2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Review

One of the more recent models that Volkswagen developed for the market (and is surprisingly present in Malaysia) is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace – essentially a stretched, seven-seater version of the second generation Volkswagen Tiguan that we all know and love.

Historically, the Tiguan was one of Volkswagen’s first crossover SUV models, being developed on a modified version of the Golf platform. This saw massive success in many markets around the world, including our own – and it was introduced here with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, eventually being provided with a 1.4-litre TSI powerplant with its facelift variant.

With the second-generation Tiguan, Malaysians were limited to just the 1.4-litre TSI variants in a variety of trim levels. Just last year, the Allspace variant of the Tiguan was introduced with two different variants on offer and two different engines as well. The model went through a mild facelift in the first quarter of this year, in line with global changes and the update to the regular five-seater Tiguan. The facelift Tiguan Allspace was unveiled in Malaysia in March 2022 and the baseline Tiguan the Allspace Life was introduced on August 1st the same year, completing the Tiguan line up for the Malaysian market.

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Specifications

There are two engine options that you can have with your Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.

• The entry-level model, the Life gets the same powerplant as the mid-tier Elegance, a 1.4 TSI turbocharged powerplant, making 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque. This powerplant should be familiar to fans of Volkswagen’s products, being available in other models like the Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Jetta. Much like the regular Tiguan, this engine is mated with a six-speed wet-clutch DSG transmission – a dual-clutch type automatic transmission. For the Life and Elegance, power is delivered exclusively to the front wheels which is pretty par for the course when it comes to your modern crossover SUV.

• The top-spec variant is the R-Line 4Motion, which comes with the more potent 2.0 TSI – a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine that hails from the same engine family as ones found in the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R. In this state of tune it makes 220 PS and 350 Nm of torque, which is more than what the Passat and Arteon currently make. Perhaps the reason for this is the fact that it comes with the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system which naturally has more parasitic losses and rolling resistance. Between the engine and the wheels is a seven-speed wet-clutch DSG, similar in design to the Mk 7.5 Golf R. With this in mind, the R-Line variant of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is easily the most powerful option in class.

As you can imagine, the dimensions of the Tiguan Allspace are a little larger than that of the Tiguan in order to accommodate that third row of seats. The wheelbase is a hefty 2,791 mm, which is 110 mm longer than the regular Tiguan. The length also grows by around 230 mm to 4,712 mm, while the width remains the same at 1,839 mm.

Exterior of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

It’s the looks that you’re familiar with when it comes to a Volkswagen product, applied to a body that’s designed for people hauling. The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is what you would imagine a stretched Tiguan to look like – perhaps a little awkward from certain angles, but handsome and muscular in all the right ways. The facelift model brought some obvious changes that bring it more in line with the newest of Volkswagen’s corporate visual identity, and these alterations are mostly concentrated at the front with slimmer headlights and daytime running light flourishes that run the full width across a new, larger front grille.

In terms of wheel choices, the Life and Elegance 1.4 TSI variant gets 18-inch Frankfurt alloys in Silver, wrapped in 235/55 R18 tyres. The higher-spec R-Line 4Motion 2.0 TSI gets 19-inch alloys in the Valencia design, with 255/45 R19 tyres wrapping around each wheel. Both models get full LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and LED tail lights – with R-line getting the 3D effect. The R-Line model also looks sportier with the additional R-Line bodykit that sharpens up the lines.

Interior of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Given that the width doesn’t change a great deal between the Volkswagen Tiguan and its Allspace sibling, you can’t expect radical changes on the inside. The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace looks and feels pretty much the same on the inside as a regular Tiguan, in terms of the way the dashboard and centre console is laid out. The only more obvious change is for third-row passengers where it can be a little cramped, though entry and egress through a folding second row are made easier than you would expect.

The facelift model saw an increase in equipment across the range with keyless entry, and a reversing camera, VW’s AirCare cabin purification system, hands-free powered tailgate, and push-start are now standard.

All variants of the 2022 Tiguan Allspace except for the Life (fabric) receive rather similarly appointed interiors with black Vienna leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats(not available on the Life) that are both heated and ventilated, tri-zone climate control, and a 9.2-inch Discover Pro touch infotainment unit that’s teamed with an 11.7-inch digital instrument cluster. There are upgrades given to the R-Line, of course, but the pair are more similar than they are alike. This high-spec variant receives the usual raft of R-Line logos, metallic pedal finishers, and a 480-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Safety Features

While the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a relatively new model in the Volkswagen range, it is derived from a car that has effectively been around since the mid-2010s which means it suffers from the issue of not being packaged with advanced driver assistance systems like autonomous emergency braking. Both variants get the simpler items like ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability control, anti-slip regulation (traction control), and so on. The facelifted model added an active safety feature in the form of a Lane Keep Assist. 

For those who thought the Life would be thin in this department, think again as VW has decided to keep most of the safety features from the other two higher variants, including ESC,ABS with brake assist,multi-collision brakes, intelligent crash response system (ICRS), electronic parking brake (EPB) as well as lane assist and driver Alert systems.

2022 Tiguan Allspace Pros and Cons

It’s not exactly difficult to see who the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is aimed at. Those who have grown up and fallen in love with the Volkswagen brand will see the appeal in this seven-seater if they have the need for that seating capacity but don’t want an outright MPV – whether that doesn’t quite fit their lifestyle or for image reasons.

The real strengths of the Tiguan Allspace are in its packaging and design – the build quality that Volkswagen is known for – and the way they drive and feel. For such a large vehicle, the Tiguan Allspace is surprisingly light on its feet handling quick directional changes without protest. The 1.4 TSI variant feels more nimble with its lighter front end, while the 2.0 TSI variant has that all-wheel-drive system for superior traction at corner exits or in less than sticky road conditions.

The weakest part of the Allspace, however, is still in the safety department, despite being given Lane Keep Assist. Given the larger size of these vehicles, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and a 360-camera system would have been hugely appreciated.

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Price In Malaysia

Prices for the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace start at RM172,990 for the Life, RM 179,990 for the Elegance, inclusive of everything you need to get the car on the road short of insurance. The R-Line 2.0 TSI 4MOTION brings this price up to RM 220,527. All prices are inclusive of three years of free maintenance, a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, and five years of roadside assistance.

Key Features of the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace facelift

With the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, the amenities for the top two variants are as you would expect – keyless entry and a reversing camera, VW’s AirCare cabin purification system, hands-free powered tailgate, and push-start are now standard.

All variants of the 2022 Tiguan Allspace except for the Life also receive rather similarly appointed interiors with black Vienna leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats that are both heated and ventilated, tri-zone climate control, and a 9.2-inch Discover Pro touch infotainment unit that’s teamed with an 11.7-inch digital instrument cluster. There are upgrades given to the R-Line, of course, but the pair are more similar than they are alike. This high-spec variant receives the usual raft of R-Line logos, metallic pedal finishers, and a 480-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Fuel Consumption

Fuel consumption for the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace changes depending on the variant.

• The Life 1.4 TSI and Elegance 1.4TSI variants manages to return 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres or 13.7 kilometres per litre.

• The R-Line 4Motion 2.0 TSI variant consumes a bit more fuel at 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres or 11.5 kilometres per litre.

Both of these figures should be taken with a pinch of salt as these are turbocharged engines, and running them harder will consume significantly more fuel than if you keep them on a simmer at a cruise.