The Tiguan mid-sized SUV is Volkswagen third best selling model range in the UK behind the Golf and Polo hatchbacks.
The 5-seater Tiguan and it larger 7-seat Tiguan Allspace form the meat in the VW sandwich of their ever extending range of SUVs. Globally over 5-million Tiguans have been sold in its 11-year history. Top layer of the VW SUV range is the large and heavyweight Touareg with its 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine power with 4Motion traction. Moving in a downwards direction is the Tiguan Allspace, the Tiguan, the T-Roc and arriving soon is the even smaller T-Cross.
SUV’s or 4x4s account for more than one in three new cars sold in the UK and Europe so Volkswagen seems to have the entire size menu covered with their multiple range and on this occasion it’s the 2019 model year Tiguan Allspace we are putting through its paces.
Following recent specification and engine changes the 2019 Tiguan 5-seat range prices start from £23,990 and rise to £40,955 with petrol, diesel, manual, automatic and 2WD or 4WD variations to choose from and a wide range of spec levels. The Tiguan Allspace latest range is priced from £29,515 and rises to £43,205.
Like the Tiguan, the Allspace 2019 range sees the arrival of the new 1.5-litre TSI Evo 150hp petrol engine which replaces the previous 1.4-litre TSI unit. Also on offer is a 2.0-litre TSI 190hp petrol engine but the vast majority of buyers traditionally still opt for a diesel unit for their Allspace. On offer are 2.0-litre TDI engines with the choice of 150 and 190hp and a BiTDI 240hp unit. Depending on the engine, 2WD or 4Motion traction is available as are manual or automatic gearboxes. For 2019 there is an extended range of specification levels moving from three to five levels. These are now SE Navigation, Match, SEL, R-Line and R-Line Tech. Available as an option is an ‘off-road’ pack which provides a different style of front bumper to increase the approach angle and includes added underbody protection that reaches from the front bumper to the rear of the vehicle
The clue as to what this model range is all about comes from its name – Allspace and add in Tiguan we can take for granted it’s an SUV with a versatile roomy 7-seat interior or if you prefer fold down the rear or second rows of seats to provide a combination of passenger and load carrying combinations.
Like the ‘classic’ Tiguan, the new Tiguan Allspace is built on Volkswagen’s MQB highly rated modular platform. The Allspace has a wheelbase 109mm longer than the Tiguan as it increases from 2,681mm to 2,787mm. This leads to a total vehicle length of 4,701mm, which is an increase of 215 mm over the Tiguan. The resulting interior volume provides the room for more luggage and a third row of seats. The rear two individual seats say VW are suited to people up to five feet two inches tall and in the UK they are included as standard.
Five adults and their luggage can fit comfortably in the car. With five seats occupied in the first two rows there is up to 700-litres of luggage space (Tiguan: 615-litres). With the middle and rear rows of seats folded down the luggage space increases to a total of 1,775-litres, which means items such as sports equipment can be loaded into the rear of the car. With all seven seats in place the boot still measures 230-litres and for good measure all versions have an electronically operated tailgate.
The exterior styling of the Allspace is more or less a repeat of that used for the Tiguan models but with different proportions and of course the extra wheelbase and body length. The radiator grille is higher, the grille is more upright and the bonnet carries different accent lines from front to rear. The rear side doors are longer to provide easier access to the third row of seats and there is a sharper upwards curve for the rear side windows behind the C-pillar. The roof is of course elongated with a flowing semi-coupe side profile but that design of course restricts adult passenger headroom in the two rearward seats. Headroom and legroom throughout the rest of the vehicles is very good so should it be called the ‘All-but-rear space’ instead of Allspace?
Upfront the cockpit and front seats layout is the same as with the regular Tiguan, well placed easy and logical switches and controls, the usual centrally positioned touchscreen that provides access to sat/nav, DAB radio and a host of other functions but gladly the vehicle has separate heating, ventilation and air distribution controls plus independent front heated seats buttons. The lower centre console leading from the dashboard to the front seats houses the gear shift lever, electronic parking brake and the rotary controller for the various modes offered by the 4Motion traction system. The centre button in the rotary controller is used to select one of several performance modes. The equipment, driving safety support and connectivity specification is fully comprehensive on the SEL version I tested. For good measure this version has a 10.3-inch Active Info Display screen in the instrument binnacle which can be adjusted to provide various displays of instruments and driving information.
This is in addition to the 8.0-inch centrally positioned touchscreen. LED lighting front and rear and 19-inch alloy wheels are also included with this spec level.
My Tiguan Allspace test drive model was the SEL 2.0-litre 190hp TDI with a 7-speed DSG auto gearbox and 4Motion traction priced at £38,725. If you were thinking of adding any extra cost options you would be very close to breaking the £40k on-the-road price barrier which would mean an extra £310 of VED Standard rate road tax for five years from year two onwards. The CO2 emissions are 147g/km so the new VED road tax costs from April this year are £530 followed by the new Standard rate of £145. Just under half of Allspace UK sales go to business/fleet customer, the majority will be diesel powered models so the new Benefit-in-Kind tax level is 37%. Insurance is Group 23E and warranty is the usual VW Group of brands ungenerous 3-years/60,000-miles cover.
Whilst the 2.0-litre TDI 150hp is the mainstay workhorse diesel engine in the range, the 190hp version of the same capacity unit just adds that bit more power and torque if the vehicle is going to be used loaded or for towing on a regular basis. It just gives that bit more ‘muscle’ but I think with a marginal loss in refinement. It’s noisier and the diesel ‘clatter’ is noticeable on start up from cold and at tickover. Once underway the noise drifts away and the driving experience is more refined. This unit delivers a hefty 400Nm of torque from 1,900rpm and that suits the slick and smooth changing 7-speed auto gearbox ratios very well. Top speed is 130mph with the zero to 62mph acceleration time of a usefully short 8.6-seconds. The 2019 new WLTP official Combined Cycle fuel economy figure is 38.7mpg and that is considerably lower than the previous 2018 model year Combined Cycle figure of 47.9mpg recorded under the now defunct NEDC testing system. The new WLTP figure was certainly much more accurate as my week of motoring using all types of roads and traffic conditions returned a real-life figure of 39.5mpg for the week and 44.8mpg on one long journey but that was not carrying much weight in terms of passengers.
The Allspace is an undemanding car to drive given its size, it neither sparkles for outright performance but nor does it disappoint. It’s totally functional, solid and well made, well equipped and comfortable so there isn’t much not to like. It just failed to grab my attention; it’s not the vehicle you might aspire to own. It’s hard to fault but equally hard to get excited about. The Skoda Kodiaq with the same engine/transmission and seven seats is less costly, roomier, probably has sharper handling and looks more interesting inside and out.
MILESTONES: 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace SEL 2.0 TDI, 190hp, 7-speed automatic, 4Motion. Price: £38,725. Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder direct injection turbodiesel with particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction, 190hp and 400Nm of torque, 7-speed DSG twin clutch automatic, 4Motion on demand all wheel drive. Performance: 130mph, 0-62mph 8.6-seconds, WLTP Combined Cycle 38.7mpg (39.5mpg on test), CO2 147g/km, new VED First Year road tax £530 then £145 Standard rate, BiK company car tax rate 37%. Insurance group: 23E. Warranty: 3-years/60,000-miles. Dimensions/capacities: L 4,701mm, W 1,839mm, H 1,674mm, wheelbase 2,787mm, boot/load space 230 to 1,775-litres, braked towing weight 2,400kg, 5-doors/7-seats.
For: Builds on the popularity of the Tiguan family of SUVs, 7-seats or variable amounts of load space, well equipped, well made, strong engine, smooth auto gearbox, easy to live with. Against: Limited third row of seats head and legroom, lacks desirability in terms of a ‘wow’ factor with conservative interior styling and bland kerb appeal, expensive and the usual ungenerous VW Group warranty period. Miles Better News Agency
