Master of modern life

There’s a road and it goes from home to town; well I call it a road but it’s more like an asphalt ploughed field.

Many a passenger has turned a sickly shade of green along its length as they bounce and twist in all directions, plagued by potholes, upset by undulations.

It’s a shame because it is otherwise a very pleasant road with amazing views in all directions and at every point.

It is also useful as it takes me from a nice little town to my rather bijou home but I do wish it could be a bit smoother. I know money is tight, local authority funding virtually non-existent but it really is a shocker – until now.

Strangely and very noticeably the spleen-shredding impact of ruts, bumps and holes seems resisted, somehow smoothed by syrup, turned by technology.

Nothing has changed, it’s the same beleaguered road yet I’m floating along in perfect comfort for a change. So it must be the test car which, in this instance, is the brand new Volkswagen Tayron.

A what? A Tayron. Think new model that is bigger than a Tiguan but smaller than a Touareg and you’ll get the gist. VW say it’s a replacement for the Tiguan Allspace, if you remember that.

So the 4.8m long Tayron gets seven seats and more space for passengers and luggage. It also gains imposing proportions for that extra bit of road presence you need to survive on today’s recalcitrant roads.

Its simple looks are spiced up a tad by signature day-running-lights, LED headlamps, illuminated Volkswagen badges, 3D tail light clusters and a full-length LED crossbar at the rear.

Inside is much more fancy with a high quality feel. Design and materials create a tactile and luxurious air, with plenty of space and creature comforts.

Eco microfibre fabrics, authentic open-pore wood and intricately illuminated decorative trims combine to make the perfect ambience, which is complemented by clear and easy to use technology.

There’s a huge touchscreen but the main functions sit permanently along the bottom so there’s little need to prod or swipe. It’s a great interior, you can’t fail to like it.

This Tayron is powered by petrol and electricity so gains the benefits of both. It’s a plug-in hybrid which will take you 72 miles on electric alone. You also get the instant power rush of an EV so it is particularly rapid getting away from the lights.

The electric motor also works in harmony with the 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine to provide impressive levels of performance and economy.

Forget the claimed 614 miles per gallon, that only comes into play when the battery is full. Once you have used up the charge then you can expect 50+mpg which is fine by me.

It’s a big old lump but doesn’t feel it to drive, even in tight space, because you have the benefit of a high-set seating position, bleepers galore, cameras and sensors all-round.

That glorious chassis comes into play not just to smooth the rough but to control the body if a bit of spirted driving takes your fancy.

There is plenty of power, a brilliant quick-shifting DSG automatic gearbox and peerless handling to make A-road forays an absolute delight.

Out of sight Tayron is fitted with adaptive chassis control, driving mode selection, XDS+ electronic differential lock and vehicle dynamics manager.

Don’t know what they do or how they work but they obviously do and that’s enough for me.

When you have to tackle the tedium of our straighter byways then at least you can sit back, relax and enjoy the superb eight-speaker infotainment centre and the 30-colour ambient lighting package.

Tayron is a master at overcoming the toils of modern life. It not only insulates you physically from the bumps in the road but protects you from them metaphorically as well.