Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace (2018-2024) Review

The Tiguan Allspace was Volkswagen’s answer for buyers who liked the standard Tiguan but needed more room and occasional seven-seat flexibility. It stretched the formula without changing the character, which meant you got a larger, more family-focused SUV rather than something that felt like a different car entirely.

That was always the appeal. The Tiguan Allspace offered the same tidy, confidence-inspiring feel as the standard Tiguan, but with more legroom in the middle row, a bigger boot and a fold-out third row for those moments when five seats simply were not enough.

The compromise, of course, is that those extra two seats are not especially generous. This is not a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe alternative if you regularly carry seven adults. It makes much more sense as a roomy five-seater with occasional third-row backup.

Even so, the Allspace still makes a lot of sense as a used buy. Volkswagen now points seven-seat SUV buyers towards the Tayron, which effectively leaves the Tiguan Allspace as the previous-generation answer for families who want something larger than a Tiguan without stepping into bigger, pricier SUVs. On the used market, it often looks like a smart way into that kind of practicality.

There's also enough choice to keep things interesting. Buyers can look at sensible diesels, reasonably punchy petrols, front- or four-wheel drive and trims ranging from straightforward family-friendly versions to much more expensive R-Line models. The core appeal, though, is the same across the line-up: space, comfort and a classy cabin.

For most used buyers, the best all-round choice is the 2.0 TDI 150 in Match, SE Nav or SEL trim. That engine gives the Allspace enough shove to cope with a full family load, suits the car’s relaxed character and is the strongest choice for longer trips.

If your mileage is lower, the 1.5 TSI petrol is also worth a look. It’s smoother and quieter at lower speeds, and if you are not regularly filling the car with people and luggage, it’s perfectly capable.

The trick is not to overcomplicate things. The more powerful diesels and petrols exist, but the sensible middle of the range does the Allspace brief best. For most buyers, the entry diesel or petrol in the right trim is enough.

Used Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace prices now start from around £11,000 for earlier, higher-mileage examples, while later facelifted cars and smarter trims can sit much higher.

That spread is part of the appeal. There's enough supply to give buyers choice, but the Allspace tends to hold onto its value better than some mainstream seven-seat alternatives. That can be frustrating if you are bargain hunting, but it also says quite a lot about how desirable the car remains.

If your budget stretches to a later facelifted car, it's usually worth doing. The trim structure is easier to understand, the equipment is generally stronger, and the whole package feels a little fresher.

The related Skoda Kodiaq is the most obvious alternative and, for many buyers, the hardest one to ignore. It offers much the same underlying package, is usually better value and often feels a little more generous in the third row.

The Peugeot 5008 is another strong rival if you want something more stylish inside, while the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are worth a look if proper seven-seat usability matters more. The Nissan X-Trail also sits in the same broad family-SUV space.

Practicality is one of the main reasons to buy a Tiguan Allspace, and it does a lot well. The front seats are roomy and comfortable, the middle row offers generous space, and the additional length over the standard Tiguan makes it feel noticeably more useful for family life.

The second row is a highlight. There's enough legroom for adults, the bench slides to prioritise either passenger or luggage space, and the foldaway tray tables are the sort of thoughtful detail that can genuinely help on longer family trips.

The third row is where expectations need managing. It's usable for children and perfectly serviceable for shorter journeys, but adults will not want to spend long back there. This is better thought of as a five-seater with occasional seven-seat ability than a true seven-up people carrier.

The boot is excellent. Even with all seven seats in place, it’s useful enough for a few shopping bags, and in five-seat mode it opens up to a huge 700 litres. Fold the rear seats and the load area is large, flat and very easy to use. This is one of those SUVs that genuinely earns its practical reputation.

The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace measures 4,701mm long, 1,839mm wide and 1,674mm high. That makes it noticeably longer than the standard Tiguan and puts it right into the heart of the seven-seat family SUV class.

It doesn't feel especially cumbersome on the road, though, which is one of the reasons it works so well as a family car.

The Tiguan Allspace’s tech has aged quite gracefully. The standard touchscreen setup is clear and easy enough to use, and Volkswagen resisted the temptation to bury every function in a screen, which helps the cabin feel straightforward even now.

Navigation, smartphone connectivity and DAB radio are all part of the picture, while higher-spec cars and optioned-up examples bring the larger display, digital instruments and a more premium feel overall.

If technology is high on your list, it's worth hunting out a later car with the larger screen and digital driver display. But even the standard setup is perfectly usable today.

Material quality is very good for the class, and the Tiguan Allspace still feels more expensive than many mainstream alternatives. The design is understated rather than flashy, but there's enough solidity and smart detailing to make it feel properly grown up. It's not an Audi inside, but it's closer than many seven-seat rivals get.

Used buyers can choose from a sensible spread of petrol and diesel engines in the facelifted Tiguan Allspace, but the 2.0 TDI 150 remains the smartest place to start. It suits the size and character of the car well, with enough pulling power to cope with passengers and luggage without ever feeling strained.

The 1.5 TSI is the better fit if your mileage is lower and you want something smoother and quieter around town, but it can feel a little more stretched when the car is fully loaded. Above those sit the more powerful petrol and diesel options, which add pace and, in some cases, four-wheel drive, but do not really change the Allspace’s calm, family-focused character.

The Tiguan Allspace feels very similar to the standard Tiguan on the road, which is mostly a compliment. It has a slightly firm edge at times, particularly on larger wheels, but it generally rides very well and stays impressively well-controlled for a family SUV of this size.

Around town, it feels easier to drive than its size might suggest. The steering is light enough, visibility is decent, and the parking aids fitted to most cars make manoeuvring straightforward.

On a quicker road, the Allspace feels composed and confidence-inspiring rather than sporty. It keeps body movements neatly in check, has plenty of grip and never feels awkward or cumbersome. You can tell it's bigger than the standard Tiguan, but not in a way that ever becomes off-putting.

Refinement is another plus point. Wind and road noise are well suppressed, and the engines generally settle down very well at a cruise. On a long motorway run, the Allspace feels like a very polished, very capable family SUV.

The Tiguan Allspace was not separately crash tested by Euro NCAP, but the standard Tiguan scored five stars, and the two cars are closely related. Just bear in mind that this rating is now considered expired, because Euro NCAP scores have a shelf life of six years due to the safety body’s ever-evolving testing criteria. 

Safety equipment is generous, with adaptive cruise control, emergency braking and a strong list of driver-assistance features fitted across the range. As ever, check the exact specification of the used example you are considering.

Fuel economy is decent rather than exceptional, which is fair enough for a seven-seat SUV of this size. The 2.0 TDI 150 is the most convincing option for buyers covering longer distances, while the 1.5 TSI makes a decent case if your driving is mainly shorter and less heavily loaded.

The more powerful diesels and petrols inevitably use more fuel, and that is one reason the middle of the range is the smartest place to be.

Any remaining manufacturer warranty will depend on the age of the car, but Volkswagen Approved Used examples are the most reassuring place to start.

Volkswagen Approved Used currently includes 1 year of Unlimited Mileage Warranty, 1 year of Roadside Assistance, independent vehicle history and mileage checks, a comprehensive multi-point vehicle check and service history checks. That extra reassurance is particularly useful on a family SUV that may have seen a hard-working life.

Volkswagen servicing runs on fixed or flexible schedules, and it's worth checking which regime your chosen Allspace has followed. On DSG cars in particular, a careful look at service history is a sensible move.

Insurance groupings for the Tiguan Allspace range between 17 at the very bottom of the range to 29 at the very top. However, most versions sit somewhere around the early twenties. That means premiums won’t be too steep and shouldn’t be any more expensive than those of rivals. To keep premiums down, choose a version with a lower power output.

For most Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace examples registered on or after 1 April 2017, the ongoing standard VED rate is now £200 a year. If the car’s original list price was over £40,000, it would also have been liable for the Expensive Car Supplement in years two to six, taking the annual total to £640 during that period.

That is particularly relevant here because better-specced Tiguan Allspace versions could quite easily cross that threshold, so it's worth checking the original list price of the exact used car you are considering.