Volkswagen Tayron R-Line long term review, 5,000km report

These days, I’ve been making a concerted effort to go analogue. Well, at least as analogue as life in 2026 will allow. Crucially, from the moment I wake up, I try to avoid screen time for as long as I can, with just a quick glance at my phone’s notifications tab to see if anything urgent needs tending to. I’ve been doing pretty well, if I may say so myself.

So imagine my frustration when I hop into the car for my commute to work – a time usually reserved for quiet contemplation, mental preparation, and perhaps relaxed music – and have my retinas assaulted by cricket-stadium brightness from a 15-inch panel. I feel like I’ve opened my work laptop, which isn’t supposed to happen for another half hour. This is the ’s calling card, but in my opinion, it detracts from what is otherwise a superbly resolved premium executive SUV.

Its size and placement at the top of the dashboard means it never truly leaves your field of view, so getting used to it takes some time. And you can’t simply avoid using it altogether either, as many essential functions have been taken off buttons and put inside here. Crucially, I have to remind myself to tap through a few menus and turn off the auto emergency braking every time, as it is switched on by default when you start the car.

That being said, the screen does use its size well, with just about everything on display at once. There are icons and shortcuts for a number of functions hiding near the top edge, which I’m sure will become useful once I’ve memorised what’s where. And even if, like most, you choose to override VW’s smart-looking interface with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, navigation and album art look genuinely good at this scale.

Design wise, I have to say, I wasn’t a fan of the smaller Tiguan R Line when it was introduced – the sporty body kit felt a bit over the top and, as a result, the proportions felt askew. The look works a lot better on this longer SUV, and perhaps our car’s subdued Oyster Silver Metallic paint helps here; it’s just a bit more ‘Volkswagen’. I especially love the wheels – 19 inches in size and in a very sporty turbine-like design, as well as the dramatic welcome sequence the lights do as you walk up to the SUV.

What I’m not loving is the fuel bills. Ironically, the 2.0 TSI engine is so creamy smooth, it’s almost difficult to drive it with a light foot. And in a big, heavy SUV, you can bet that keeps the consumption numbers at 6kpl and below on a traffic-heavy daily commute.

More to come from this luxurious and practical family SUV that’s quickly becoming the pick of the fleet for those transporting people and luggage.