the Bucket: Bucket Seat: VW Tiguan Allspace 4Motion 1.4TSI

When VW first launched the Tiguan Allspace, I honestly had zero clue what it was, I thought it was just an extended cabin for more room in the second row and a bigger boot, which wasn't that far off if you really think about it. It wasn't until I got one on test a few weeks ago that I realised they threw an extra row of seats in the boot. This does allow the Tiguan to compete in a segment with the likes of the popular 7-seater SUV's in the market. It gives the loyal VW customer the opportunity to evolve with the brand as their life requirements change as well. For example, a young couple might be comfortable with a Golf but as they begin a family, add two kids into the mix, the Tiguan Allspace would be the perfect upgrade for them, allowing extra space and seats for all their needs.

DESIGN

Even with its extended wheelbase, the Tiguan Allspace R Line still retains that sporty look with the same bold accents as the normal Tiguan. The new IQ lights are a stand out design feature upfront with the day time running LEDs really making the car look menacing. The lovely details of chrome, silver and red highlight the cars overall appearance and the large 21-inch R Line rims add to the sporty nature of the car. The side profile has the extended rear door which gives it that limo like look and feel. It still is a very neat design and doesn't look odd at the slightest, this is complimented well by the neat design of the rear, which again has that twin tail pipes finished off in chrome to compliment the R Line look. The rear design of this car is probably my favourite end to look at, it just seems well thought off and very VW. The revised LED lights also have a nice design feature. The interior design is very thought of as well with the main difference being the additional seating which can be tucked away neatly allowing for extra luggage space, which will be discussed in detail later on in the blog.

PERFORMANCE

While I was hoping I would get the 2.0 TSI engine on test, I think having the 1.4-litre TSI motor gave me the opportunity to see how capable it was and put to bed that notion of it being overstrained. The engine produces 110kW and 320Nm of torque, which is more than adequate for the size of the car, it has a plucky punch on take off and this is retained on the open road, I think the key to this success is obtained via their 6-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The changes are smooth and not erratic like what you will find in some Japanese cars, this helps the Tiguan Allspace obtain a great fuel economy and a smooth drive. The handling on this bigger variant doesn't seem very different to the normal Tiguan with driver aids like lane keep assist, PDC's, rear camera and blind-spot warning all on hand to help the driver maneuver the car in tricky spaces.

COMFORT

I think like all 7-seater SUV's, comfort is something that is a standard for the driver and front passenger, the second row is also pretty decent but the real test comes to the third row seating. While compromises have to be done in terms of the third row having smaller seats and not being as luxurious as the other seats in the car, purely for space and folding away requirements, it still does well in terms of comfort for the third row with the actual padding and leather still feeling great, leg room is dependent on the position of the second row seating but it does offer decent leg room for the passengers. Other creature comforts that were worth noting is the climate control air-conditioning which offers 3-zone cooling with driver and front passenger getting to adjust their own temperature and the zone for the rear passengers controlled by those seated in the second row. People up front get heated seats as an optional extra, there's a host of USB ports around the cabin with wireless charging for the driver and wireless mobile app connectivity.

VERDICT

You cant go wrong with Volkswagen when it comes to SUV's, they really do offer a premium product and its very difficult to fault their offerings. While the prices have gone up in recent years, which have had many step back to reassess their decision on getting a VW or not is a factor, if one has to gauge into how much added tech and quality of materials that VW is using in the cars, you tend to understand why the price is what it is. Apart from looking to those brands from the east, this is one of the more affordable premium German offerings that won't really break the bank as others in the segment are nearing the million rand mark. I think after spending time with this Tiguan Allspace, it made it very clear as to why the Tiguan in general is so loved by the South African market. The added row of seating comes in handy for when you need to transport extra people around or if folded away gives you ample amount of luggage space.

SPECIFICATIONS