Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 2022 Review

If location is the golden rule in real estate, then surely practicality is the equivalent for the modern SUV.

Seven-seat family chariots have steadily grown in size and price over the past decade; for some, becoming impractically large.

That brings us to the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.

Smaller in stature than most large family SUVs on the market, the 5+2 version of the enduring Volkswagen Tiguan five-seater mid-size SUV lines up more closely against the likes of the Peugeot 5008 and the seven-seat version of the new Mitsubishi Outlander.

On paper it is practicality personified, but how does the updated Tiguan Allspace fare in reality?

Reflecting the regular five-seat Volkswagen Tiguan line-up which underwent a similar visual and technological refresh in 2021, the seven-seat 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is available in three model grades – Life, Elegance and R-Line – and with a choice of four different powertrains: three turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines (110TSI, 132TSI and 162TSI) and a turbo-diesel (147TDI).

The Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life anchors the line-up at $44,590 plus on-road costs, marking a $3600 increase in base price.

As our separate pricing story details, buyers pay incrementally more for as they move up the model walk with more powerful engines and more equipment at each trim level. There’s also optional packages at every corner.

The Elegance grade starts at $56,990 plus ORCs, while the R-Line adds a further $3200.

Here, we’re testing the most popular model, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line, priced at $60,190 plus ORCs.

It’s worth noting the same grade (sans some equipment) set buyers back $51,650 only three years ago, but that’s largely par for the course in today’s inflationary new-car market.

In terms of equipment, Tiguan Allspace Life models come standard with a high level of equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch Discover Media navigation system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio, wireless App-Connect, wireless phone charging, Digital Cockpit Pro, tri-zone climate control, automatic LED headlights, LED tail-lights, rain-sensing wipers, a reversing camera and powered tailgate.

On the safety front, Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive suite comprises travel assist, front assist, lane assist, emergency assist, adaptive cruise control, side assist, rear cross traffic alert, park assist, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue detection and 360-degree occupant protection.

Metallic paint costs between $900 and $1100, depending on the colour.

Building on the Life’s standard kit, the Elegance adds bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, ventilated front seats, heated front-row and outer second-row seats, adaptive dampers, Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, a 9.2-inch Discover Pro navigation interface, tinted rear windows, 30-colour ambient interior lighting and some extra chrome and silver styling elements to help underline the connotations of its nameplate.

Finally, the R-Line tested has sporty touches including an R-Line body kit, higher-grade LED tail-lights and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The theme continues inside, primarily via the black headliner and Vienna leather-appointed upholstery, along with sports pedals and an R-Line steering wheel – with haptic buttons – to match the unique progressive steering system.

The Tiguan Allspace is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while a five-year servicing plan costs $2950 based on 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Compared to the standard-wheelbase five-seater Volkswagen Tiguan, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace measures 4700mm long (+220mm) and has a much longer rear overhang (+106mm) to accommodate the third row.

Inside, that translates to an additional 85 litres in boot space (700L overall), while dropping the second row liberates 1775L in the longer-wheelbase version (+110L).

Boot space is rated at 230 litres with all three rows of seating in place.

Otherwise, the Tiguan Allspace carries the same fundamental origins of its donor.

In the case of the 162TSI, that includes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine offering 162kW of power and 350Nm of torque. Drive is apportioned to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes a claimed 6.8 seconds, while fuel use is rated at 8.6L/100km on the combined cycle using minimum 95RON premium unleaded.

The Tiguan Allspace rides on a MacPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension to ensure car-like passage, with 20-inch wheels as standard together with a space-saver spare tyre. A full-size spare would be nice.

Although the new 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace sports a swag of new kit and is dearer than before, the truth is the fundamentals are familiar – and that’s no bad thing.

Settling into the front row for the first time, occupants are treated to a more modern cabin environment with fewer hard-wired buttons and premium finishes.

The centre fascia in particular is now a much cleaner interface than Tiguan SUVs of old, while the infotainment system aligns with the German brand’s newest products – the Volkswagen Golf Mk8 included.

We reckon the execution of technology and practicality here is strong, with ample USB ports, great incidental storage and inherent comfort. Complaints really whittle down to singular gripes, like the absence of a physical volume knob.

Spatially, the Tiguan offers sound proportions for a family of three or four. Those first and second rows are generous with their layouts, with ample legroom, headroom and knee-room and an open glasshouse to create an airy cabin environment.

The bleachers are better for occasional use, with a narrow thoroughfare and limited space – but do win back some points with full airbag coverage in the third row and large second-row door apertures.

But more on those traits when we get hold of another Tiguan Allspace in a few weeks to properly assess what it’s like to live with.

On the road, the Tiguan Allspace’s most inherent feature is its size.

A nippy 11.9-metre turning circle, light low-speed controls and a relatively meagre 1.8-tonne heft facilitate painless and user-friendly passage in tight spaces or congested traffic alike.

Elsewhere, an overhead camera, relatively narrow overhangs and that same open glasshouse imbues the driver with excellent awareness of the Tiguan’s spatial properties.

Less convincing is the take-off procedure. The Tiguan’s EA888 engine/DSG gearbox combination is afflicted with a hesitation and lurchiness that is common in VW Group products.

It’s not a deal-breaker per se, but it is a noticeable character trait that bubbles to the surface in unwanted situations – like when you’re wanting to get away from an intersection with some urgency.

Beyond that point, the turbo-four percolates freely through the rev range and the transmission is excellent in complementing the process.

Peak torque is realised from 1600rpm, while peak power materialises from a heady 4300rpm – the translation being useable go-forward across the dial, the lower echelons heralded by some elasticity in power delivery.

At highway speeds, the engine canters along happily at 1800rpm, meaning excellent real-world efficiency regularly in the 6.5L/100km vicinity. In regular driving you can safely expect numbers in the region of 7.0L/100km – numbers that many larger SUVs could only dream of.

Being smaller in footprint than many seven-seat SUVs, the Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line is more easily upset by sharper bumps in the road. There’s an occasional thud and some low-speed busyness to contend with, denoting its sportier Euro flavour.

The other side of the coin reveals a more fleet-footed dynamic experience during changes in direction, with excellent body control and strong underlying grip from the Allspace’s all-wheel drive system.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace does an admirable job in balancing everyday practicality with strong driving performance and excellent and functional tech.

While its drivetrain and underbody bits are no revelation – dating back more than a decade – the truth is they are still largely effective and efficient in practice.

The latest changes to VW’s 5+2 seater incrementally improve its appeal.

As practicality goes, it’s still a real winner – but the competition is continually circling.

How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line cost?
Price: $60,190 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 162kW/350Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 197g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)