Having driven, tested, and reviewed cars for well over 40 years now, I have realized that there are few automobiles that almost instantly communicate, that they are well engineered and properly built. Even after having just gotten behind the wheel, one simply knows that this car has what it takes to please a demanding driver, and fussy user like me.

The brain swiftly and instinctively processes past experiences, remembrances, and configurations, which the conscious mind still has to register and breakdown. But it’s enough to tell you that this is a product that is in sync with your purpose and preferences, and is meticulously designed and soundly engineered.

And recently, the moment I got behind the wheel of Volkswagen Tayron in Jaisalmer, I automatically felt that this was a “Well Sorted Machine”. I recon it was a combination of intuitive and emotional cues, along with instantaneous or spontaneous inputs from the accumulated knowledge and experiences, which in no time made me simply know, that the Tayron is a well-crafted and constructed car. But I did not have this feeling when I saw it. As a matter of fact I was not so very enamoured by its looks and styling. And I am still not a big fan of its exterior design. So it was clearly not any – love at first sight kind of thing. It was only after I stepped behind the steering, and started driving it, that in less than a minute I got the sense that the Tayron is engineered with precision, and built to detail.

But why do I say that. To start with, the driving position is near perfect with seats that are supportive and hold you in the right places. They are also powered and easy to adjust, and have a memory function too. And if that is not enough, they also come with ventilation and heating and massage functions. Then there is the view from behind the steering. The sides of the bonnet are raised with a flattish big depression in between, and if you have a vivid imagination like I do, you can get a sense of being flanked by twin missiles.  Maybe this thought came because during the entire time I was in Jaisalmer, I saw our IAF Rafale fighter jets flying around – and remember they carry the now famous SCALP missiles used in “Operation Sindoor”.

The top of the dashboard sits fairly low and the side windows are large, and this along with the not overly thick front pillars, means you have an almost unobstructed field of view, something that you don’t often get in modern day cars. Even the rear view is good, and this panoramic perspective makes driving the somewhat largish 7-seater VW Tayron quite easy. And of course because your see more, your reactions are faster, and thus it’s better for safety too. And as we are on the subject of safety, let me say that the VW Tayron comes with 9 airbags including a center one. It also has level-2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, driver-drowsiness detection, adaptive cruise control and auto-park.

The entire passenger compartment is well designed and nicely finished with quality materials, and I particularly like the Alcantara-like trim on the doors and dash that lends a sporty touch. The ergonomics also clearly convey that the designers had their thinking caps screwed on the right way. My only grumble about the interior is the lack of physical buttons and switches for even things like the climate control. I have still not quite accepted having to control basic functions of a car through a touchscreen, and I doubt if I ever will. But apparently it works for some.

As mentioned in the beginning, Volkswagen have launched the 7-seater version of the Tayron in India, but even they will admit, that the last row of seats are not really suited or comfortable for adults. They are difficult to get into, and also cramped for space. But they should be absolutely fine for children, and on really short drives, adults could slip in too. While getting into the 3^rd row of seats may be a squeeze, the ingress and egress of the front and rear seats is excellent and this is mainly due to the lower height. Yes, while the Tayron is long and wide, it is not too tall. This is best illustrated by comparing its dimensions with a popular SUV like the Toyota Fortuner.

The Tayron, which I would describe as a crossover kind of SUV, is 4,792 mm in length, with the width being 1,866 mm, and height 1,665 mm. In comparison the Toyota Fortuner is 4795 mm long (3 mm more), 1855 mm wide (11 mm less), and its height is 1835 mm, which is 170 mm more than the Tayron. The wheelbase of the Tayron is 2,789 mm, while the Fortuner’s is 2745 mm, which means the distance between front and rear wheels is some 44 mm less. The most vital and big difference is obviously in the overall height, and its due to this that the Tayron has a much lower center of gravity, and more importantly, a lower floor and H-point, making getting in and out easier, especially for the aged or those with not so flexible bodies and joints. The larger space between the wheels also means wider door openings in the Tayron, but this honestly I still have to measure and currently it’s more of an educated guess.

The lower height, longer wheelbase and additional width also mean that the Tayron’s stance is fairly flat as is its behavior in turns or over bumps and undulations. But I have jumped a bit ahead, so let me start my driving experience description by saying that after I got into the Tayron and started driving, the first thing that hit me was the smooth response. The 2.0L turbo-petrol engine churns out 201 bhp and 320 Nm of torque, and while these are impressive figures, what is even more significant is that max torque is available from as low as 1500 rpm upto 4400 rpm, and it is due to this flat torque that you don’t feel any sudden surge of power, as its delivered to the wheels in a consistent and constant manner, via an efficient and fairly fast shifting 7-Speed DSG automatic transmission.

The feel and response of the accelerator and brake pedals is spot on and you get exactly as much juice or deceleration as desired. There is no sponginess or difference in input and response, which you find in some other vehicles. The steering is precise too and the Tayron is impressively nimble for a vehicle its size. It grips the ground well and is stable at high speeds too. And Volkswagen claims the Tayron R Line dashes to 100 kmph in 7.3 seconds, which is quite quick. The suspension soaks bumps nicely and while the wheels effeciently travel up and down to deal with imperfections in the road, the body stays impressively flat, so the occupants don’t move around much or feel any extreme pitch and roll.

It’s all this that screams and shouts that this is a well sorted car. A SUV meant to be easy and fun to drive, and one that offers its occupants both luxury and comfort in equal measure. Do I like it- most certainly. I also like the fact that it has an AWD (all-wheel drive) system with various driving modes, including off-road, that give it reasonable all-terrain ability.

As I said earlier, I may not be a massive fan of the Tayron’s styling, but I must say that after dark, when its illuminated lights can be clearly seen, it does have a somewhat brighter personality. This is mainly due to the twin light bars. Yes, there is a full length light bar at the front that connects the headlights, and there is also one at the rear, which links the taillights. And in between both these light bars, sits the VW logo that also lights up and glows.  How times change – bull bars have now given way to light bars.

As many will be aware, the Volkswagen Tayron is actually the sibling or counterpart model of the Skoda Kodiaq. While they may look different and also have some dissimilar design elements, under the skin, they are largely the same as they share the same platform. Volkswagen is still to announce the price of the Tayron R-Line, but it’s expected to be around 50 lakhs. And whoever buys it, is assured of getting a sorted and comfortable premium car with lots of features. And while I may not be in the market buy it, I sure am looking forward to taking it on a long drive. A drive that I know holds the promise of fun.