VW Tiguan Allspace Review: The 7?Seat SUV That Finally Makes Family Life Feel Bigger, Not Smaller

You know that moment when youre standing on the curb, key fob in hand, staring at your car and wondering how on earth youre going to fit it all in this time? Kids, stroller, sports bags, groceries, maybe grandparents, and somehow the dog still thinks its invited. Modern family life keeps expanding. Your car, not so much.

Thats the pain point the VW Tiguan Allspace goes after with surprising precision: you need more space, but you dont want a hulking, truck-sized SUV. You want a grown-up, tech-forward car that feels like a Tiguan  just with an extra dimension of calm built in.

Enter the solution: Volkswagen stretched its hugely popular Tiguan into the Tiguan Allspace, adding an optional third row of seats, more luggage capacity, and the kind of refinement that makes long journeys feel less like survival missions and more like actual trips.

Why this specific model?

The Tiguan Allspace takes the familiar DNA of the regular Tiguan and turns it into something more versatile, especially for families and people who need occasional seven-seat flexibility without committing to a full-size SUV.

According to Volkswagens German site, the Tiguan Allspace offers up to three rows of seats (with an optional third row) and a significantly enlarged luggage compartment compared to the standard Tiguan. In five-seat configuration, you get generous cargo volume; with seven seats up, you gain the ability to move extra people on demand  perfect for carpool duty, visiting relatives, or those spur-of-the-moment weekend getaways when suddenly everyone wants to come along.

Most powertrains are familiar VW fare: turbocharged petrol and diesel engines (TSI and TDI) paired with either manual gearboxes or the brands DSG dual-clutch automatic, and front- or all-wheel drive depending on configuration (availability can vary by market). The benefit for you: predictable, well-known drivetrains that focus on efficiency, smoothness, and long-distance comfort rather than wild performance for its own sake.

A big part of the Allspace story is tech and comfort. Trims typically include features like:

• Digital cockpit-style instrument cluster on many versions, giving you crisp, configurable driving information.
• Large central touchscreen infotainment with smartphone integration, so navigation, music, and calls feel more like an extension of your phone than a separate system.
• Available driver-assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and front assist with emergency braking (exact spec mix depends on trim and market), helping keep long drives less tiring and city traffic less stressful.

In real life, that translates to this: the Tiguan Allspace isnt trying to be flashy. Its trying to be quietly brilliant. Its the SUV you forget about until you actually need its capabilities  and then you wonder how you ever managed without the extra space and flexibility.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
Extended body with optional 7 seats	Carry up to seven people when you need to, or fold the third row for a huge cargo area when you dont.
Flexible interior layout (split-folding rear seats)	Mix passengers and luggage easily  from IKEA runs to airport transfers, you can reconfigure on the fly.
Available all-wheel drive (4MOTION, depending on configuration)	More traction and confidence on wet roads, country lanes, or light off-road tracks.
Digital cockpit-style instruments (trim-dependent)	Clear, modern display of speed, navigation, and driver info right in front of you, reducing distraction.
Large touchscreen infotainment with smartphone integration	Seamless media, navigation, and calls  makes the car feel like a natural extension of your digital life.
Range of efficient TSI and TDI engines	Balanced performance and fuel economy for everyday commuting and long family trips.
Driver-assistance systems (e.g., adaptive cruise, lane keeping; trim-dependent)	Helps reduce fatigue on motorway drives and adds an extra layer of safety in busy traffic.

What Users Are Saying

Look at discussions on forums and Reddit about the Tiguan Allspace (and its close relative, the long-wheelbase Tiguan) and a consistent picture emerges.

The praise:

• Space without excess bulk: Many owners love that the Allspace feels maneuverable and parkable like a regular mid-size SUV, but still manages to accommodate a third row and large cargo area.
• Comfortable, quiet ride: Users frequently describe it as refined and relaxed, especially on longer drives  more family tourer than hardcore off-roader.
• High-quality cabin feel: Typical Volkswagen strengths: solid materials, logical layout, and a general sense of sturdiness that feels built to last daily family abuse.
• Flexible third row: People appreciate having the two extra seats for kids and short trips, even if they arent using them every day.

The complaints:

• Third row best for kids: Most owners agree that the very back seats are tight for adults, especially on longer journeys. Its an emergency or kids-only zone for many families.
• Infotainment learning curve and responsiveness: Some users mention that VWs newer infotainment systems can feel less intuitive at first and, depending on model year, occasionally laggy.
• Price vs. options: A common thread: the base car is reasonable, but ticking option packs and higher trims can push the price up quickly.

Overall sentiment, though, is strongly positive among people who specifically wanted a more practical Tiguan. If your life is occasionally  or constantly  overflowing, the Allspace tends to be looked at as the calmer, more capable sibling.

Behind all of this sits Volkswagen AG (ISIN: DE0007664039), a global automaker with decades of experience in building mass-market cars that need to work, day in and day out, for millions of drivers.

Alternatives vs. VW Tiguan Allspace

The mid-size, seven-seat SUV space is crowded, so how does the Tiguan Allspace stack up?

• Vs. Skoda Kodiaq: The Kodiaq, which shares a lot under the skin with the Tiguan Allspace, typically offers even more interior cleverness and value-focused trims. If you want maximum space per dollar and are less concerned with the VW badge, its a serious rival. The Allspace, however, tends to feel a bit more premium and refined inside.
• Vs. Hyundai Santa Fe / Kia Sorento: These Korean SUVs often come packed with standard equipment and long warranties. Theyre hard to beat on features-per-dollar. The Tiguan Allspace counters with a more European driving feel, a slightly more compact footprint, and the familiar VW ergonomics that many drivers prefer.
• Vs. full-size three-row SUVs: Larger models from US or Japanese brands might offer more generous third-row space, but at the cost of higher fuel consumption and a bulkier, more intimidating size. The Tiguan Allspace is a sweet spot if you live in cities or suburbs where parking and tight streets still matter.

What really differentiates the VW Tiguan Allspace is that it doesnt feel like a special-purpose, oversized family hauler. It feels like a normal, comfortable, mid-size SUV that just quietly happens to have two extra seats tucked away when you need them.

Final Verdict

If your life fits neatly into a standard five-seat SUV, you probably dont need the Tiguan Allspace. But most modern lives dont. The extra kid from next door, the random team-mate needing a lift, the parents visiting for the weekend, the oversize box that somehow always appears when your trunk is already full  they all conspire to prove that space is the one luxury you cant easily retrofit.

The VW Tiguan Allspace is the quiet fix to that problem. It gives you:

• Seven-seat capability without feeling like a bus.
• Enough cargo room to make big shops and road trips feel effortless.
• A calm, well-built interior that makes daily driving feel like less of a chore.
• Familiar Volkswagen driving manners and technology, wrapped in a design that still looks smart in the office parking lot.

It isnt a track weapon, and it isnt trying to be. Its an SUV designed for real lives: messy, busy, and forever running five minutes late. If youre constantly playing Tetris with people and luggage in your current car, the VW Tiguan Allspace might just be the upgrade that gives you a little breathing room  literally and figuratively.

For full, current specifications, trim details, and available equipment in your region, its worth checking the official Volkswagen site at Volkswagen.de, as configurations can vary by market and model year.