Review: 2022 VW Tiguan Allspace Elegance, still Malaysia's best European SUV? Hmm...

There's not much one can do in 35 seconds (leave your bedroom jokes by the door), but in the time it takes you to reply your boss' email, another Tiguan's rolled off one of the many factories that Volkswagen builds them in.

Such is the appeal that over six million units have found homes worldwide since the name first appeared in 2008. Granted Malaysia no longer gets the 5-seater, but we do have the Biguan 2022 VW Tiguan Allspace, which accounts for hundreds of thousands of the model's big numbers.

It's also the sole SUV in Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)'s line-up, so it's got its work cut out fending off segment rivals and attracting customers who would've otherwise gotten 5-seaters. No pressure then...

• 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cyl (TSI), 150 PS/250 Nm
• 6-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT)
• 0-100 km/h: 10.6 seconds (as tested)
• 6 airbags, Lane Keep Assist
• Locally-assembled, CKD Pekan

Exterior: Doesn't rock any boats, but floats many

Our 1.4 TSI Elegance, priced at RM 188,990, is bookended by the value-centric Life and the sporting R-Line. Competition within the segment isn't overly stiff, but they're pretty talented; it goes up against the Peugeot 5008 and Mazda CX-8.

Also read: CKD 2021 Peugeot 3008 & 5008 facelift launched in Malaysia to rival Honda CR-V, from RM 161k

It's a neat bit of kit that doesn't alter a winning recipe too much. 2020's conservative facelift resculpted the face and rear end, the former getting a standard LED lightbar spanning the grille and the latter, 'Tiguan' spelt out in fresh letters on the tailgate.

By and large the Tiguan Allspace is attractive in its own understated way. Perhaps its the combination of a brickly profile and nicely elongated doors that make it look like it's meant to be a 7-seater, as opposed to the seemingly hacked-and-pasted exterior of the 5008. But is it any more practical?

Also read: 4 new MPVs/7 seaters launching in Malaysia in 2022, from all new Perodua Alza to Proton X90

We'll get to that in a bit. Standard exterior fittings are OK for the money – there's automatic IQ.Light LED head- and tail lights, 18-inch wheels, keyless entry. All of these are in addition to a healthy list of toys inside.

Interior: Change is not always for the better

Much like how it is in the Golf, Passat, Arteon, things you usually fiddle with are easy to reach for and logically placed. It's usually hard to outfox VW when it comes to well-laid out cabins, but there's a big, bold but to that here...

Hold on for that, for now we'll start with the good. Where there's digital screens – two here, one for the 9.2-inch Discovery Pro infotainment and the other, the 11.7-inch LCD instrument cluster – they're clear and crisp.

Also read: Frustrated with waiting list? VW Malaysia's website shows you available units in real-time

Using the Discovery Pro infotainment system is fairly simple, plug in your phone and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay boots right up, with crisp graphics matched with pretty good sound quality off the 8-speaker setup. Leave the gesture controls aside though, because it's hair-pullingly unintuitive to use.

All's good, until we set our air-conditioning and find capacitive touch controls replacing the old car's far simpler, regular button panel. Making matters worse is the panel's low positioning, meaning you're often taking your eyes off the road to adjust temperatures and fan speeds.

This wasn't much of an issue in the old car, because of, well, actual buttons we can use via memory.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel in the Elegance and R-Line employs similar touch buttons, and using them while driving can be iffy at best. The wheel itself is nice to hold, and like the rest of the cockpit, feels solid.

Also read: Touchscreen infotainment distracts more than assists, research suggests

The Elegance variant provides a practical package, coming with three-zone (front dual-zone, single zone behind) auto-air conditioning with vents at the back, 12-way powered front seats with memory, and ambient lighting, though that's not as extensive as it in the 5008, for example. No sunroof too.

One standout feature we like is the Active Climate heated and ventilated seats for the pair in front. It really bumps up the experience (the seats are fantastically supple as they are), and just nice to avoid sweaty backs or keeping your pizzas warm on the way home.

Cabin space: Seating for 7? Hmm...

Up front is comfortable enough, and the second row has commendable leg- and headroom – if only a little affected by passengers having to straddle the odd hump on the floor though it's front-wheel drive (FWD).

Also read: Ratings: Which is the most spacious? Vios, City, Almera, or Persona?

Third row space is just nonexistent, unless you don't mind getting an earful from whoever's forced to sit there. It's cramped; the Peugeot 5008 is the standout rival here as that can easily seat a couple of six-footers in its rearmost row.

We reckon these occasional seats will be buried in the floor for most of the time; giving you 700 litres of bootspace. Stow away the middle row too and your cargo space stretches to a maximum 1,775 litres. Keep all of them up and you've got 230 litres.

Also read: Just how practical is the 2022 Honda HR-V? Let us show you in 22 photos

Boot aside, spaces for your things are quite alright. You get a sizeable glovebox (apparently too much to ask from the French) that also cools your drinks, a small centre console bin, and flocked door cards.

Driving: Typical Teutonic tactility

Volkswagen cars are by and large tidy things to drive, and this facelifted Tiguan Allspace Elegance hits all the same benchmarks. Still based on the tried and true MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten, learn it) platform, it generally is an easy car to drive and park.

Netizens will conclude that its turbocharged 1.4-litre engine is underpowered based on sheer cubic capacity alone but just like boot space, numbers only tell part of the story.

Also read: Review: CKD 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI – Is she still the girl that can do both?

The 150 PS petrol engine offers plenty of oomph as it is, while the 6-speed DSG (dual-clutch automatic) behaves like any other; well-composed for most of the time, with slightly jittery low-speed behaviour, but overall perfectly suited for most daily drivers.

250 Nm of torque from the four-cylinder mill still buys you some fun launches, and there's more than enough pulling power even with a full load. The engine stays quiet and refined under regular driving, but does sound strained when you punch it.

Also read: CKD VW Golf GTI Mk8 vs Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ: which to own before the EV rush?

If you're looking for a turn of pace then stick to the very quick R-Line, but the Elegance isn't a slouch either, wrapping up the 0-100 km/h sprint in 10.66 seconds. Stops sharply too, taking just 40.88 metres or a hair under 3 seconds.

Not bad for a car you pay just RM 100 in road tax for.

But then again fuel consumption is less than stellar. We covered 148.1 km, equally mixed between flowing highways and the gridlocked city, and the 2022 VW Tiguan Allspace Elegance consumed 10.25 litres/100 km. 

Comfort: Soft seats, firm ride

The Tiguan Allspace does well in comfort, with nicely supporting seats, but there's one main issue and that is its firm ride. On smooth MEX highway tarmac it doesn't seem much of a problem, but it's more noticeable driving it at pothole-aplenty roads.

We'd go so far to say that its a bit underwhelming. Considering it has chunky 235/55 compound tyres we'd expect things to be better absorbed but it all comes off as a little busy, and it'll strike you the wrong way if you have an affinity for floaty cars.

Or we may have just been spoiled by the 5008's much more convincing ride.

Also read: VW Cares app updated for Malaysia; one-stop app for maintaining your VW

Though the trade off to that is the VeeDub paints curvy roads with a finer brush than the Pug. Steering response is brisk and accurate, and it certainly carries its extra height and length with better confidence.

Note that this doesn't get Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) like its pricier R-Line stablemate does.

Noise suppression is bad on very few cars, and certainly not in the Tiguan Allspace. It's satisfactory, with numbers as above.

Conclusion: Still good, though the fight's getting tighter

VW's done a swell job thus far convincing people to snag their SUVs, and for many perfectly justifable reasons too: there's something for everyone (the Life, priced from RM 177k, is the cheapest in its class), they offer a satisfying drive, and have adequate kit.

Also read: 2022 VW Tiguan Allspace, now with 3 variants - Here's a breakdown of the differences

Aftersales backing is on par with most rivals: a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, 3 years free maintenance, and 5 years' of roadside assistance baked in.

What we don't like is how active safety (ADAS) is minimal, with just lane keep assist (LKA) appearing here. Not even autonomous emergency braking (AEB), let alone adaptive cruise control (ACC). Besides the requisite passive safety (ABS, EBD, ESC), the Tiguan Allspace nets you 6 airbags. 

Also read: Review: Mazda CX-8 2.2D High – This over the VW Tiguan Allspace R-Line?

Though the VW Tiguan Allspace Elegance in itself is a pretty good car with few failings, its position as the clear-cut European answer has now become murkier with increasingly competitive rivals. To the buyer, this is a net positive – more choices means carmakers will have to be on their toes, and strive to offer more metal for the money.

For what its worth though, the Tiguan Allspace is far from being a bad buy. It has a drive that you won't miss your sedan for and a more 'family-friendly' form factor, though you could do well thinking twice if the rearmost row will see plenty of action in your use case.

Also read: Review: The 2022 Peugeot 5008 facelift may be the most honest 7-seater SUV on sale in Malaysia today