The Tiguan was first launched in 2017 with a 5-seater configuration. It was a great car with great driving dynamics. Unfortunately, in the popularity of ladder–on frame SUVs with 4x4s, this car just got vanished. In 2020, VW showcased a 7-seater version of the Tiguan called the ‘All Space’ and we are here to see whether this can be better than the Fortuner, Endeavour, and Gloster.

Exterior

The all-space front is ‘nearly’ the same as the regular 5-seater version except for the lower bumper. The headlights are beautiful, especially when they are lit up at night. Towards the side profile, the all space has gone longer than standard, which is very much evident due to large overhangs. Coming to the rear look, the tail is exactly the same as before, only it is differentiated by chrome strips that look a bit out of place. Even the alloys are identical to the pre-facelift Tiguan. Overall the car is a typical VW in its design i.e. it is understated and elegant and only a few people appreciate it. As far as road presence is concerned, it has a presence, but is not as daunting as the Fortuner, endeavor and will give you crossover vibes, not of an SUV.

Interior

The interior of Tiguan All space is a typical VW; simple, classy yet robust. It gets a black-out interior and an option of a white interior as well. Now, as far as space is concerned, the second row has a generous amount of space. You will get a good amount of knee room and shoulder room. Not all, the under thigh is also satisfactory. Only the seat cushioning is done on the firmer side. Now, about the front seats they are supportive, but they are too set on a firmer side. The third row is almost useless because they aren’t comfortable and only good for small children. Better if you fold them down and increase the boot space.

Features

Volkswagen has put in a lot of features in All Space. For instance, it gets LED headlamps, LED  tail lamps, LED indicators, puddle lamps, keyless entry, push-button start, 3-zone air conditioner, electric parking brake, 10 way powered driver seat with memory function, panoramic sunroof, rear picnic tables, 8- inch touchscreen with android auto, apple car play, gesture controls, in-built navigation, fully digital instrument cluster with customization option, self-park feature, terrain off-road modes: snow sport off-road individual modes electric tailgate opener, heated seats, auto brake detection (It will apply brakes as soon as it approaches near a vehicle. It misses on some features like ambient lighting, air purifier, connected car tech, cooled seats, wireless charger, and 360 parking camera.

Safety features 

The Tiguan Allspace has loads of safety tech; 7 airbags, ESC, hill descent and ascent control, auto brake, and a very solid robust, and built-to-last structure shell (Obviously, it’s a VW). It has also scored a 5-star safety rating in euro NCAP.

Performance

The Tiguan All space is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged TSI petrol engine producing 190 hp peak power and 320 Nm of torque between 1500-41.00rpm mated to 7 speed DSG gearbox. A 4-motion (4WD) is also available. There is a certain lag when you are at initial speeds but after 1500 rpm, the turbo kicks in which makes the performance sprity and it pulls relentlessly. The 7-speed DSG is very fast at shifting gears and you will never know when shifts are happening. But, I wished that VW could have offered a petrol manual which would have made the driving experience even better. Nonetheless, the car feels agile and the chassis supports you to push hard around corners and quick lane changes. When you take control in manual mode and hold on to the reverse, the engine makes a sporty sound which is quite surprising. Handling of the Al space is terrific. The handling is way better than Fortuner, Endeavor. It remains calm and composed at high speed and body roll is also minimal. 

Overall it has phenomenal driving dynamics.

Ride quality 

The ride quality of Tiguan All space is a bit stiff due to stiff suspension. At lower speeds, the car tends to move a lot but on the flip side, it offers a tremendously stable ride on highways.

Verdict

The Tiguan All Space is a great SUV that has plenty of features, unstated looks, great driving manners, a strong build, and off-road capability. But it does not have that crazy road presence as other offers. So, if you want an SUV that has those qualities and can live with car-like seating positions, then this is the SUV for you.