While all of our collective attention has been on the fire-breathing Tiguan R hotted-up SUV, there is a lot to be said for the more practical and price-friendly end of the range. And it’s an impressive offering.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life
Let’s say you want a seven-seat SUV. It’s a well-trodden story: the family is growing and some extra space will be handy. And even if you don’t plan on using all of those seats every day, it’s a nice thing to have, right?
Without going all-out on a large SUV that’s bigger, more expensive to buy, fuel and maintain, along with being harder to fit in parking spaces and less nimble through traffic, a niche set of vehicles allows you to hedge your bets somewhat.
One of those is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, and we’ve got the entry-level (cheapest) variant on offer: the 110TSI Life.
How much does the Volkswagen Tiguan cost in Australia?
The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life costs $41,390 before on-road costs. It’s the least expensive variant in the range, with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine under the bonnet powering the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The Allspace treatment sits on a wheelbase that is 110mm longer than a regular Tiguan, while overall length grows 225mm for 4734mm in total. It’s $2100 more expensive and weighs 92kg more.
The clearest competition for the Tiguan Allspace would probably be the Mitsubishi Outlander, which offers a similar part-time third-row format for when you really need that overflow seating. A 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander starts at $35,990 plus on-road costs in its most basic ES specification, while a Mazda CX-8 Sport kicks off at $40,490 plus on-road costs.
And don’t forget, there is a new Nissan X-Trail coming to Australia very soon. And just like the previous-generation model, this new model will also have a seven-seat option available.
| Key details | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life |
| Price | $41,390 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Pure White |
| Options | None |
| Price as tested | $41,390 plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price | $48,097 (Sydney) |
| Rivals | Mitsubishi Outlander | Mazda CX-8 | Nissan X-Trail |
How much space does the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace have inside?
There’s an argument to be had that the Tiguan Allspace works out to be a better proposition than a regular Tiguan, not because of the additional seats, but simply because it’s bigger. The boot is larger, and a sliding second row can help apportion space to where you need it.
And let’s face it: more is better when it comes to family car boot space. When configured as a five-seater, the Tiguan Allspace has an advantage of 85L more storage space, which is how you (or your passengers) would prefer it to be most of the time.
The additional seats need to be looked at as more of a ‘nice to have’ than any kind of jewel in the crown. It’s a small space. I could fit, only just, with my legs still up against the second-row seat backs despite them being slid forward. Headroom is tight for an adult as well, leaving it only suitable space-wise for little kids.
In other words, third row seating is handy to have up your sleeve, but will likely spend most of its time folded down as you enjoy the larger boot space. At least the third row is covered by curtain airbags.
The second row is good and works well for regular everyday usage. Seat bases slide fore and aft, and there is a 60/40 split to take advantage of. This seating is comfortable, and occupants can fight over the USB-C and 12V power outlets while also bickering over the air-conditioning. That makes it a three-zone climate-control set-up, which is pretty good for a base-specification offering.
It’s a theme that continues with Volkswagen adding some nice elements that improve the overall experience of the Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life. Up front, the steering wheel and gearshifter treatments are both quite nice, and the digital instrument cluster continues to raise the experience.
Storage is well accounted for too. There are some hidden drawers under the front driver’s and passenger’s seats, and a lidded compartment atop the dashboard, all of which are flocked. The centre console is decent, and the door cards can also fit a lot of stuff.
On the roof are two big overhead consoles that pack a good storage punch. You could fit four massive pairs of sunglasses in there, like Pit Vipers, for example, or snacks and baby wipes.
Up front are twin USB-C power outlets (no old-style USB-A), a 12V power outlet and wireless charging pad.
| 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life | |
| Seats | Seven |
| Boot volume | 230L to third row 700L to second row 1775L to first row |
| Length | 4734mm |
| Width | 1839mm |
| Height | 1689mm |
| Wheelbase | 2791mm |
Does the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI have Apple CarPlay?
Infotainment in the base Life-specification Tiguan is covered by an 8.0-inch system that Volkswagen calls ‘Discover Media’. Higher-specification grades get a 9.2-inch system, but the tick-a-box list of features remains mostly the same.
There’s wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can use the wireless charging pad for that wire-free lifestyle we all crave so much. Although, I do notice that my phone gets quite hot when I do this.
There’s also digital radio, AM, FM and navigation. So despite missing out on some pixels in comparison to the larger system, this one works just fine.
It’s followed up by a digital instrument cluster up front, which is sharp and well presented. It can run a variety of customisable displays including maps.
Is the Tiguan Allspace a safe car?
The entire Volkswagen Tiguan range – including the Allspace – picked up a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2016, which saw 96 per cent and 80 per cent protection scores for adult and child occupants respectively. Pedestrian and safety technology scores were lower at 68 per cent each.
There are front and side airbags up front, along with a driver’s knee airbag. In the rear curtain airbags cover the second and third row of seats (plus the first row, of course).
| 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2016) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace have?
Some of the included safety gear includes a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian monitoring), low-speed autonomous braking (in forward and reverse), adaptive cruise control (with stop/go functionality), park assist, lane assistance and driver fatigue monitoring.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are both missing, however, because of Volkswagen rationalising its semiconductor usage and temporarily binning this technology. Volkswagen says that this tech will return by March 2023, but the semiconductor shortage is something of a moving feast. So, our collective mileage may vary in this regard.
How much does the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace cost to maintain?
Servicing the Tiguan Allspace is initially quite reasonable over the first three years costing $1542 using Volkswagen’s capped-price program. A big fourth-year service cost ($1350) blows this number out, however, culminating in a five-year total of $3232.
Comprehensive insurance is $1067.34 per annum based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
| At a glance | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI fuel-efficient?
Volkswagen claims that the Tiguan Allspace 110TSI would use around 7.7 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, which makes it the most efficient petrol-fed option in the Allspace range. Highway consumption can be as good as 6.5L/100km according to the claimed figures; something we almost matched with a 6.6L/100km figure.
However, more regular usage around town would see a figure in the mid 8s, as we averaged 8.2L/100km overall during our time with the car.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.7L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.2L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 58L |
What is the Tiguan Allspace 110TSI like to drive?
Although the Tiguan Allspace 110TSI has the smallest and least powerful engine, it’s not one that feels terribly underdone. A 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine doesn’t seem the best companion for a seven-seat four-wheel drive, but don’t forget that the Tiguan is relatively lithe for a seven-seater at 1613kg.
Peak power of 110kW is less important in this case, with a decent shove of 250Nm available in a relatively low and wide range of revs (1500–3500rpm) that allows the Tiguan to feel fast enough for the application. Not fast, but fast enough. Once you start to really punch it, it’s got enough for things like freeways and mountain climbs.
The gearbox – a six-speed dual-clutch automatic – does sometimes get caught between choosing a low ratio (for economy) and the driver pumping the accelerator (for performance). So when you punch it, there is a small wait for the ducks to get in order.
One good tip: if you’re anticipating an overtake or faster drive, bang the shifter down into S mode for a more sprightly gearbox calibration. It’s more responsive and holds a lower ratio for longer, which certainly helps.
The ride quality of the Tiguan Allspace is mostly good, but can feel slightly bouncy over rougher suburban roads. It’s slight, but it’s still there. The steering and handling feel nicely dialled. It’s responsive and accurate, but easy to wrangle around town and on the highway, and not overly done for the application.
Also worth noting: the ride quality does improve when it’s loaded up with humans and gear, but the engine starts to feel like it’s working a little harder. While I didn’t have the chance to run the Allspace with a full complement of inhabitants, I’d wager a guess that it would feel a little lethargic at this stage.
| Key details | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life |
| Engine | 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 110kW @ 6000rpm |
| Torque | 250Nm @ 1500–3500rpm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Six-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 68kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 1613kg |
| Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
| Tow rating | 1800kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Should I buy a Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Life?
Although opting for a base-specification model doesn’t always set one’s world on fire (Australians do love their high-spec models after all), this Tiguan Allspace in entry-level Life specification presents a compelling case as a cost-effective family hauler. There are plenty of nice touches, and the cabin is finished off with a nice variety of practical features.
The powertrain probably isn’t brawny enough to sate any enthusiast’s desires (there are plenty of powered-up variants for that), but it’s good enough for the application.
It’s a shame that some of the safety features have gone walkabout for a short while, because there are few other shortcomings of this medium-sized SUV. Just don’t think that it’s a proper seven-seater, because it only works well as a part-time three-rower. But looking at the Tiguan Allspace through that prism, it works quite well.
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