In the past two years, seven-seat crossovers from China have taken over the market for large family cars. Established models such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 have been pushed aside, and only the Mitsubishi Outlander still manages to record solid sales figures.
In the past year, it is no longer just relatively inexpensive models like the Chery Tiggo 8, but also the Jaecoo 8 and Chery Tiggo 9, which reach price levels of around NIS 250,000. This has not stopped the Jaecoo, for example, from delivering more than 3,000 units since the beginning of the year.
After Mazda last week lowered the price of the CX-90 to NIS 255,000 to present a Japanese petrol option in this price range, Champion Motors is launching the new Volkswagen Tayron into the same segment: A large, well-equipped seven-seater that is not Chinese.
The Tayron replaces the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace in the lineup, with production moved from Mexico to Germany. Its dimensions have grown slightly: 4.92 meters in length, 1.85 meters in width, 1.655 meters in height, and a wheelbase of 2.79 meters. The trunk offers 345 liters of capacity with all seats in use.
The Tayron is also sold in Europe in a plug-in hybrid version, but that version only comes with five seats and will not be imported here. We will receive a 1.5-liter turbo petrol mild-hybrid version with 150 hp, 25.5 kgm of torque, and front-wheel drive. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 9.6 seconds, top speed is 208 km/h, and official combined fuel consumption stands at 15.6 km per liter.
The equipment level is relatively high: There is only one trim level, Elegance, which includes HD matrix headlights with 19,200 LEDs per headlamp, 19-inch alloy wheels, a 15-inch multimedia screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, leather upholstery, and real wood trim on the dashboard. The front seats feature electric adjustment, ventilation, heating, and a massage system. There is also a 230-volt socket in the rear, 360-degree cameras, and a power tailgate.
On the dynamic side, it features adaptive suspension.
Safety: The Tayron received 5 out of 5 stars in the 2025 Euro NCAP crash test. Equipment includes nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking in forward and reverse driving, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and lane departure correction, blind-spot monitoring, driver fatigue and distraction monitoring, an active parking assist system, and more.
The Tayron is more expensive than the Allspace but finds itself in a market segment that has grown significantly. It does not offer a plug-in drivetrain like its Chinese rivals, but its fuel consumption is not expected to be much worse than that of a large plug-in hybrid whose owner does not bother to charge it. The Tayron carries the reputation and branding of a German vehicle, without the attractive tax benefits the state has granted to Chinese models.
Given the euro exchange rate dropping below NIS 3.5, one might have expected a more competitive price and a specification that would also include a sunroof. However, the relatively high equipment level still leaves room for a cheaper, more basic version that may arrive in the future.