Planning a big family? VW's new seven-seater might be the car for your clan.
Finding a family car that suits everyone can be a difficult assignment, and there is always some level of compromise.
The latest offering from Volkswagen, the Tiguan Allspace, goes as close as I have seen to ticking all the boxes for everyone, unless of course if you don’t like wagons and don’t want an SUV.
The starting five
One of the big strengths of the Allspace is the range of models on offer, with five options giving families a range of engine sizes, and therefore performance, to choose from.
You can choose anything from a small, economical petrol engine to a performance motor that has been designed to satisfy the needs of Golf GTI customers who suddenly find themselves needing something bigger.
There is even a diesel option that has a 2500kg maximum tow rate. All engines are matched to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system except for the entry-level 110TSI Comfortline that has a six-speed DSG and front wheel drive.
Surprisingly, VW expects its 162kW performance model to be the biggest seller. In the standard Tiguan it accounts for 40 per cent of sales.
Seventh heaven
The Allspace is Volkswagen’s first seven-seater SUV for the Australian market. It is 215mm longer than the standard medium-sized Tiguan wagon.
The extra length, which has all been added to the cargo area, gives it more interior space than the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento and the same as the Toyota Kluger.
While VW is calling it a seven-seater it is closer to a 5+2.
I could manoeuvre my 180cm frame into the third row of seats without too much trouble and though my legs were jammed up against the back of the second row I would be happy (tolerate might be a better description) sitting there for a short metro run to a restaurant or bar, especially if it meant I did not have to drive. In reality, they would be far better suited to pre-teens.
The only other inconvenience I could foresee in this area was the use of a rear facing baby seat. It looks to me as though the front seat will need to be moved forward quite a bit to accommodate it.
We will be able to tell you just how much when we get to spend more time with the car in December for a comprehensive review.
Cargo Space
For those who will only use the third row of seats occasionally the big advantage the Allspace offers over the regular Tiguan, and most other medium-sized SUVs for that matter, is cargo space. Even with all seven seats in use there is still 230-litres of cargo space.
At the national launch of the car in Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, VW went to great lengths to show that was still enough space for a set of golf clubs, though the need for one set of golf clubs while carrying six other passengers escaped me somewhat.
With the third row of seats neatly folded into the cargo floor, which covers a space-saver spare wheel, there is a massive 700-litres, significantly more than all three competitors previously mentioned. With both the second and third row folded flat there is 1750-litres.
Tech
The Allspace also comes standard with a host of features designed to make life easier for families.
The one that really caught my eye, though I have to be honest it is not exactly new, or unique, was the handsfree automatic tailgate. With the key in your pocket, or handbag, just a wave of your leg under the rear bumper is enough to open the tailgate. A press of the button before you grab what you need from the boot area and 30 seconds later it will close behind you as you walk away.
It also has a removable light in the cargo area, an idea VW has copied from Skoda, flip up trays with cupholders, attached to the back of the front seats, the kids can use to draw, play or put their electronics. For the latter there is also a USB port and power point in the back of the centre console, along with the rear air conditioning vents.
The Allspace also comes with a host of safety equipment including seven airbags that cover all three rows of seats and driver assist technology like autonomous emergency braking and park assist (VW claims with the park assist system that also has auto brake and steer that it is virtually impossible to hit anything while parking) to keep the family safe.
Model range and price
110TSI Comfortline $40,490
132TSI Comfortline $45,490
110TDI Comfortline $46,990
162TSI Highline $52,990
140TDI Highline $54,490
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