Volkswagen's new seven-seater is a welcome addition to the list of practical family car options. But the biggest competition in the seven-seater family SUV segment may a car from its own stablemate, Skoda.
First, a question. Before you rush out to buy a seven-seater car, have you asked yourself whether you really need one ? If you have the bums to fill the seats all the time, then the answer is clearly yes. If you have only occasional use for the full-seven seats, then the answer is clearly maybe. This is one type of car that needs to be thought about carefully before committing and there is one key consideration, other than the relatively high price of a seven-seater. If you are using seven seats then you will have almost zero boot space. Which means for a long trip, you will have to consider a roof box if you have a lot of family and other gear to transport. These are pieces of advice - not warnings - but you might not be very happy if you ignore them.
The Allspace is 215 mm longer than a standard Tiguan.
Volkswagen's new Tiguan Allspace is obviously an extended version of the shorter Tiguan - an extra 215 mm has been added to accommodate the rear seats, which are normally folded down. The overall design is sober but I happen to think the Tiguan is a sharp enough looking vehicle when compared to a lot of other SUV's. There is, at the very least, a bit of an edge to it and quite a bit of road presence too. But ultimately, it is focused on being a pragmatic option.
The driving experience is a familiar Volkswagen one. There is very good ride and handling and nothing too dramatic. This is something VW do well with cars like this - there is little to get excited about but there is also very little to complain about either. There's a neat and practical interior with a good display screen. Functionality is a key feature and everything works well and without any fuss.
Boot space is greatly reduced when the extra row of seats are up.
However, the main reason for considering the Allspace is that extra row of seats in the rear. They are tight and suitable only for small children and, oddly, they don't have ISOFIX child seat anchor points. Once the seats are up, the space in the boot area is dramatically reduced and the space available around the second row of seats is also reduced, but not by as much. Skoda's varioflex seats are more adaptable and easier to use for maximum space. In fact, the Skoda Kodiaq is a roomier experience all 'round.
Still, there some people who just won't buy a Skoda. Recent research in the UK - by Skoda itself - showed very stiff resistance indeed from people over the age of 55. It's a prejudice that is beyond silly after the dramatic resurgence of the brand in recent years. However, VW is probably aware of the same research and has opted to price the Allspace over the very accomplished Kodiaq.
While the Allspace I drove came in at €48,440, an equivalent Kodiaq comes in at €37,495. The Kodiaq also has a lower tax rate and lower emissions, even allowing for 4X4 capability. The comparisons are worth noting.
My Allspace had 18" wheels, heated front seats, tinted rear windows, a lane-keeping system, pedestrian monitoring, an 8" navigation system, park assist, high beam control, LED headlights, a rear view camera and App connect, among other items, on its list of equipment. This is something else buyers need to be very aware of these days. It is an increasingly complex and confusing process comparing cars these days because of the wide variety of specifications offered. My advice is to settle on what you want and the have your boxes ready to tick to compare like with like.
The price of the this particular Allspace is a little punchy. However, the basic car's starting price begins at €35,595 (on the road) for the 1.4 petrol - itself an impressive engine and well worth considering against the entry-level diesel, which costs €37,895. A comparable entry level Skoda Kodiaq comes in at €30,740 for the 1.4 petrol but the VW has a long list of standard features that you won't find on the Skoda. This is where your homework on the list of equipment you are being offered comes in.
However, if you stick with the VW option you won't be going far wrong. For a car with a practical character, it does a very good job. And there is also the five-seat Tiguan - if you don't need the seven seats.
