This week, we shall put the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI through the scrutiny of WapCar’s Ratings test. The Tiguan Allspace is a C-segment SUV with the added advantage of 7 seats, competing against the likes of the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Driving Performance – 34/50, decent low-end torque

Although sporting a smaller displacement, the 1.4-litre turbo engine of the Tiguan Allspace produces a decent maximum torque. The 1.4-litre unit manages 250 Nm of maximum torque, which is more than the 243 Nm produced by the 1.5-litre turbo Honda CR-V.

Getting up to speed is relatively effortless from its low-end torque. Although with 7 adults onboard, acceleration is understandably sluggish. Braking performance is about average in the Tiguan Allspace Highline, taking 41.7 metres to come to a standstill from 100 km/h. 

Steering is light at all speeds and the brakes offer excellent feel and bites progressively. With a longer wheelbase than the regular Tiguan, The Tiguan Allspace Highline trades off some agility for stability.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Ride comfort – 36/50, slightly firm but Teutonic-ally insulated

The Tiguan Allspace settles quickly over bumps and gives a solid thud over smaller potholes. Over larger potholes or sharp bumps, it can be jarring. The extended wheelbase helps with overall composure but some of the harshness are still felt.

At higher speeds on highways, the Tiguan Allspace copes well with larger undulations. This makes the Tiguan Allspace a decent highway cruiser.

Seats are also on the firmer side as with most German makes, which some may prefer. They offer decent support around the sides and thighs.

Tyre and engine noise are well suppressed at all speeds. Wind noise does creep into the cabin once it reaches our national speed limit, but that is the norm with most SUVs. At 110 km/h, the decibel meter recorded an average of 68 dB.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Quality and Features – 36.5/50, Great build but no ADAS

In terms of basic build quality items like paint thickness and panel gap consistency, the Tiguan Allspace Highline received the full score for both. This suggests remarkable consistencies.

While the interior design is best described as safe, the build quality can only be described as excellent from the data recorded. Subjectively, everything is sturdy and feels well put together.

Some of the interior features that you get in the 2020 VW Tiguan Allspace include a fully digital gauge cluster and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.

In terms active safety features or ADAS, there are none unfortunately. This is a common drawback for most Volkswagen models currently for sale in Malaysia. Were it to feature ADAS, the Tiguan Allspace would have dominated this aspect.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Space and Practicality – 38/50, spacious and supremely practical

With the second row pushed all the way back, legroom and headroom are decent. With a 177cm tall adult in the second row, legroom is about two tennis balls while headroom is about 1.5 tennis balls.

As for the third row, there's decent legroom with the second row pushed to the far front. Headroom is extremely tight. It is impossible for adults to sit completely upright without touching the headliner. Kids, however, should be fine in the third row.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is an easy favourite when it comes to storage space. The side door bins are huge, there are overhead storage compartments, the glovebox is decently sized, and the centre console cupholders are nifty.

Boot space is rated at 230 litres with the third-row seats up and 700 litres folded.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Fuel consumption – 9/20, thirsty considering its output

After travelling 123 km in 50% urban and 50% highway conditions, the Tiguan Allspace used up 12.72 litres of fuel. This gives the VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 a fuel consumption figure of 10.3-litre/100km.

It's not as fuel efficient as the Honda CR-V with more horsepower and four driven wheels, which averaged 8.9-litre/100 km during our test.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Purchase and Cost – 16.5/30, costly maintenance

The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline is priced at RM 165,030 (OTR without insurance and SST). It is ever so slightly cheaper than the range-topping Honda CR-V 1.5 TC-P 4WD. The Tiguan Allspace loses out on ADAS but has the advantage of 2 extra seats.

Warranty given is 5 years/unlimited mileage which is par for the course. But servicing costs are rather high, particularly during its fourth-year major service.

2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 TSI: Conclusion – 171/250 pts overall

The 2020 VW Tiguan Allspace 1.4 TSI scored well in most areas such as driving performance, ride comfort, quality and features, and interior space. Its main strength would be the practical storage space and the refined build quality.

However, it lacks the all-important ADAS and consumes more fuel than expected from its power output and size. Plus, servicing cost is significantly higher than most of the competition.

If you are looking for a well-rounded 7-seater SUV that you may utilize the additional seats from time to time, then the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 is a worthy consideration.

Full Ratings list: https://www.wapcar.my/car-ranking

Also read: Review: 2020 VW Tiguan Allspace Highline 1.4 - No ADAS but has 7 seats, a better CR-V?