First Impressions Count
The 2018 Tiguan Allspace is an all-new vehicle built on the resizable MQB platform shared with vehicles as diverse as the the Golfs we’ve come to love. The new Tiguan is about 27cm longer and larger in every dimension than the outgoing model. The result is an SUV that is 130 – 180kg heavier, but which offers 58 percent more load space than yesteryear’s model.
Standard features at all trims include LED taillights, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, start/stop engine, rear view camera, roof rails, and automatic post-collision braking. Luckily, our road tester came with an 8-inch touch screen infotainment interface that supports Apple CarPlay, as well as VW’s native Car-Net smartphone app system. There was also a panoramic sunroof, 480-watt Fender sound system, upsized wheels to 20 inches, power liftgate, and a long list of safety and convenience features.
At the high end, Tiguan trims include all expected amenities like front and rear heated leather seats and heated steering wheel, and a special 12.3-inch entirely digital dashboard.
All The Tech
The Tiguan technology story is much improved from the outgoing model. Seeing that we had the volume Highline 4Motion trim delivered to our driveway, we got that 8-inch touch screen interface for infotainment and available navigation. Climate controls are still operated by buttons on the dash, which is nice for easy adjustment without having to work your way through several screens. To top it off there’s an available 12.3-inch entirely digital dashboard we mentioned earlier, which gives the ability to bring the navigation view and other information over from the center stack display.
The available 480-watt Fender sound system does the job well, with 9 speakers located around the interior.
The Tiguan Allspace offers the usual array of entertainment sources, including a CD drive in the cabby and USB or streaming Bluetooth. You get the standard 3.5mm aux input that few people ever use, as well as 2 USB ports located at the bottom of the dash next to the 12V port.
Inside
Overall, the vehicle is well-made and the interior design has been thought through carefully. Touches like keeping the climate controls out of the touch screen interface help make living with the Tiguan easy and pleasurable.
The seats are comfortable, with full power adjustments on the driver’s side including lumbar support and seat memory. Leather is included at our specific test model, and both the front and rear seats may be heated, along with the steering wheel. As an added bonus the second-row seats recline and slide front to back.
The most important interior feature is the addition of available third row seats, allowing the Tiguan to carry up to seven passengers. You wouldn’t want to put adults into the third row, but for growing families it’s a great option to have. In this specific three-row model, you get about 340l of load behind the third row, and about 940l behind the second row, and another 1840l with all rear seats folded down.
On The Road
The Allspace is easy and pleasant to drive. It’s predictable and solid-feeling on the road (a gift of that extra weight) and it corners well. Most of all, it’s smooth and quiet inside. You’ll enjoy the Tiguan and find that it’s a relaxing and confident vehicle which cements VW’s stated goal for the Tiguan, this is a family SUV and for that purpose it’s got plenty of performance.
In Conclusion
The new VW Tiguan Allspace is admirably suited for the needs that VW designed it to meet. This is a compact crossover SUV that’s as big as it can be and still be a compact. That’s what most Mzansi families have been buying, and if you need to haul the kids, make last minute grocery runs, go visit the family ezilalini, over the December holidays and do family things, the Tiguan is a great choice. It’s also a great choice for singles or couples who live an active year-round lifestyle.
But to get the features you want, you’re going to have to part away with some serious cash. Our test Tiguan Allroad retails for R604 800, and that rises as you kit it out to suit your wants needs.
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