multiple illuminated panels with galaxy-like patterns add depth and visual interest, giving the cabin a sense of atmosphere that’s largely absent in daylight. There’s a reassuring mix of soft-touch surfaces and materials throughout. Suede-like microfleece and leather elements are used generously, contributing to a cabin that feels well made.

The black headliner is a win when you have kids but interestingly for a top-spec grade, there is no sunroof. The R-Line leather steering wheel looks the part and feels good in hand but aside from the expansive digital displays, the cabin lacks a clear focal point. A little more personality would have gone a long way toward elevating the cabin space.

The Passat is a large car and stands at 4708mm long, 1832mm wide and 1504mm high. The boxier rear and long nose make these proportions feel even larger.

The 2023 model doesn't see much change, if any, to the previous iteration. The exterior features the classic VW sharp pleat that runs the length of the body, slim-line LED lights and pronounce grille with lots of chrome accents found throughout.

It looks shiny, new and stylish, but not garish. You'd be proud to be seen in this.

The interior is also classically VW – sharp, a little pared back and hosting easy to see buttons and dials. The adjustable ambient lighting elevates the cabin space, as does the black headliner (R-Line exclusive).

An interesting feature is the directional air vents, the slatted design is carried the entire length of the dash which accentuates the width of the car. It all looks seamless and well thought out.

The Tayron’s cabin hits most of the right notes for a three-row family SUV. Space is strongest in the front and middle rows, with generous head and legroom accommodating taller passengers without issue. That said, the narrow centre armrest means the driver and front passenger end up quietly competing for elbow room on longer drives.

The electrically-adjustable front seats are the most comfortable place to be, particularly over distance. With heating, ventilation, massage and strong lumbar and under-thigh support, they reinforce the sense that this is the flagship grade.

Storage up front is more mixed. The door bins and glove box are on the larger side, but the centre console leans more towards tray than box. While the ‘hideaway’ dual wireless charging pads are a clever idea, accessing them means clearing whatever you’ve placed on the shelf above. A small drawer to the right of the steering wheel is a useful touch, though, and works well for a garage remote or wallet.

The second row is firmer and more bench-like, with seat backs that don’t offer much support in corners. Heated outboard seats are a welcome inclusion, but, much like the Tiguan Allspace, there are noticeable gaps of around 12cm between the seats and the doors. While the Tayron offers three top-tether anchor points across this row, fitting three child seats side by side would be challenging.

That said, amenities in the second row are plentiful. The transmission tunnel is relatively low, foot space is generous, and there’s no shortage of features to keep younger passengers comfortable. Map and device pockets, dedicated climate controls, two USB-C ports, retractable cupholders and manual sunblinds all feature. The sunblinds, in particular, are a road-trip essential when travelling with kids or a sleeping baby. The only frustration is that the climate and seat heating controls can occasionally lock, requiring access via the front touchscreen.

The third row is kid-coded because of the access and available legroom. There’s no footwell as the seat base sits fairly close to the floor, so knees are up. There are also no amenities aside from a single cupholder, so any novelty will quickly wear off even for younger kids.

Much of the Tayron’s functionality runs through the large 15-inch multimedia display, including climate control. The screen offers clear graphics and is mostly responsive, though some lag can occur on start-up. Built-in navigation is standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. CarPlay maintained a consistent connection and pairing was straightforward.

Practicality is rounded out by a well-shaped boot. With all seats in use, there’s 345L of cargo space which is enough for school bags and a grocery run. Fold the third row and capacity expands to 850L, which is better than several key rivals. The squared-off load area makes it easy to stack gear, and it comfortably swallowed a nine-year-old’s BMX bike and scooter without needing to fold the second row, which benefits from a versatile 40/20/40 split.

All grades come with a space-saver spare tyre, which is far preferable to a repair kit, and the R-Line adds a hands-free powered tailgate. Deep side pockets flanking the height-adjustable boot floor and a 12-volt socket round out a cargo area that feels genuinely family-friendly.

A very practical family wagon with all passengers enjoying ample head and legroom.

The amenities in both rows are very good. The seats are fairly comfortable but the lumbar support isn't awesome. The massage function on the driver's side is a nice novelty but not strong enough to be called a massage. Think of it as gently stretching.

For storage, you get a decently sized middle console, dedicated phone tray, cooled glove box, drink bottle holders in each door and two cupholders.

There are plenty of charging options available for the front with two USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket. Bonus having the wireless Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto), as it's one less cable you have to worry about.

In general, I like how easy the tech is to use. The 9.2-inch touchscreen multimedia system looks great and is responsive.

It's easy to get all the connections going and you can pull the built-in satellite navigation directions through to the 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. I did miss having a head-up display this week but the info on the instrument panel is displayed clearly.

The back seat gets a couple of cupholders in the fold-down armrest and drink bottle holders in each door. It also has directional air vents with climate control, reading lights and one USB-C port for charging. However, I would have liked to have seen another charging port, to limit sibling squabbles.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats plus three top tether anchor points.

The backseat is wide enough to fit three child seats side by side if needed, and there's plenty of room for front passengers when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat is installed.

The windows are wide and offer good visibility but I really like the 142mm ground clearance. It was super easy for my six-year old to climb in and out.

The only thing he mentioned he didn't like was how heavy the doors were to operate. I don't mind this because they feel solid but they do swing wide, so be wary of letting any wild kids just hop out themselves in a crowded car park. You may get (or inflict) some dings.

The boot is a great size at 650L, with all seats in use, but if you pop down the backseats, that jumps up to 1780L.

The back seat also split-folds 40/20/40, which opens up your storage options. I enjoyed using the powered tailgate with kick function, it's handy on the grocery run.

The 206 TSI R-Line is top of a (small) two-model line-up. Our example has been finished in 'Lapiz Blue', a colour exclusive to the R-Line. Otherwise, expect a sea of monochromatic colour options.

We say top model but it's not necessarily a massive jump up in specifications from the 162 TSI Elegance, you're paying for the engine performance on this one.

This R-Line will cost you $67,790, before on-road costs. That's a $4K price hike from the 2022 model with no discernible upgrades.

And that price tag still puts it well above its closest rivals, with the Octavia RS 180 TSI being $53,090 and the Mazda6 Atenza at $52,140 (all before on-road costs).

However, you won't be disappointed with the features list with Nappa leather-appointed seat trim, R-Line stitched detailing on the floor mats and seats, electric and heated front seats, massage function on the driver's seat, a panoramic sunroof as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all coming as standard.

The R-Line also enjoys 19-inch alloy wheels, a full-sized spare, heat insulating tinted glass, 65 per cent light reducing rear privacy glass and 30-way adjustable ambient lighting in the cabin.

For now, the R-Line sits at the top of the Tayron range and is the most powerful version available. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine producing 195kW of power and 400Nm of torque, paired with a seven-speed auto transmission and all-wheel drive.

In isolation, and particularly against its key petrol-powered rivals, those figures stack up well. For everyday family duties, the combination feels suitably polished.

With a 2500kg braked trailer towing capacity, it's competitive for this segment and will be sufficient for many families towing medium-sized toys. That said, buyers coming from, or expecting, a Touareg replacement may notice the difference. The Tayron doesn’t match the larger SUV’s 3.5-tonne towing capability. And the larger capacity will be missed.

The R-Line has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain with a maximum output of 206kW/350Nm.

That puts its engine specs 44kW up on the Elegance model and you feel that difference when you put your foot down.

The six-speed auto transmission provides surprisingly smooth shifting in most settings. The grunty engine combined with the all-wheel drive creates a sporty and purposeful driving experience.

Some of the Tayron’s key rivals lean on mild-hybrid assistance to improve fuel efficiency, and on paper they offer an advantage in this area. By comparison, the Tayron 195TSI R-Line sticks with a conventional petrol powertrain, so its efficiency figures are largely in line with what you’d expect given its size, weight and performance.

Volkswagen claims a combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure of 8.6L/100km for this grade. With a 58-litre fuel tank, that translates to a theoretical driving range of up to 698km. In real-world use, after a mix of longer highway driving and some urban running, I recorded an average of 9.3L/100km, which feels reasonable rather than surprising.

Efficiency is an important consideration for families, particularly in this segment and it will be interesting to see how the upcoming hybrid powertrain performs once it arrives. For now, the R-Line’s fuel consumption feels broadly consistent with its output, even if it doesn’t lead the class.

That powerful engine does cost you a little bit with efficiency. The official combined fuel figure is 8.1L/100km and real-world testing saw my figure at 8.6L.

Not too bad for the type of driving I did this week, which was a combo of open-road and urban. I wasn't scared of putting my foot down but I would expect to see a double-digit figure in an urban setting.

This has a 66L fuel tank and based on the official combined figure, you should be able to get around 815km driving range, which is great.

The R-Line’s engine is the standout in the Tayron range. It delivers solid, usable power with enough in reserve to make overtaking straightforward, particularly at highway speeds. While it doesn’t have the same effortless surge as the larger Touareg, it performs where it matters for everyday driving.

There is an occasional shudder through the front suspension and steering when entering a roundabout or turning off on a hill. It’s brief when it occurs, but noticeable and not something you expect to feel regularly in this class.

Suspension tuning is on the firmer side, though overall ride comfort remains acceptable. The Tayron provides decent road feedback without feeling unsettled or harsh. At higher speeds the cabin can sound slightly tinny, but around town it remains quiet and composed.

Steering response is direct without being heavy. The Tayron corners confidently for a vehicle of this size, but there is some body roll, which is most apparent for passengers in the back rows.

Forward and side visibility are strong, helped by a high seating position and unobtrusive pillars. Rearward visibility becomes more limited when the third row is in use, and a digital rear-view mirror would be a worthwhile addition.

With a 12.1m turning circle, the Tayron can feel large in tighter car parks, though it’s otherwise easy enough to park. The 'Park Assist' function and 360-degree camera system helps, even if image clarity falls short of what you’d expect from a flagship grade.

The performance of this is to be commended. Powerful but poised, there's a sense of performance in reserve when you put your foot down and while still fun, it's not unbridled power.

It inspires confidence, the lower centre of gravity and firm steering meaning you tackle corners with minimum roll. You can accelerate out of a corner a little earlier than you might normally in this.

The cabin is nice and quiet with some road noise at higher speeds but not enough to intrude on chatting.

Despite suspension that feels sporty, aka stiff, the ride comfort is very good, with back seat passengers also feeling the comfort. There's not a lot of jostling in this.

Let's talk parking. It is a large car but you don't feel those dimensions when you park it.

It's very forgiving to manoeuvre with the front and rear parking sensors, crisp 360-degree view camera and tight 11.7m turning circle!

And if you're not confident it has a self-parking feature.

This has a good list of safety features with the following being standard: LED daytime running lights, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree view reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue alert, and adaptive cruise control (with stop/go function).

I like the Emergency Assist feature which will provide multiple visual and sound alerts if there's no steering wheel activity detected. If there's still no driver input, the car will slow down and ultimately come to a complete stop.

The Passat's maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating has just expired and at the time of writing was yet to be retested.

The 2023 Passat has nine airbags, including side airbags for the rear outboard seats, as well as curtain airbags covering both rows.

There are three top tethers across the rear row and ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard positions.

The Tayron is covered by Volkswagen's five-year/unlimited km warranty which is a shorter term than a lot of its rivals.

You can pre-purchase a three- or five-year servicing plan at $2207 or $4098, respectively, which isn’t as affordable as some rivals but does include roadside assistance. However, at the time of writing, the five-year price was set at $3550.

Servicing intervals are well spaced at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first, with servicing available at any of VW's 118 official service centres nationwide.

The Tayron only accepts a minimum 95 RON unleaded petrol, which might sting a little with regular fill-ups.

The Passat comes with a market standard five-year/unlimited km warranty, and roadside assistance is included for one year (through Allianz Insurance) if you get your car serviced at a VW centre.

There is a three- or five-year capped price servicing plan that can be pre-purchased and will save you money compared to the pay-as-you go option. Servicing averages $620 though, which is expensive for the class.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 16,500km – whichever occurs first.