The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, is quite satisfying

In Car Reviews, Volkswagen by Tom Scanlan

Throughout my week in the VolkswagenTiguan Allspace, I had the Lane Assist activated.

To my surprise, after a while, I became used to the car’s ever-so-slight steering adjustments. Normally, I have found myself switching these systems as being generally more of a nuisance rather than a help. That’s to say I have not driven in fog, where it can certainly be of use, or other such appropriate conditions, for a long while.

So, yes, there I was, accepting this gently autonomous feature. At times, it may have been the changes in the road surface that moved the front wheels that moved the steering wheel; otherwise, it was definitely Volkswagen’s Lane Assist.

Does this mean that I am no longer an anti-autonomy dinosaur? Further experience may reveal the answer.

Meanwhile, the Tiguan Allspace is another Volkswagen that does what it says on the tin.

Images shown of Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line

The test car was a seven-seater. My test back-row passenger, albeit small in stature, said the space and ride was absolutely fine. Getting in and out was reasonably easy, once you got the knack of knowing what to grab on to, to get aboard and on exiting. I had doubted that the middle seat in the middle row would be comfortable, but my passenger there also found it perfectly acceptable…with separate temperature control, too.

Isofix child seat preparation is provided for the two middle row outer seats. So this is a car perhaps particularly for the larger, growing family. The five rear seats all fold flat individually and the middle row’s can be slid forwards and backwards — essential, to allow access to the back.

With all seats up, the boot space is of course, even in this bigger Tiguan, a bit limited. However, there is a good supply of cubbies and the like around the car for smaller items likely to be carried on shorter trips. If the car is not fully laden with people, then it’s the simplest of jobs to fold the seats to leave various configurations of flat floor space. The remote-opening/press-button tailgate operation proved, as usual, to be very handy.

Images shown of Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line

Upfront, both occupants get a very comfortable journey. The driver has an array of visuals to aid driving. Two clear, traditionally-round, main instruments, separated by the trip computer info, do most of the work. The sizeable and neat screen for satnav and audio, connectivity and a load more sits in the usual position in the centre console.

The picture so far then is as expected in a Volkswagen product.
And that’s how it continues: everything in this car is well-thought-out and seemingly well-built with good-quality materials. The car is not over-stylised; yes, there is some shiny piano black; yes, there’s a touch of brushed metal effect; overall, though, understated is the word, almost hiding its light under a bushel.

Driving this particular version, with its 150 PS Diesel engine and 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, could hardly have been easier.

Starting up and easing around town is characterised by that familiar diesel chugging sound, a bit noisier than some but quieter than others. Pushing up to forty or fifty and it becomes a purr. On the motorway in seventh gear at seventy mph, around only 1700 rpm, any engine noise is almost gone and replaced by well-dampened road noise and just a breath of wind on the outside.

Images shown of Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line

As ever, the handling and braking departments score well; the Allspace does feel fairly heavy under harder braking, but, once discovered, this is not in the slightest an issue.

Performance is satisfactory…not quite in the brisk category, reaching 62 mph in 9.9 seconds…but, more importantly, mid-range acceleration in Sport mode is responsive enough for safe overtaking. Except on short trips, indicated fuel consumption figures hovered from just over 40 mpg up to a best of 45.1 mpg. based on this, a range in excess of 500 miles should be achievable.

Being a 4Motion model, the test car would no doubt (from past experience) be quite capable in some off-road situations, having been designed to be so, but I was not able to try this out.

The ‘Match’ version — the starter for the Volksawagen Tiguan Allspace range — comes with equipment and features that should satisfy most owners as is.

Car reviewed: Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Match 2.0 TDI 150PS SCR 4Motion DSG, on the road price £36,455 0-62mph 9.9secs Top speed 124mph Engine 1968cc 4 cylinder diesel EU6.2 Fuel Economy Combined 50.4mpg CO2 emissions 146g/km Max Power 150PS@3500rpm Torque 340Nm@1750rpm Transmission 7-speed DSG dual clutch man sequential auto mode

Tom Scanlan

Motoring Journalist

Tom Scanlan has written for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, particularly the Reading Evening Post for ten years, having got into motoring journalism in 1973 via the somewhat unlikely back door of the British Forces Broadcasting Service. BFBS produced a weekly radio motoring show for the services overseas and Tom produced it, as well as interviewing experts and eventually reporting on cars.
He is into classic cars and has owned Porsche, Ferrari, pre-war Alvis and Rileys and currently owns his fifth old Alfa Romeo, a 1984 GTV 2.0.
In his spare time, Tom is a professional cricket coach.

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