2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace review

What is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace like on the inside?

In 2023, we said the Tiguan shows its age inside, where it’s still practical… but looks a bit workmanlike. That’s still the case today, given rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson have moved forward since.

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The last Tiguan we had featured a beige interior; this time around the Life had black leather throughout that presents as very hard-wearing and Germanic.

The generously padded, leather-trimmed seats are set nice and high for a commanding view of the road ahead. There’s enough adjustment in the controls to allow taller drivers to get comfortable, and the leather-trimmed wheel is a quality item.

The 8.0-inch touchscreen in the dashboard looks small alongside what’s on offer elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group, although the inclusion of proper volume and tuning dials on the dash is a rare win nowadays.

If you’re in a hurry with screaming kids in the back, the simplicity of the system is a win. But its blocky graphics, slower responses, and small display feel older by the day given what’s on offer in rivals such as the Tucson.

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Volkswagen’s software is clean and simple to navigate, and the graphics are modern enough, but it feels serviceable rather than flashy or standout.

On the plus side, all the main touch points feel soft and expensive, although there are some hard plastics strewn throughout in the cabin.

The infotainment system is fine; the digital instrument binnacle standard on the Allspace is excellent. It has all the information you need, is capable of displaying maps on the move, and can be customised to within an inch of its life.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both premium inclusions, and the pair of USB-C ports work with a wireless charger to make sure any devices are fully juiced.

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Although it’s a bit dull, there’s no escaping how practical and sensible the Tiguan is up front.

From the proper climate controls (yes, even though they’re touch-based) to the big storage space on the transmission tunnel, as well as the hidden drawers beneath the front seats; it feels like the parents at Volkswagen got together and really thought hard about all the things they’d like to see in a car, then put them in.

The rear seats are spacious in the Allspace, and the sliding bench allows you to prioritise boot space or legroom.

You’ll get adults behind adults, and the wide-opening doors make fitting children into rear-facing seats simpler than in the five-seat model.

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There are air vents, temperature controls, and USB-C charge points back there, along with a 12V socket for accessories. The fold-down centre armrest features cupholders, and is a handy way to keep the kids separated on long road trips.

Access to the third row is relatively simple, and once you’re there the amount of legroom will better accomodate older kids or teenagers. Headroom remains solid for the class, despite the Allspace’s advancing age.

Raising or lowering the rear seats is simple, and when they’re flat you have a load bay that’s comparable to a Touareg’s, based on its claimed capacity.

The luggage cover fits beneath an insert in the floor, and the floor itself is close to flat. Beware the cutouts behind the wheel arches though; they’ll swallow loose items if you aren’t careful.

To see how the Volkswagen Tiguan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The 132TSI is the mid-range option in the Tiguan line-up.

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To see how the Volkswagen Tiguan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace drive?

The seven-seat Tiguan remains quietly competent despite its age.

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Variations of the engine and transmission in this car are still in use across the Volkswagen Group, so it’s not as if the world has moved on.

Unlike its sportier-looking R-Line cousins, the Allspace Life doesn’t feature a suspension tune designed to make it feel like an oversized Golf. It’s tuned to feel like a relaxed family car, which is no bad thing.

On pimply city roads littered with potholes and speed bumps, it floats along more quietly and comfortably than you’d expect. There’s no pretence of sportiness here, and the ride is all the better for it.

There is the occasional shimmy through the structure over big, sharp bumps, which does give away this car’s age.

The standard variable-ratio steering is effortlessly light at parking speeds, making what’s quite a big car easy to pilot in tight spaces, while the standard range of driver assist features makes it easier to know what’s happening in your blind-spot.

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Volkswagen offers more powerful versions of the Allspace, but the 132TSI represents a sweet spot. The base 110TSI feels underpowered at times, while the 162TSI has more punch than the average family really needs.

This engine packs enough of a punch to get you off the mark in a hurry, and it’s more comfortable overtaking at highway speeds with a family and luggage on board than the base model. The extra performance from the more expensive 162TSI engine is nice to have, but it’s not strictly necessary.

Volkswagen’s dual-clutch transmission is a smooth mover, despite their reputation for awkwardness. There’s no hesitation off the mark, and once you’re up and rolling it shuffles through the gears smartly.

It generally defaults to the tallest gear possible to save fuel, but put your foot down and the transmission quickly drops one, two, three gears to drop you into the heart of the engine’s torque band. You’re also able to flick the transmission into manual and take charge if you’re in a hurry to make the family sick.

At highway speeds the Allspace is quiet and refined, with less road roar than you get on models with bigger wheels and lower-profile tyres on Australian back roads.

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It deals with big crests and dips in one movement, although it’s not quite as tied down as the limited-edition Allspace Adventure – which paired similar wheels with sportier suspension.

Traction from the 4Motion all-wheel drive system is solid, although it’s still an on-demand setup that defaults to front-biased operation when you’re cruising to save fuel.

Volkswagen’s suite of driver assists are smart. The adaptive cruise control smartly maintains a gap to the car in front, and the lane-keep assist isn’t too hands on.

Thankfully, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist are back after being left off the spec sheet for MY23 due to component shortages.

To see how the Volkswagen Tiguan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool