The Allspace represents the most practical variant in the Volkswagen Tiguan line-up, thanks to its 3-row, 7-seat layout. We spent a month with the 1.4 TSI R-Line derivative to gain a deeper understanding of the popular medium SUV’s pros and cons.
The Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan has long been a favourite of South African car buyers, many of whom crave a practical family car that offers excellent build quality, upmarket cabin finishes and, most of all, a premium badge on its grille. All in all, the facelifted 2nd-gen model is an accomplished (and acclaimed) product; it’s little wonder the Tiguan is also the Wolfsburg-based brand’s best-selling model globally.
Compared with the standard Tiguan, the Allspace variant offers owners 2 extra seats at the back, as well as more loading space (when the rearmost row is not occupied). In fact, the Allspace is 217 mm longer, 2 mm higher and has a 111-mm longer wheelbase than the 5-seat Tiguan. This means there is more room for passengers in the front 2 rows and, in 5-seat configuration, you have 145 litres more luggage space in the load bay. The premium for this extra capacity is around R45k at today’s prices (January 2023).
FAST FACTS
- Model: Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 1.4 TSI 110 kW R-Line
- Price: R767 400 (January 2023)
- Engine: 1.4-litre turbopetrol 4-cylinder
- Power/Torque: 110 kW/250 Nm
- Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch DSG
- Fuel consumption: 7.1 L/100 km (claimed)
- Luggage space: 760–1 920 litres
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VW Tiguan Allspace as a holiday car
The annual December migration (from the nation’s land-locked provinces to its coastal regions) plays an inordinately large role in car buyers’ purchasing decisions. Yes, they base their decisions on roles their vehicles will perform for only about 2 or 3 weeks a year, at least that was what a CEO of a prominent car brand told me. That means a model like the Tiguan Allspace ticks several boxes for prospective buyers.
The Tiguan Allspace’s primary task during the end-of-year break was to transport 4 adults, along with their luggage and a mountain bike (sitting on a rack mounted on the deployable towbar – one of my favourite features), from Cape Town to Knysna via the scenic – but rather congested – Garden Route.
I tend to make this 550-km trip a couple of times a year, but this particular journey presented me with an interesting comparison of turbopetrol and -diesel fuel efficiency, because about 3 weeks before the trip, I completed the same route in a 2.0-litre turbodiesel Mercedes-Benz GLB (with a comparable payload).
The Tiguan Allspace’s 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol produces a reasonable amount of power and torque and, even when the medium SUV is transporting 4 occupants and their detritus, the VW can cruise comfortably at the national speed limit with enough shove in reserve to perform brisk overtaking manoeuvres when required. I did find the test unit’s long-haul fuel consumption higher than expected, however; after the 1 100-km round trip, the VW returned 8.2 L/100 km (at an average speed of 100 kph).
The Mercedes-Benz only consumed 5.4 L/100 km, so there’s still something to be said for a turbodiesel’s efficiency on long trips, but they tend to cost more upfront and raise environmental issues, which is why many manufacturers plan to stop making diesel-powered passenger cars before the end of the decade.
I found that the Tiguan Allspace’s fuel economy improved to around to a more sober 7.5 L/100 km when it was just me in the car, which suggests that the VW’s 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine laboured harder than I realised when it needed to haul the added weight of passengers and gear. For those who want a bit more power, however, VW South Africa recently added 132-kW and 162-kW versions to the line-up for 2023.
The Tiguan Allspace’s extra load capacity
The availability of 7 seats (standard in the Allspace) does have its perks when you have to quickly shuffle 6 or 7 people around to say, a restaurant for dinner, or a sports stadium. The 3rd row of seats is tight, but okay, for 2 adults (if the journey is short) or for 2 children, if you want them seated safely and securely.
There’s only a sliver of luggage space when all 7 seats are in use, but that is to be expected in a medium- SUV-based model. The real positive is the extra load capacity you get when the VW is in 5-seater mode. The extended wheelbase/added length of the Allspace allows for quite a lot more luggage space, in fact.
The good bits on the Tiguan Allspace
The 2023 update to the Tiguan Allspace endowed the German 7-seater with a better-looking front end in my opinion; it looks more purposeful and less round and, not to be too unkind, frumpy. This derivative’s R-Line kit and 19-inch wheels certainly add to the look and make the VW look upmarket on the road.
The test unit’s ride quality and overall driving experience proved impressive, but I certainly wouldn’t opt for the 20-inch wheels (shod with 255/40 tyres), because they are likely to make even small road bumps thump through into the cabin. The 1.4 TSI 110 kW R-Line rode composedly on its 255/45 R19 tyres when we traversed dirt roads – more than the GLB did when I tested it late last year – with little body shake and interior rattles (aside from one of the sunglass holders in the roof lining, which occasionally buzzed).
The engine and transmission are well calibrated, which facilitates quick, barely noticeable transitions between gears. There’s an ever-so-slight laggy throttle response when pulling away that might frustrate you if you’re in a hurry, but I suggest selecting a sportier drive mode to exact pacier response times.
The Tiguan Allspace’s interior is very comfortable (in terms of seat comfort) on long journeys and this derivative’s spec level is satisfactory, but VW South Africa may want to consider offering AppConnect and a wireless charging pad as standard (considering what the competition offers at lower price points).
Lastly, with the optional IQ lights fitted, there is nothing you can’t see in the road when driving the Tiguan Allspace at night! They adapt automatically to oncoming traffic, turn with the vehicle and provide brilliant illumination. I highly recommend these if you struggle with night driving or often travel in the dark.
The Tiguan Allspace’s not-so-good aspects
Software glitches appear to be a bit of a bugbear for many manufacturers. Most new vehicles seem reasonably reliable, from a mechanical standpoint, but the software that underpins models’ myriad onboard functions can be finicky and require trips back and forth to dealer workshops to sort out.
The Tiguan Allspace’s infotainment screen got the shakes (the display kept flickering) a few times, but a simple restart “remedied” the problem. The wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto tended to cut out and reconnect several times during trips, so we made sure to always connect via a cable when possible.
It’s also probably time for VW South Africa to start considering which items it can remove from the Tiguan Allspace’s options list – and offer as standard features instead. Extra-cost equipment such as the Discover Pro infotainment screen (with App Connect) is exactly the kind of tech feature that most buyers demand… they consider it almost as essential for everyday driving as a modern automatic transmission! Other optional items I’d like to see VW make standard include the reverse-view camera and park assist.
Summary
The Tiguan Allspace 1.4 TSI 110 kW R-Line is an excellent family SUV. It’s notably more practical than the standard model when it comes to loading things in for the annual migration to the coast (or wherever you may be headed for your holiday). The engine and drivetrain are adequate, but fuel economy takes a bit of a hit when the vehicle’s loaded up. Still, the drive is markedly refined and it rides well over most surfaces.
What’s more, the 7-seater’s interior is comfortable, well-equipped and spacious, but be careful how many options you tick as it can make quite a pricey proposition (R767 400 in January 2023) even pricier.
When you compare the Tiguan Allspace with other 7-seater medium SUVs (not that there are many on the market), the Volkswagen looks less competitive. The Peugeot 5008 is an obvious rival, although it isn’t particularly popular in South Africa. Models such as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and the new Mahindra XUV700 are markedly less expensive than the VW and offer more standard features by comparison.
One thing you will always get with the Tiguan Allspace is peace of mind; VW’s local dealer network is expansive and the brand offers a good product that has proved itself on the market time and again.
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