Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 2018 Review

Fundamentally, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a long-wheelbase, long-body version of the second-generation Tiguan that launched in Australia in 2017.

The Mexican-built Tiguan Allspace is significant because it’s Volkswagen’s first seven-seat SUV, launching into the heart of one of Australia’s most critical sales segments against key competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and its own in-house rival, the Skoda Kodiaq.

Under the bonnet and then back to the B-pillar both Tiguans are pretty much identical (the Allspace has a raised bonnet and a chrome grille), but from there onwards the Allspace’s extra 109mm worth of wheelbase has liberated enough space to increase legroom in the second row and insert two kid-only seats in the boot.

With all three rows in place there’s still 230 litres of storage available. Fold row three and it climbs to 700 litres. Fold row two and it’s 1775 litres. That’s a lot of usable space in a vehicle only 4.7m long.

The all-new Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace comes in five variants. There are three turbo-petrol and two turbo-diesel four-cylinder variations split across two trim levels, Comfortline and Highline.

The entry-level $40,490 110TSI (the numerals refer to kilowatt output) Comfortline 1.4-litre turbo-petrol Tiguan Allspace is a front-wheel drive with a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic. The rest are 4MOTION (Haldex on-demand) all-wheel drives mated to a seven-speed DSG auto.

Comfortline is also offered with $45,490 132TSI turbo-petrol and a $46,990 110TDI turbo-diesel 2.0-litre engines. The two Highlines include the $52,990 162TSI turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel $54,490 140TDI Highline 2.0-litre fours, the latter with the best braked towing capacity in the range at 2500kg.

We’ve previously gone into the equipment offered at both levels, along with the extensive options packages here. We’ve also driven the Allspace overseas and had a brief local drive.

But just to reprise on the key standard equipment: There are seven airbags including curtains that stretch to row three, there’s low-speed and high-speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring; lane assist, park assist and multi-collision brake, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and low-speed manoeuvre braking.

Comfortline equipment includes three-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch media screen with navigation, Apple and Android compatibility, three USB ports, keyless access and start, a power tailgate, dynamic LED headlights and 18-inch alloys.

The Highline swaps to 19-inch alloys and a 9.2-inch media screen, adds adaptive cruise control, adaptive chassis control, side assist with rear traffic alert, emergency assist and traffic jam assist, auto high beam, power adjustable front seats with memory, heated outboard seats in row one and two, leather upholstery and ambient interior lighting.

Nice touches in both spec levels include a rechargeable torch in the boot, along with a recess to tuck away the security blind when row three is in action. All 4MOTION models also get some form of drive profile selection, including an off-road mode. There is a spare tyre but it’s a space-saver.

As we reported recently, Volkswagen now lags behind most of its significant opposition with a three-year/unlimited-km warranty.

It does offer capped-priced servicing for the Allspace at the same price as the Tiguan. With servicing set at 20,000km/12 months, the first three years worth of standard services would cost $1712.

We got the chance to sample several different Allspaces, including two models that should be among the most popular based on swb Tiguan sales; the 162TSI Highline with the mostly cosmetic $2900 R-Line options pack and the 132TSI Comfortline.

Both of them are impressive vehicles to sit in. In terms of perceived quality stuff like trim quality and feel they seem many dollars more expensive than they actually are.

And as I tuned the optional digital Active Info instrument panel in the Highline and driveline mode adjuster in the Comfortline that impression was reinforced.

But this interior is really about what’s going on further back. And the big winners are undoubtedly in row two where longer doors provide access to a truly adult-friendly space.

The seat’s 100mm sliding function enables the best compromise to be achieved between legroom for row two and three, although the grommets back there will be small, so they won’t need too much!

There is no shortage of storage boltholes in row one and two and air-con vents go back all the way to row three, where there is also a solitary cupholder. There are flip-up trays on the back of the front seats, door grabs and overhead grabs for all outboard passengers.

The relatively compact size of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and MQB platform it’s based on – shared with impressive vehicles such as the current Golf -- ensures it drives pretty well.

But while the Highline has all the bells and whistles and extra oomph, the Comfortline felt like it was all you would ever need.

Its less aggressive tyre and wheel combination also meant it rode with less testiness on broken roads. Even in the comfort setting the Highline couldn’t match the suppleness of the Comfortline’s passive set-up.

And when push came to shove, the fundamental set-up of both cars was to drop into safety first understeer, a state relieved by a throttle lift without a skerrick of rear-end waywardness.

Nor did the Highline’s extra 30kW and 30Nm make it feel noticably more potent. Both versions felt willing without being wild. As is commonly the case with DSG VWs, the occasional hesitation at tip-in throttle is their biggest driving blight.

That hurts them around town, which is a pity because good visibility, light steering and plenty of driver assist systems help negotiate those tight spaces.

There seems little doubt Volkswagen has a success on its hands with the Allspace. It has plonked a quality competitor into a hot market space.

While us motoring journalists will spend heaps more time writing about romantic, alluring stuff like the Golf GTI, it’s the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace that will be the metal moving from VW dealerships in big numbers.

How much does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 132TSI Comfortline cost?
Price: $45,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 132kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed DSG auto
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 181g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)

How much does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI Highline R-Line cost?
Price: $52,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 162kW/350Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed DSG auto
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 191g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)