Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure 2022 Review

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure is priced from $51,990 plus on-road costs. That positioning effectively puts it $7400 upstream of the most affordable seven-seat Tiguan Allspace variant available, the 110TSI Life .

Put another way, the Adventure is the most affordable entry into VW’s EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine in Tiguan form, sitting $5000 downstream from the existing Tiguan Allspace 162TSI Elegance.

The Adventure is also aligned closely with off-road-oriented packages like the venerable Subaru Outback.

The 162TSI Adventure loses the third row of seats in the long-wheelbase version of the Volkswagen Tiguan mid-size SUV and combines the extra cargo capacity – out to 760 litres with the rear seats upright – with a swag of ‘off-road’ and camping-oriented additions.

If the larger-body/five-seat brief sounds vaguely familiar, it is. The US market’s five-seat Tiguan is in fact based on the longer-wheelbase body style.

Although Volkswagen Australia officials wouldn’t be willing to admit it, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure is something of a parts bin special. But in a good way.

Limited to just 1500 examples, the Adventure cherry-picks parts from VW’s considerable inventory, including a plastic bash plate which covers more underbody real estate, tyre pressure monitoring, and 17-inch Dublin alloy wheels shod with taller-profile Hankook rubber – features purportedly designed to offer greater flexibility over dirt roads and mixed surfaces.

An increased battery capacity and larger 180-amp alternator plays to the same camping theme, while heated front cloth seats offer great long-journey amenity through the colder months.

Buyers also have a choice of three no-cost accessory packages which play on the adventure theme. The summer pack combines rear sun shades and all-weather floor mats, the winter pack combines snow chains and all-weather floor mats and the all-year package combines a boot liner with a rear loading protection plate and said floor mats.

Other standard equipment includes tri-zone climate control, tinted windows, keyless entry (front doors only), keyless start and automatic headlights/wipers.

VW has also steered clear of options in the name of simplicity, with metallic paint the only box to tick for an additional $900.

The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure is backed by Volkswagen’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Buyers also have the option of three-year ($1650) or five-year ($2950) servicing packs available at the point of the purchase, based on 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Despite its robust brief, the Tiguan Allspace Adventure lets itself down with the fitment of a space-saver temporary spare tyre in place of a full-size spare. It also misses out on an electric tailgate function.

It’s very safe. In fact, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure was partly conceived in the name of safety.

According to Volkswagen Australia, the entire Tiguan range will be impacted by reduced equipment levels in 2023, on account of the ongoing computer chip crisis. This includes the removal of safety systems such as side assist and rear cross traffic alert.

As a workaround, VW conceived the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure, which allows the company to squeeze all of that equipment in as standard.

As a result, the Adventure gets the full gamut of IQ. Drive safety equipment available: side assist, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert, travel assist with adaptive lane guidance, emergency assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, driver fatigue detection system, front assist with pedestrian monitoring, lane assist, manoeuvre braking front and rear and park assist.

The Tiguan Allspace Adventure carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating that dates back to 2016.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure reflects its price positioning within the Tiguan line-up in terms of tech.

That is to say, it gets all the mid-level features but skimps on some equipment reserved for flagship models.

Standard items include the smaller 8.0-inch centre touch-screen display (down from 9.2-inch), but a digital instrument cluster, gesture control, voice control and a digital radio are all fitted.

There’s also a wireless phone charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, plus three USB-C ports and three 12-volt outlets dotted around the cabin.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure is powered exclusively by the higher-output 162TSI 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 162kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

It drives all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission and Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.

Within that 4MOTION suite is a hill descent control function and an electronic differential lock.

Despite the more rugged intentions, the Adventure model is fitted with a sports suspension tune that Volkswagen says maintains the Allspace’s “dynamic handling” and “sports performance”. The tune itself is carryover from the regular Tiguan Allspace, despite the removal of the two rear seats.

Compared to the standard-wheelbase five-seater Volkswagen Tiguan, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace measures 4734mm long, adding about 25cm in length including a longer rear overhang.

Volkswagen claims a fuel consumption average of 8.6L/100km on the combined cycle for the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure, using the required minimum 95 RON premium unleaded fuel.

The Allspace Adventure is fitted with a 60-litre fuel tank, while its 0-100km/h sprint time is listed as 6.8sec.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure drives much like any other Tiguan model, if we’re honest – and that’s no bad thing.

Polished, sporty and refined, the Adventure ably mixes comfort with performance duties to create a strong, well-rounded drive.

Additionally, the fitment of 17-inch wheels with thicker-sidewall tyres complements the all-rounder brief, offering marginally more isolation from bumps underneath compared with low-profile alternatives.

The driving experience is initially beset with some hesitation upon pulling away from a standstill, a symptom of the dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Beyond that point, however, progress is tractable and smooth – even clinical with the way the seven-speed auto expediently pedals through its ratios.

Torque from the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is plentiful, helping the drivetrain settle into a natural low-to-mid-range cadence. Power is equally generous in the higher echelons, the four-pot revving willingly to its circa-6500rpm cut-out.

Otherwise, the Tiguan Allspace Adventure offers pleasing dynamics and well-honed controls, with nicely weighted steering and excellent body control during changes in direction and over bumps alike.

The larger glasshouse design of the Allspace body also cultivates great outward vision, while VW’s progressive steering system offers differing weighting and its sports suspension feels well connected to surfaces underneath.

It makes for an effortless companion on country roads and the highway alike.

Expect some persistent tyre roar and the occasional thud over harsher obstacles on the road, but a polished package overall.

Surprisingly, yes. Well, it can comfortably tackle dirt roads, we should say.

The national launch included an extended section of dirt roads, whereupon the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure enamoured with its stability and composure on mixed surfaces heavily impacted by recent rain events.

A quick-thinking stability control suite does an excellent job of keeping the Allspace Adventure in check on dirt surfaces, complemented by the smarts of the all-wheel drive system.

We wouldn’t want to take the Allspace Adventure too far from the bitumen – mainly on account of its minimum 186mm ground clearance and road-centric tyres – but it isn’t afraid of the occasional dirt road or fire trail.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure is surprisingly roomy inside, especially where rear seat space and boot space are concerned.

Clever packaging and terrific adjustability combine to make a space that is well-geared for ferrying little ones, hauling luggage or, equally, facilitating golf clubs or a mountain bike with the rear seats stowed.

Fore and aft adjustment for the rear seat maximises the spatial layout, while quick-fold levers in the cavernous 760-litre boot area offer a fast, easy way to collapse the rear seatback.

The space provided in the second row is excellent, where air vents and power outlets are also welcome inclusions.

Up front, there’s a strong selection of incidental storage, while the technology interface is user-friendly and functional on the move thanks to touch-screen capability and an assortment of hard-wired switchgear.

Unsurprisingly, the Adventure cannot emulate the luxury wares of more expensive Tiguan options, yet its combination of cloth seats, soft-touch materials and proven tech and safety create a functional, harmonious space nonetheless.

Away from sight lines, harder plastics occupy some touch-points – in line with the Tiguan Allspace Adventure’s price.

For all the marketing rhetoric, there is a lot of merit to the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure.

In cherry-picking the parts bin, Volkswagen Australia has conceived a car that offers the power and refinement of the 162TSI engine at the cheapest price point, a cavernous cabin layout and open window line with decent equipment levels.

The absence of a full-size spare wheel flies in the face of its positioning as a dabbler in off-road touring, but otherwise the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure feels like a worthy – albeit temporary – addition to the fleet.

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Adventure at a glance:
Price: $51,990 (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)

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