Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 2023 review: Adventure - off-road test

Darn good value is the short answer. That’s mainly because normally if you want the sporty 162TSI engine fitted to the Adventure, you need to pay $5000 more for the Tiguan Allspace Elegance or R-Line.

The $51,990 before on-road costs price is also down to Volkswagen not being able to load up this special edition with more features due to the international parts shortage affecting all carmakers. We’re talking power seats, for example.

But despite this, I think there's excellent value to be had here in the Allspace Adventure’s standard features.

Standard equipment includes three-zone climate control, heated front seats, a digital cockpit, an 8.0-inch media display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat nav, wireless phone charging, proximity unlocking, tinted windows, plus LED headlights and running lights.

Volkswagen also gives you a choice of an accessory package at no extra charge. You can pick from three packages: Summer (sun shades and rubber mats), Autumn (rubber cargo mats and load-lip protector) or Winter (snow chains and rubber mats).

The Allspace Adventure also comes with better underbody engine protection than a regular Allspace, there’s also increased battery capacity and a larger 180-amp alternator for extra oomph to power fridges or other camping equipment.

This special edition also has sports suspension, progressive steering and 17-inch Dublin alloy wheels which make rough road driving a lot more comfortable when combined with the big tyres - see the driving section.

Just remember that this special edition doesn’t have a third row of seats like a regular Allspace - that gives you more room in your boot, but you can only carry five people at most.

The Tiguan Allspace Adventure has modifications that make it even more practical than a regular Allspace.

We’re talking about the removal of the third row of seats to increase the cargo capacity of the boot by 60 litres to 760 litres.

There’s that increased battery capacity and a larger 180-amp alternator as mentioned, too.

The boot’s tailgate isn’t power operated - the Volkswagen representative seemed disappointed when they told me this, but I think it’s a win for practicality in that you can open and close it far quicker than an automatic one. Plus, less can go wrong with a manually operated tailgate.

The front seats, too, are manually adjustable - again a shortage of electronic parts due to the global supply issue meant VW couldn’t make them power operated, but again I reckon from a practical point of view it makes them quicker and more reliable to use for years.

The front seats are manually adjustable.

The boot has luggage nets, a retractable cargo blind, hooks, a 12V power outlet, a two-level floor, and a torch.

Cabin storage is excellent with big door pockets, two cupholders in the second row, and another two up front in a configurable centre console that can be turned into a big tub for larger objects.

Two USB ports (Type C) are also up there, along with the wireless phone charger.

The fabric seats are supportive and comfy. 

Proximity unlocking, climate control in the third row, tinted windows, and drawers under the front seats all round out a really practical package.

When it comes to picking your Accessories package - I’d go for the Summer package which adds pull-up sun shades for the rear windows. That’s just because I’m a dad with little kids who always worries about what that giant reactor in the sky is doing to their skin. 

The Tiguan Allspace Adventure has a 162kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine. Also known as the 162TSI it’s a superb engine normally found only in the higher-specification Tiguans.

A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sends the drive to all four wheels.

The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine produces 162kW/350Nm.

Acceleration is outstanding compared to its rivals with 0-100km/h coming in 6.8 seconds. That’s quicker than a 1982 Ferrari 308 GTS - the Magnum one. There’s some barbecue trivia for you.

Most people don’t like bumper-to-bumper city traffic or roads cratered with potholes. But I do. These types of conditions mean I can see how a new car performs on the roads we live with everyday and there was plenty of horrendous traffic and bad roads at the launch of this new Tiguan Allspace in Sydney.

I’ve tested the past two generations of Tiguans. I’ve lived with them, gone on holiday in them, driven them all over Australia and I reckon this version of the Allspace with the powerful 162TSI engine with its small wheels (17-inch Dublin alloys) and big cushiony tyres (216/65 R17) is the best I’ve driven in terms of a combination of comfort and grunt.

The steering is outstanding.

Tiguans with this engine normally come with 18- or 19-inch wheels and low profile tyres. They look great but the ride on our not-so-great Aussie roads is pretty harsh.

If I was going to build my own Tiguan I’d have the 162TSI engine and swap out those 19-inch rims for smaller wheels and tyres with a higher side wall - exactly what the Allspace Adventure has. It means the ride is comfortable but with the oomph of the 162TSI engine.

The Allspace Adventure is the best Tiguan I’ve driven.

The progressive steering is outstanding - accurate and natural feeling at low and high speeds.

Visibility all round is excellent and while at 4700mm end to end - the Tiguan Allspace is 200mm longer than a regular Tiguan - it’s still a medium-sized SUV and can be piloted through car parks and city traffic easily.

I reset the trip computer as soon as I started driving the Tiguan Allspace Adventure at its launch and after 136km of a good mix of nearly every condition you’ll see, the car was telling me it was using an average of 8.3L/100km.

That’s better fuel efficiency than the 8.6L/100km Volkswagen says I should have got after a combination of open and urban roads.  I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve beaten a car manufacturer’s claimed fuel consumption for a car.

That’s good fuel efficiency compared to its rivals - but you’ll see it rise once you start adding the weight of people and gear, or if most of the time you’re driving in the city.

The fuel tank has a 60-litre capacity and you’ll need to feed it a premium unleaded - at least 95 RON.

The Tiguan Allspace Adventure is covered by Volkswagen’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Servicing is recommended annually or every 15,000km. 

The Adventure is covered by VW’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

As for serving prices there’s a five-year plan which costs $2950 ($590 per service on average) and a three-year plan that's $1650 ($550 per service on average).

While you’re saving money on getting the service plan, the cost is higher than most of the Tiguan Allspace’s rivals.