- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.0DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
147kW, 400Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 6.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2016)
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance review: Is this your next family car?
We drive the Volkswagen Tiguan many will choose to overlook. Is it a hidden gem?
- Frugal and powerful driveline
- Comfortable seats and high-quality cabin
- Good balance of ride comfort and handling
- Almost $70K on the road
- Diesel + DSG combo has its flaws
- Small third row (even as an occasional 5+2 seater)
What is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance?
Smack-bang in the middle of the range, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance is a practical 5+2 SUV many will overlook.
It's not a fickle assumption, rather one based on historical data. Looking back at the historical Volkswagen Tiguan range, the warmed-up 2.0-litre petrol 162TSI running gear has long been the fan favourite over the diesel.
On top of buying the petrol motor, the greater populace also gravitated toward the top-tier R-Line model too. Our test car is neither, being diesel and in newly introduced and middle-of-the-range Elegance trim.
However, as we find quite often here at Drive, sometimes the best proposition or best value in a vehicle range isn't the most popular.
Our 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI is priced from $58,490 before on-road costs, some $1500 more than the same car with the excellent 2.0-litre petrol 162TSI running gear that everyone else wants.
That also makes it $9900 more than the entry-level 2022 Tiguan Allspace 132TSI Life model, in case you're wondering.
The Volkswagen Tiguan 147TDI Elegance is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine with 147kW/400Nm that uses a seven-speed dual (wet) clutch auto to feed the brand's '4Motion' all-wheel-drive system.
In terms of options, our test car was configured with two of three paid factory options available: metallic paint ($900) and a Sound & Vision Package ($2600) that adds a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, 360-degree parking camera, and head-up display. It did not have the panoramic sunroof option ($2100).
Outright and on the road, a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance costs $68,375. Not cheap, but is there a lot of SUV here for the money? Let's find out.
Key details | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance |
Price (MSRP) | $58,490 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Pyrite Silver Metallic |
Options | Sound & Vision Package – $2600 - 360-degree parking camera - Harman Kardon premium audio - Head-up display Metallic paint – $900 |
Price as tested | $61,990 plus on-road costs $68,375 drive-away (NSW) |
Rivals | Peugeot 5008 | Kia Sorento | Skoda Kodiaq |
What is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace interior like?
Although the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace has received multiple revisions over its six-year life, the interior remains fundamentally unchanged since 2016.
It doesn't look bad in isolation – in fact, some will love the design – however, in the showroom it does look dated next to the new 2022 Volkswagen Golf. Whereas the new one has moved to feature a minimalist, screen-filled and button-less interior, the Tiguan Allspace still uses the same basic dash design from eight years ago.
It's not all bad, however, as not all things new are good. For example, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace range naturally uses the brand's previous-generation steering wheel that features actual buttons. Newer cars from the brand use one with annoying touch-sensitive capacitive buttons that are not an improvement.
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See, 2010s design still remains relevant in 2022. There's also the new climate-control system that has easy-to-use sliders to adjust temperature and fan speeds – unlike in the Golf.
Design nuances aside, the Tiguan Allspace's interior remains well-built and elegantly functional. Things are soft and squishy to touch, nothing rattles or squeaks, and there are plenty of fun yet modular treats for you to play with.
One is a huge lower centre storage area that's big enough for your phone, lidded for security, and even features pop-out cupholders if you wish to bring a beverage.
The armrest features a clever ratcheting mechanism, which means anyone's elbows can chock their arms as they hold the steering wheel, too, and the door pockets are flocked (fabric lined) so your keys don't rattle. Smart stuff.
Elegance models and above come with sports seats, so they're excellently comfortable, deeply bolstered to keep you secure, and with a large degree of lumbar adjustment to support your back. Both front seats have three-position memory for all your family members too.
Over in the second row, space is brilliant for the class of vehicle. With the sliding second row adjusted for maximum legroom, I found my knees well clear of the seat backs and feet able to be stretched out in the gap under the seat ahead.
On top of a sliding base, the backrest can also be reclined by quite some margin, and enough to make a comfortable kip a real reality in the back.
All Tiguan Allspace models receive second-row air vents and third-zone climate controls, two USB-C ports, and another pair of flocked door pockets. And if you don't order a sunroof, your guests can even access the roof-mounted sunglasses storage holder that runs from front to back.
In terms of child seats, I fitted a Britax Graphene seat and found ample space to use it in a forward-facing position. On top of integrated device holders making pacifying your kids easy, the seat base itself is nice and high to make loading kids in a back-friendly and ergonomically sound affair.
The third row of seating is best viewed as occasional. Entrance into the third row is tight – and the seats themselves equally so – meaning you're best off letting your kids try it out.
If you're a regular-sized adult, there's half a chance you'll cramp up or possibly become wedged halfway. Jokes aside, I did fit in the back, but found the third row too squashy for my 183cm-tall frame. There are a pair of cupholders and some storage for either of your two extra guests, however.
Over in the boot, space starts at 230L as a seven-seater, 700L as a five-seater, and 1775L as a two-seater with both the second and third rows folded.
You'll fit in a compact bag or two with seven on board, but with five you have acres of space to play with. It makes the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace a good option if your family loves riding bikes, going away, or just uses the boot frequently.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance | |
Seats | Seven |
Boot volume | 230L to third row 700L to second row 1775L to first row |
Length | 4734mm |
Width | 1839mm |
Height | 1689mm |
Wheelbase | 2791mm |
How big is the screen in the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace?
Fitted on 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Elegance models and above is a 9.2-inch infotainment system with wireless and wired connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, and native navigation with three-dimensional and landmark view.
Volkswagen's latest software interface looks and smells like your smartphone's, which is a codeword for it's great and easy to learn. The hardware is great, the graphics good-looking and sleek, and key functions are not buried deep within the system.
If you're over swiping, however, try wiping, as the 9.2-inch infotainment system also features gesture control. What the pointless technology does is enable you to tab between pages, menus or functions by seemingly using the force and waving your hand in front of the stereo.
Gimmicks aside, the best part of the technology is how the screen reacts when your hand gets close to it – almost like it's alive and knows of your presence, expanding minimised menu options and making them easier to read. The other feature is useless.
As our specific test car was optioned with the Sound & Vision Package, it was also fitted with the fantastic 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo. Some of that speaker count includes component (split) speakers, meaning the real speaker count is closer to 16. Hence the 16-channel amplifier.
It sounds great, too, with The Who's Eminence Front sounding bright, jingly and in your face like it needs to, and Pink Floyd's Breathe coming across echoey yet awfully twangy – when the main event occurs.
If you love music, it's well worth the investment.
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace a safe car?
The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan range is covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Having been tested in 2016, it scored well for adult occupant protection (96 per cent), okay for child occupant safety (80 per cent), and poorly in terms of vulnerable road user safety (68 per cent).
However, as a mid-tier and updated version of a car ANCAP once tested back in 2016, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance has plenty of advanced driver assist systems as standard, and ones that now better protect vulnerable road users too.
That includes automatic braking with day-and-night pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with collision avoidance assist and rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, front and rear parking sensors, self-parking technology, and heaps more.
It's well equipped in terms of safety systems.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance | |
ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2016) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
How much is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance?
Before we look at competitors, it's worth recapping on the price of our 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance 147TDI.
It's priced from $58,490 before on-road costs and additional options. Our car featured $3500 worth of options taking its price to $61,990 before on-roads, or around $68,000 drive-away.
The first competitor worth considering is the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline made from similar, arguably more basic pieces, and the Skoda only comes with a petrol engine too. It starts from $57,990 drive-away, however, so maybe run some maths to see how much you're actually spending to buy the VW.
Another choice is the Peugeot 5008 GT diesel. It's more expensive at $71,000 drive-away, but it's also more style- and design-focussed, and filled with plenty of luxury. Those massaging nappa leather seats found inside are pretty fantastic.
At a glance | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance |
Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1918 (3 years), $3382 (5 years) |
Servicing a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace TDI is expensive at $472, $974 and $472 in years one, two and three respectively, or $1918. VW expects you to bring the car back every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Years four and five cost $991 and $472, bringing the five-year total to $3381.
Volkswagen claims fuel consumption of 6.2 litres per 100km, a figure we were easily able to match on test.
Fuel Consumption - brought to you by bp
Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.2L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 6.2L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Fuel tank size | 60L |
What is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace like to drive?
I'll give you the first insight, and that's pick the diesel if you care about running costs.
The final figure we achieved was identical to the official combined fuel claim of 6.2L/100km. That's after floating around 6.6L/100km in the middle of a week-long loan.
Our test loops reflect real-world driving, and we also commuted in peak-hour traffic from West to North Sydney – the ultimate of morning grinds – yet were still unable to push the fuel figure deep into the sevens.
With inflation currently set to run-away mode, opting for the frugal diesel might be a wise choice. It's not as spritely as the petrol, but the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace TDI is plenty powerful once it's moving.
I say that because there's some initial laziness from the diesel and seven-speed dual-clutch auto combo that lets down the package. If you want to take off quickly, you'll find it'll lurch and hesitate a little.
On partial throttle, it'll just take a little longer to hook up, and may require slight adjustment depending on your last vehicle.
It may be splitting hairs, but it's a fair point considering the breadwinner petrol Tiguan in the range is smoother in stop-start traffic situations, and could even be the car you're considering upgrading from.
Once moving there's plenty of grunt, however, and the diesel's gutsy low-end torque delivery of 400Nm (with 147kW of power) makes light work of things like the school run. The ride quality is typically Volkswagen, in that it's comfortable enough, firm enough, but also well controlled and packed with stacks of passive safety.
Striking potholes will feel harsh, but it's just what happens in cars with good amounts of body control. On faster rural roads it feels confident, with well-calibrated steering helping to take the guesswork away.
The Tiguan Allspace Elegance model doesn't have Volkswagen's progressive steering system either. It's reactive off-centre yet still long enough lock-to-lock to feel natural, or more like cars usually do.
The cabin is decently quiet, too, and my usual sections of coarse-chip freeway remained equally so. If you spend the bulk of your commuting time in 110km/h zones, you'll appreciate the sound insulation and general cabin ambience in these environments.
Key details | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 147TDI Elegance |
Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
Power | 147kW @ 3600–4100rpm |
Torque | 400Nm @ 1750–3500rpm |
Drive type | All-wheel drive |
Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 81kW/t |
Weight (tare) | 1818kg |
Tow rating | 2500kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.9m |
Should I buy a Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance?
If you're after a compact 5+2-seat SUV with a diesel, the Tiguan Allspace is your best bet.
Most opt for the petrol for convenience's sake, but the mid-level turbo-diesel Tiguan does offer a compelling alternative to what's regular. Although the diesel loses some initial responsiveness compared to the petrol, you still receive a powerful and frugal SUV.
The latter point is a big one considering a petrol-powered Tiguan will use close to double the literage of fuel to do similar things. If you ask me, I think some dulling of the powertrain is well worth the frugality the TDI model offers.
The rest is what we've come to love and know well about the Tiguan, and that's offering some nice luxuries alongside a spacious and high-quality cabin, brilliant ride manners, and plenty of kerb appeal to impress the neighbours.
If you're considering a regular Tiguan, it's worth looking at the Allspace anyway. The boot is worth it alone.