Volkswagen Allspace: Fast family adventures

The Volkswagen Tiguan has been one of the best-selling models of the renowned carmaker here in Nepal, and right around the world for that matter. It is one of those SUVs that get a lot of things right while rarely giving anything big to complain about. The Allspace is just that, but more. It claims to do everything that a Tiguan can, and much more.

The Allspace has all the stuff to prove it isn’t just a Tiguan with a longer body. It claims more practicality, more driver oriented performance and most importantly, a better car. How much of that claim is true though? And should you get one for yourself? We answer that today.

Exterior

‘Unmistakably German’ would be an appropriate way to describe how the Allspace looks. The boxy silhouette, a wide stance and strong character lines all contribute to a smart appearance.

Upfront, you get a bold front grille, with the front getting all LED headlamps with some of the best looking LED DRLs in the market. You also get a massive air dam flanked by LED fog lamps. It would have been amazing if the air intakes above the fog lamps were real but let’s not get caught up in wishful thinking. The profile is less distracting as your attention is shared by a duet of strong character line that streaks across the bodywork and classy 18-inch alloys the SUV sits on.

Over on the back, the Allspace opts for decency rather than edgy. You have large LED taillamps, roof spoiler with integrated stop light and huge… (but sadly faux) exhaust which should have been real.

Our test drive unit was in the “Blue Silk”, one of the best iterations of blue. Over the years of seeing “in your face” blue cars, it is nice to have one in a shade that allows you to savor the view.

Interior

The interior of the Allspace is as tasteful as the outside. From the choice of materials to the kits inside the cabin, everything oozes quality. Much like the paint on the exterior, the interior is also pleasing to look at.

Let’s take a seat first, because that’s what everyone does inside a car before anything else. The seats in the Allspace are phenomenal. You get loads of electronic adjustments in the driver’s seat including lumbar support and memory function.

Driver of any form, size and shape will find his/her perfect driving position in the Allspace easily. The seats come with proper padding that is well balanced without being too firm or too soft; you get large side and thigh bolsters that tuck you in place like a racing seat.

You get an all-black cabin with a harmonious design concept where everything just falls into your hand. The dashboard has a simple layout governed by large AC vents and a big infotainment screen. This screen in turn comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as would be expected from a car in this segment. But the Allspace also gets the “DYNAUDIO Excite Surround” sound system.

Eight speakers are perfectly positioned in the Volkswagen Allspace and meticulously matched to each other for pristine sound. A powerful 16-channel digital amplifier with 400 watts of output supplies tweeters, bass mid-range speakers and woofers as well as the center speaker and subwoofer with clear signals.

You also get a 12.3 inch driver instrument screen dubbed the Active Info Display that displays important driver data you can operate with the steering mounted controls. The air conditioning is another highlight in the Allspace. The “Air Care Climatronic” allows preferred temperature to be set individually for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers.

The electric control unit factors in all the important variables, such as the position and strength of the sun and outside temperature, and introduces more or less cool air accordingly. Allergy sufferers will be happy to know that the “Air Care Climatronic” air conditioning system not only includes an automatic recirculated air mode, but a biogenic filter too.

Family members will also be happy inside the Allspace, with the rear seat having great cushioning for the back and the thighs, making long road trips feel tireless. Three people can be happily accommodated in the second row, although the high transmission tunnel will dig into the shins of the middle passenger, making long journeys less than ideal.

The Allspace also comes with a third row and we will say it right now, it is only for kids and strictly not for adults. Even larger teens will find it difficult to spend their time in the third row on longer journeys; and the last two seats are best left folded.

The Allspace comes with a spacious boot that simply swallows all your luggage. In this seven-seater, there’s an adequate 230 liter boot behind the third row. Fold the third row seats flat and the boot space increases to a large 700 liters; fold the second row flat and you have a huge 1,775 liters of boot space.

Performance & Safety

Now that the family is sorted, let’s come to the driver, and this is where the VW Allspace shines. The Allspace is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder TSI petrol mated to VW’s iconic DSG transmission, sending 180 Bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque to all four wheels via the 4MOTION All-Wheel-Drive. And we will say it right now, the Allspace is much faster than it looks.

Weighing in at just a sack of Bratwurst above two and a half tons, the Allspace lunges from a standstill to 100 kph in just 7.7 seconds, and does 208 kph flat out, meaning your family getaway destination will not be too far. But what leaves you in awe is how the Allspace gathers speed—no turbulence, no torque steer… this SUV drives like a sedan.

The hero under the bonnet is the DSG gearbox. Optimized and fine-tuned over the years this gearbox is so smooth and efficient at matching revs and changing gears that even the most seasoned drivers will find it difficult to pin-point gear changes.

Overtakes don’t need any sort of prior planning and triple digit speeds come instantly. This gearbox milks every last drop of performance from the engine and puts it on the ground efficiently. Corners are another highlight in the Allspace. The driver oriented seats with a body that mitigates roll means you can hit a corner hard and power out fast as the gearbox quickly sends horses when you dearly need them. Overall the Allspace makes for a thrilling ride.

Big SUVs are always considered safe simply because “there’s more body to be crushed before it gets to you”. This isn’t completely wrong, but not entirely right either. In this regard, the Allspace offers a host of safety features to make an already safe big SUV even safer.

You get ABS, ESP and six airbags. You get ESC and an active hood Sensor for pedestrian safety. In case of a collision, the front bumper signals the Active Hood and raises it, minimizing damage. Apart from this there is an entire list of safety features that make the Allspace a safe place for you and your family.

Verdict

The Volkswagen Allspace comes in only one fully-loaded variant. One car, one variant, you get everything, eliminating the confusion of having to pick the one you want from 20 variants of other cars.

The Allspace comes with a price tag of 1.58 crores, which is a lot of money, but you are getting a car that is an all-rounder; it is a great looker, comes with a plush cabin, and is tremendous fun to drive. Throw in Volkswagen’s praiseworthy service benefits that include a two-year unlimited km warranty, three-year paint warranty, and a six-year anti-perforation warranty. All of which makes the Volkswagen Allspace one of the best cars for your money. 

Specs:

Engine type: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder TSI petrol

Transmission: 7-speed DSG

Power: 180 bhp at 3940-6000 RPM

Torque: 320 Nm at 150-3940 RPM

Drivetrain: 4MOTION All-Wheel-Drive