Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace – What you need to know

In mid-2016 Volkswagen Australia introduced the second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan. Longer, lower, and wider, with more interior space and a fresh new look, the Tiguan sits on a platform shared with the Audi A3 and Golf.

Just a couple of years later the range expanded with additional seven-seat variants, each named the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.

With the seven-seaters added, plus the reintroduction of the entry-level Trendline and a 140kW diesel flagship for the Allspace, the Tiguan range has jumped to eight different variants – most of them all-wheel drive (‘4MOTION’) models. The three trim levels comprise the entry-level Trendline (not available in the Allspace configuration), mid-spec Comfortline and top-rung Highline, and the range is powered by four different engines – all of them turbocharged four-cylinder units and just one a diesel. Reflecting their respective power figures in kilowatts, these engines are the 110TSI, 132TSI, 162TSI and 140TDI – the last being the diesel.

Prices range from $34,990 to $54,690.

With so many combinations, working your way through them all is no easy feat. Which is why we have done the hard yards and come up with this Tiguan range snapshot for you.

The word that best describes the equipment level in base Tiguan Trendline is 'plentiful'. Standard kit includes:

>> Eight-inch infotainment screen
>> 17-inch alloy wheels
>> Manual air conditioning
>> Park Assist
>> Auto-on halogen headlights
>> Rain-sensing wipers
>> Cruise control
>> Driver fatigue detection
>> Rear view camera
>> Lane assist

Metallic Paint is a $800 option for all models, and Pure White is the sole colour available that’s not metallic. The only other stand-alone option for the Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace is an electric/glass sunroof, costing buyers $2000 and only available in the Highline variants.

Volkswagen does offer the Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace with a number of model-specific option packs:

>> Driver Assistance ($1600, N/A Highline)
>> Sound and Vision (N/A Trendline, Comfortline $3200, Highline $3000)
>> Luxury (Comfortline $4000)
>> R-Line performance (Highline $3000)

The Driver Assistance pack for the Trendline variants include adaptive cruise control, side assist with rear traffic alert, emergency assist, traffic jam assist and electrically foldable exterior mirrors. Comfortline models are already equipped as standard with electric fold-in mirrors, gaining Dynamic Light Assist as part of the package instead.

The Sound & Vision package features active info display, area view, dynaudio premium sound system & ambient interior lighting at the Comfortline level of trim, but the pack drops the already-standard ambient lighting in the case of the Highline models.

Reserved exclusively for the Comfortline grade, the luxury pack bundles up Vienna leather upholstery (for the third-row also in the Allspace models), electrically-adjustable driver’s seat with position-memory function, heated front seats and an electric/glass sunroof.

Only available in the Highline grade, the R-Line package includes a body kit, upgraded interior, 20-inch Suzuka alloy wheels and progressive steering.

The beaut thing with the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Tiguan Allspace is you don't have to buy anything more than the Trendline to get the identical safety features of the top spec Highline, except for longitudinal and height adjustable head restraints, which aren’t available in the basic Trendline model, that variant making do with height adjustment only. Reserved for the Comfortline and above is 4MOTION Active control all-wheel drive.

All models come with active bonnet/pedestrian protection, ISOFIX child safety seat anchorage points, two front airbags, an airbag for the driver’s knee, side-impact airbags for front-seat occupants and curtain airbags to protect the head. Driver-assist systems include low-speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, multi-collision braking, emergency brake signal, lane-keep assist, driver fatigue monitoring, a reversing camera and front/rear parking sensors.

Which model will give you the features you want?

There is no need to shell out for a Highline to get multi-zone air-conditioning with humidity sensors and auto recirculation, as it's also standard in the Comfortline. If you’re satisfied with adjusting the aircon manually, look no further than the Trendline.

Like a coffee or a cold drink? The Trendline has a front armrest with two cupholders and if you want your rear seat passengers to have an armrest with cupholders, you have to order at least the Comfortline, which also boasts fold-out tables on the rear of the front seats.

Leather trim is available, but it's only standard on the top-spec Highline, for the rest of the range it is cloth trim. The Comfortline variants can be ordered with the Luxury pack (see above, under options) for leather upholstery. All models come with leather-bound steering wheel however.

Both the Tiguan Comfortline and Highline models have LED headlights with cornering function, auto self-levelling auto kerb function, which tilts the passenger-side exterior mirror when reversing.

One very handy feature that once again is unavailable in the Tiguan Trendline is the electrically-operated tailgate for easy opening and closing. Keeping your bits and bobs in one place in the back means you'll have to order a Comfortline with its luggage floor net as standard.

Heated front seats, with memory function and lumbar support are part of the standard fare on the Highline But the Comfortline provides manual lumbar adjustment of both front seats.

Only the Highline gets gearshift paddles.

If premium LED tail lights with dark red covers, privacy side-glass and 19-inch alloy wheels are what you crave, they all belong to the Highline. The Trendline has its 17-inch alloys and the Comfortline sits in between with 18-inch wheels. Don't worry about them being knocked off, as all models have anti-theft wheel bolts.

The eight-inch colour touch screen with Volkswagen’s well liked proximity sensor is available at the Trendline level, but if satellite navigation is a must, the most affordable way is to buy a Comfortline variant. Moving up to the flagship Highline grade brings with it a larger 9.2-inch infotainment and a bunch other goodies such as voice recognition and a 10gb internal hard drive.

Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Bluetooth with audio streaming are standard features right across the board. All variants also come equipped with eight speakers and two USB ports.

Where once there was good news for lovers of manual transmissions, now it’s all just acrimony and tears, but no DIY gears. The manual transmission Trendline variant in the Volkswagen Tiguan range has been dropped, leaving buyers just dual-clutch (DSG) transmission alternatives. You can opt for the six-speed DSG (dual-clutch) gearbox that’s matched to the 1.4-litre 110 kilowatt (kW) petrol engine, which is front-wheel drive only.

Step up to the Comfortline and your choices are expanded. You can choose from the same 110kW petrol engine, but still with the six-speed DSG.

Or, you can order a more powerful 132kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine bolted up to a seven-speed DSG, plus 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

The two most powerful engines in the Tiguan range are fittingly reserved for the range-topping Highline variant.

The 162kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine comes from the Golf GTI hot-hatch, making this model the whippet of the pack. That said, the 2.0-litre 140kW diesel is no slouch and is very frugal as well, but it’s only available in the seven-seat Allspace variant. Both engines come with the seven-speed DSG and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

There’s a facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan on the way to Australia in 2021, which confuses the issue – buy now or wait for the uprade? The facelifted Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace are expected to introduce price increases, but also hold out the prospect of a Tiguan R flagship. While the new model will bring a substantially revamped interior, the current model’s layout has stood the test of time. For me, without the need to seat seven, I would by-pass the Tiguan Allspace, despite that being a good machine, and the only variant with the 140kW diesel.

As fun as the 162TSI variants can be – packing a Golf GTI engine under the bonnet – you’re looking at close to $8000 more for that fun than the outlay for the Tiguan Comfortline with the 132kW engine. Depending on your priorities, you might choose to spend some or all of that $8000 on the Driver Assistance, Sound & Vision and Luxury option packs for what would be a very nice car indeed. So that would be my choice, the Tiguan 132TSI Comfortline 4MOTION.

How much does the Volkswagen Tiguan cost?
Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI Trendline – $34,990
Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI Comfortline – $39,490
Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI Comfortline 4MOTION – $43,990
Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Highline – $51,690

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Comfortline – $40,990
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 132TSI 4MOTION Comfortline – $45,490
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI 4MOTION Highline – $53,190
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 140TDI 4MOTION Highline – $54,690

Prices exclude on-road costs.

This article was originally published in December 2017 and has been updated to reflect the inclusion of the seven-seat Allspace models, revised specification and reduced option prices.

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