Allspace set to make an impact

Test Drive by Graham Breeze

Volkswagen plans to make a big impact in the SUV sector during 2018 with the Tiguan Allspace arriving in showrooms this month.

The company sold 29,000 Tiguans in the UK during 2017 and wants to improve on that figure with the launch of the Allspace – offering more room for luggage and passengers with this seven-seat arrival.

The new Allspace is simply a bigger version. It’s 215mm longer with an extra 100mm of wheelbase to accommodate an extra row of seats, though VW bosses admit the back row is only really suitable for children or dwarfs.

The Tiguan Allspace can carry up to seven people and still boast a luggage capacity of 230 litres. Or, with five people in the car, the luggage capacity is 700 litres, an increase of 85 litres over the ‘regular’ Tiguan. A bit more rear seat adjustment reveals a total of 1,775 litres of space – that’s enormous.

Three high specification trim levels make up the Tiguan Allspace range. Beginning with the generously equipped SE Navigation models, it continues with the luxurious SEL and sporty R-Line.

Equipment levels are high across the board in the Tiguan Allspace. Every model has at least 18-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors and 3Zone climate control. All have Volkswagen’s Discover Navigation infotainment system with an 8inch colour touchscreen, satellite navigation, DAB radio and a CD player, as well as Bluetooth smartphone connectivity.

Driver assistance systems fitted across the board come in the form of Adaptive Cruise Control, which tracks the speed of the car ahead and automatically accelerates and brakes the Allspace, as well as Lane Assist, Front Assist and City emergency braking.

SEL spec adds Active Info Display, Volkswagen’s 12.3inch TFT screen mounted in the instrument binnacle. It offers customisable menus that display a range of different information about the car such as speed, gear, fuel consumption, navigation instructions or map, and much more. SEL trim also includes 19inch alloy wheels, front sports seats with 14-way adjustment, hands-free boot opening, and a panoramic sunroof.

R-Line brings a variety of sporty styling cues to the Tiguan Allspace, including 20-inch ‘Suzuka’ alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension, a body-coloured rear spoiler, and black interior roof lining.

Engine options are broadly similar to the Tiguan. The 1.4-litre TSI ACT engine has a peak power output figure of 150 PS (5,000 to 6,000 rpm) and benefits from Active Cylinder Technology, which means two of the four cylinders shut down when the car is cruising to save fuel.

A second petrol option is the 2.0-litre 180 PS TSI unit, available exclusively with 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

The diesel range includes three 2.0-litre turbocharged engines, with peak power outputs of 150 PS, 190 PS and 240 PS. The 150 PS unit is particularly versatile, with the choice of front-wheel drive or 4MOTION all-wheel drive and six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearboxes.

Larger rear doors enable good access to the third row of seats, while the contours around the C-pillar are also new.

Testing the SEL 2.0 BiTDi SCR 4Motion 240PS with seven-speed DSG revealed a top speed of 142mph and 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. Combined fuel consumption figures of 43.5mpg are not the best in the sector and C02 emissions of 170g/km are also on the high side.

Volkswagen claim Tiguan Allspace is a capable off-road SUV too, though we didn’t get the chance to put those boasts to the test. The optional off-road pack offers an alternative front bumper design to increase the approach angle from 16.9 degrees to 24 degrees. It also adds additional underbody protection and chrome door sill protectors.

All Allspace models equipped with 4MOTION all-wheel drive include 4MOTION Active Control, an intuitively operated rotary/push-button switch that allows the driver to activate one of four driving modes.

The Tiguan Allspace aims to strengthen VW sales performance as a standalone car with prices starting from £29,370, the model tested hit the road at just under £43,000 – a hefty bill, though it did include all the top spec.

Volkswagen would appear to be in a good place again and with several other arrivals planned in 2018 this could just be a good year for the company.