Malaysia welcomed the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, the 7-seater counterpart to the regular Volkswagen Tiguan last year. There's two variants here, the 1.4-litre Highline and this tartier 2.0-litre R-Line. 

Seven months since then, VW has updated the R-Line with new infotainment features. 

Also read: RM 2k for extra space? 5-seater VW Tiguan vs 7-seater Tiguan Allspace

What's new outside?

This round of updates is a subtle one, with only one small exterior enhancement and a few interior improvements. 

On the outside, the car is pretty much as you've seen it last year with the exception of little 'Volkswagen' inscriptions on the B-pillars.

Not a hair out of place elsewhere as it wears the same R-Line kit as before, encapsulating aggressive front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear spoiler, trapezoidal tailpipes, and obligatory R-Line badges.

Also read: Why the VW Tiguan Allspace has ridges on its roof?

Capping off the look is this set of chunky 19-inch 'Sebring' wheels.

Now with wireless Apple CarPlay

All the changes are to do with connectivity, with the 9.2-inch Discover Pro touchscreen infotainment system being the star of the show. The updated infotainment system now has a second page for general vehicular functions and a 'Favourites' section.

New to the infotainment system is wireless Apple CarPlay, replacing the wired system found in the pre-revision car. However, Android Auto is still, as before, wired-only.

Also read: Why your next car should come with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

Rounding off the changes are the USB ports - all three are now USB-C only. Previously, they were USB-A.

These aside, everything else remains the same: supple 'Vienna' leather upholstery, supportive seats, and subtle R-Line touches like sports pedals and black headliner.

Also read: 5 things we like about the VW Tiguan Allspace

That said, the third row seats offer limited legroom and is more catered for small kids than a full-grown adult. With the seats folded down, you do get ample cargo space.

Also read: These are the 7-seater cars Malaysians are definitely excited for

How do the updates perform?

The system is zippy, and connects seamlessly with your phone. However, it has its little foibles, particularly with Waze. The most common glitch we found is that after a destination is set, the system doesn't read out our estimated time of arrival (ETA) and other alerts Waze usually displays. But this only occurs very occasionally.

Android Auto works pretty flawlessly, and the 8-speaker audio setup sounds good. Phone calls are clear, and whoever you're speaking to won't have trouble hearing you.

Performance - Golf GTI with 7 seats 

Still unchanged, under the hood lies the same 2.0-litre mill that's shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI:

Besides Individual (whereby it allows you to mix-and-match different aspects of the car's performance), there's five selectable drive modes, which are Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Off-Road.

Also read: 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 1.4 TSI vs 2.0 TSI - Do you need the extra power?

Safety - No ADAS

Safety, unfortunately, sees no changes. The Tiguan Allspace R-Line retains this array of safety features:

• Six airbags
• Anti-lock braking system lectronic brakeforce distribution (ABS, EBD)
• Brake assist (BA)
• Electronic stability control (ESC)
• Traction control (TC)
• ISOFIX mounts
• Multi-collision brake system

And...that's about it really. Both Tiguan Allspace variants make do without advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) or even forward collision warning (FCW), things that could really sweeten the deal.

Price - Gladly still the same

For all that's offered, the updates come at no extra cost - the Tiguan Allspace R-Line's price tag of RM 209,637, on-the-road sans insurance and SST (valid until 30-June 2021) and inclusive of five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, remains.

Also read: Surprise U-turn sees government extending sales tax (SST) exemption/discount to June 2021

WapCar's Comments

We like the Tiguan Allspace R-Line, and it's certainly a model we'd recommend to those looking for a livelier SUV. Make no mistake, it isn't all about the go only as it'll happily fill familial duties just as well. The little updates are a nice touch, and we appreciate that it sees no price hike.

Also read: Review: 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line – more space and more grunt!