An unannounced success. The Allapsace version of the Tiguan has met with public favor more than Volkswagen itself expected, which produces the model in Shanghai, China, where it is called Tiguan L, and in Puebla, Mexico, from where the SUV is hijacked both in North America and Europe. The XL declination, with 2.79 meters of wheelbase over 4.72 in length (22 centimeters more than the model from which it derives and 22 millimeters more than before, but not due to structural changes), was launched in 2017 and 1.5 million copies have already been marketed. The manufacturer explains that over half of sales (55%) are now absorbed by the long wheelbase version. As part of the impressive product offensive, Volkswagen exhibited the facelift of the Tiguan Allspace, which is also available with seven seats on request. The update includes a sprinkling of aesthetic innovations, but above all the adoption of more advanced assistance systems and more efficient engines, even if not hybrids except in China where the Tiguan L plug-in is already available. In Europe, the extra-large SUV with front-wheel drive or intelligent all-wheel drive has a boot with a capacity of between 760 and 1,920 liters in the five-seater version and between 700 and 1,775 liters in the seven-seater one.
With the facelift, Volkswagen further increases economies of scale by adopting technologies already available on other models, including the “base” Tiguan magazine presented in 2020. The design incorporates the IQ.Light matrix headlights for the front: the fog lights they have been integrated in the thenectors, together with the LED daytime running lights. The light signature is new, as is the two-dimensional Volkswagen logo, used for the first time on the Allspace.
The offer has been remodeled with the proposals Tiguan Allspace (the access model), Life and the top of the range Elegance and R-Line. The entry level, which in Italy is currently the Business, boasts more important equipment even if for the moment it is not yet known which ones. If it were to align with Germany, which is one of the three main markets together with the United States and China, the infotainment system would have a screen of at least 8 ” (already standard in Italy), the new multifunctional steering wheel covered in leather, the adjustment of the high beam and distance with emergency brake assist and more. With the technological update, the Tiguan Allspace will also have the Travel Assist with assisted driving up to 210 kilometers per hour and the modular MIB3 infotainment system with improved connectivity and access to various online services. In addition to the dashboard, there are also digital controls for the air conditioning.
Under the hood of the Tiguan Allspace, petrol 1.5 and 2.0 liter Tsi and 2.0 liter Tdi units will be available. The smaller engine, with two-wheel drive and with cylinder deactivation, ensures 150 HP, which is the same as the one currently marketed in Italy and credited with distances between 13.8 and 14.1 kilometers per liter. This engine is the only one not to have the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic DSG transmission as standard and is only available as a Life. Then there are the 190 hp and 245 hp two thousand, both 4Motion. On the diesel front, the renewed range adopts 150 and 200 hp units (currently only the latter is listed in Italy) with double Scr catalytic converters for a separate injection of AdBlue. Thanks to the “twindosing” Volkswagen promises a reduction of nitrogen oxides of up to 80%. The technical data on performance and consumption have not yet been disclosed by the manufacturer. The launch of commercialization is expected within the year, although the shortage of semiconductors could affect the timing.
