By : RACHNA TYAGI
MUMBAI :
Volkswagen has big plans for India and the coming years should be busy ones for them as they will be launching quite a few products in the Indian car market. Earlier this year, they launched the new VW Tiguan Allspace and though the Tiguan did enter India a couple of years earlier, the new model does have quite a few slews of tricks up its sleeve to put a smile on your face.
The Allspace goes up against other 7-seaters such as the Skoda Kodiaq, the Honda CR-V, the Toyota Fortuner, the Ford Endeavour and the MG Gloster, however, it retains its distinct identity thanks to VW’s famous build quality and clean minimalistic design. The Allspace boasts a classy European design and rest assured you and your family will always arrive in great style.
Take a look at its exteriors and the first thing that you will notice about the Allspace is that it is a slim SUV, in terms of its proportions, minus any of the bulk or muscle that its counterparts flaunt. No extra curvy fenders or crease lines on the bonnet to give that exaggerated macho appeal to the SUV. In fact, looking at it from the outside, you can barely tell that it now comes with a longer wheelbase which has increased by 110mm, making the SUV longer now by 215mm overall.
Besides the chrome grille that bears the large VW logo at the centre, the Allspace, gets big LED headlights and fog lamps (halogen, not LED) that really stand out on its front fascia. The heated ORVMs with LED indicators seem well proportioned and come in the same body colour, just as the door handles. The 10-spoke, 18-inch alloys are not bad looking on the Allspace but they could as well have been diamond cut alloys. Nevertheless, we really liked the chrome tipped exhausts which have been well integrated in the overall design. It also gets functional roof rails but with the amount of boot space that you get, the chances of you putting the roof rails to good use may well be slim.
The inside of the Allspace is really appealing with its almost white leather seats. (Our Press demonstrator came with light colored leather seats but some models also get black leather seats). However, it must be said here that worrying about light colored interiors has really become a thing of the past especially since our markets are now flooded with some really good car care products that can restore your car’s leather and plastic back to its almost original look in no time. The soft touch plastic on the dash with accents of the piano black finish on the steering look really appealing when you’re seated inside. However, the seats are slightly firm, but not annoyingly firm so as to pose any problems on those long drives, but they’re well-sized to accommodate most body types which is always a wonderful thing considering the amount of time one ends up spending behind the wheel. The powered driver’s seat comes with a memory function and is also heated, just as the co-passenger’s is too. The door pockets get amply sized bottle holders and in fact they come with a felt lining so that even if you have left coins or other knick-knacks in there, you don’t hear them rattle against the hard plastics while you’re driving. There's also plenty of space in terms of stowage area.
The Allspace gets a beautiful digital instrument cluster that gives you all the driving info in a crisp and easy to read fashion. Then there is the auto dimming IRVM and vanity mirrors on both the driver’s and the passenger’s side, which shows that the carmaker has not scrimped on the Allspace’s interiors. In terms of entertainment, there is a plethora of choices available. Not only does the Allspace get an 8-inch touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but there is also a CD player and SD card slots conveniently tucked away in the large glove box of the Allspace that can provide hours of entertainment during your long drives.
One thing that has to be said about the Allspace is that the overall visibility is fantastic. Also, there is a large amount of glass area that doesn’t make passengers in the middle row and the last row feel claustrophobic in the least. Not to mention a large panoramic sunroof that really makes the interiors of the Allspace look airy. And, the air condition does a great job in keeping the entire SUV cool at all times as well, thanks to the air con vents (both, front and rear) which have good air throw.
The middle row is a really comfortable place to be. Not only can you adjust the backrest angle of your seat to your liking, but you can also make the most of the airline-styled foldable trays to enjoy a snack while using your laptop, tablet or playing video games. A 12v socket and a charging point have also been provided for the convenience of rear occupants. The third row is a bit of a squeeze for adults and so it is best to use it for really small trips. Nevertheless, young kids can make the most of the space with their bags, books and toys.
The Allspace gets a powered tailgate switch and comes with 230 liters of luggage space which with the seats folded down can become 700 liters, enough for you to even accommodate a bicycle in there.
We drove the only one variant, that there is – the fully loaded one. The Tiguan All-Space gets a 4-cylinder, 2.0-Litre (1984cc) turbo petrol (TSI) engine that has been mated to a super slick 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox which puts out 190hp@4200rpm and 320 Nm of torque@1500-4100rpm. This all-wheel drive, you quickly realize, is not just built solidly but also delivers an equally robust performance while on the highways and this is best seen once you pick up speed after getting past the 1800-2000rpm mark. That’s when you really begin to enjoy the Allspace as you begin experiencing the power build up and you swiftly cross into triple digit speeds, and if you’re adventurous enough, you can redline it in no time. (The Allspace does 0-100 in 8.8 seconds and is redlined at 6000rpm.) The VW gearbox is quick and overtaking maneuvers are a breeze. You can also shift to different modes and experience the different settings for different driving conditions. Needless to say, for us, the most fun was had in the Sport mode. For those who want to engage in manual gearshifts, you can even do so through the paddle shifters.
The manner in which the Allspace grips the tarmac says a great deal about its ride and handling prowess. You have absolutely no second thoughts before diving into corners with the Allspace and when it comes to straight highway driving, it is equally at ease. Though the ride quality is a bit firm, the overall handling of the car is very good. The feedback from the steering could have been better but hey, we’re not complaining. Not an SUV that you’d take into the jungle to negotiate difficult terrain, in fact, it is best used in the urban jungle, and suffice to say that on our city roads, it will do a pretty good job warding off those pesky drivers with its dimensions.
In terms of safety, what you get is seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, ABS, ESC, Hill descent control and even a tyre pressure monitoring system, so that you feel really safe at all times. That combined with the fact that it comes with a 4 year/100,000 kms warranty does make it a very desirable SUV in the segment.
The only gripe that a few buyers may have is that it does not come with a diesel offering, however, considering how both petrol and diesel prices are almost similar now, that should not make much of a difference to the buyer who is looking at it purely from a cost saving point of view in the long run. Besides, we all know only too well, the advantages of a petrol engine as compared to their noisy diesel counterparts.
At 33.24 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom, India), the Allspace is available in seven glorious colours but we strongly recommend the Pyrite silver which looks stunning, both during daytime as well as at night. So, if you’re looking for a sturdy, safe and really appealing seven-seater to ferry your family around in style, don’t buy one before you have test driven the Volkswagen Allspace. After you’ve driven it, you will know just why.
