Volkswagen will showcase its extended-wheelbase, seven-seat Tiguan Allspace at next month’s North American International Auto Show — hoping to use the crossover to curry favor with the United States in the wake of its diesel emissions scandal.
The 2018 Tiguan Allspace should serve as a cheaper alternative to larger three-row SUVs, similar to Nissan’s Rogue with its optional family package. It should also serve as a way to coax crossover-crazy Americans back into VW’s warm embrace.
The Allspace, which will just carry the Tiguan name in North America, is over eight inches longer than the standard overseas-only Tiguan, with four of those inches added onto the wheelbase. Current test models of the Allspace are minimally camouflaged, indicating that it will look almost identical to the standard model. The rear door appears to be slightly longer, along with a larger greenhouse. However, the overall shape, proportions, and cutline still make it look like a less flowing BMW X5.
Adding an optional extra row of seating should make it a popular choice for burgeoning families, but perhaps not an ideal one for adult children. It’s difficult to imagine those rearmost seats being spacious, considering the stretched SUV is still not a massive vehicle. The seats can slide to give rear occupants added legroom and easier access, however.
The United States can expect Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while European customers can expect other options, including a diesel.
If Volkswagen can price the newly enlarged Tiguan sensibly, it could be a big hit in the States. The existence of other three-row compacts and abundance of larger SUVs with more interior volume means VW can’t stray too far from the base MSRP.
The longer variant of the Tiguan will premiere in January at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. Beginning in the early part of summer, the Tiguan — with up to seven seats — will launch successively in North America, China and Europe.
[Image: Volkswagen]
Wow…. not the svelte Euro crossover I envisioned at all. Looks like a Santa Fe Sport scissored with a 1st gen X3.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/93460/vw-tiguan-xl-2017-spied-pictures#10
Q5 it is.
VW BRINGS IT!! In an attempt to recoup its 2015 U.S Brand market share of: 2.0% … Cough.
As a side note, Volvo with 0.4% dreams of being VW.
So much for the “sales of 800,000 vehicles a year in the US by 2018” thing. Stefan Jacoby, call your office.
So if they release a sport model, will it be called the Tiguan Allspice?
You beat me to it!
The cheap version aimed at 60-somethings will be the Tiguan Old Spice.
When it gets a facelift in a couple of years, it’ll be called the Tiguan Old Spice RE-FRESH.
So for a nameplate that has been in production for roughly 10 years we finally get a 3 row model NOW?!?!
I’m sure the Nissan Rogue is really sweating this new competition.
The long-wheelbase Tiguan is probably VW’s best bet to take on the CR-V and other segment competition, and I dig its looks, but it’ll likely be priced higher than most and not be helped by VW’s past and present reputations. Sadly, the regular-sized Tiguan replacement would be too small to size up to the compact CUVs.
Maybe a Golf-sized CUV would bring the sales the XL Tiguan won’t.
CR-V doesn’t offer a third row that I’m aware of. I think the Rav4 did at one time, not sure about now. I don’t think the Escape does or ever has. But then I wasn’t aware of the “family pack” Rogue, so I could be wrong.
Seems more like they’re targeting smaller three rows, like Dodge Journey. LOL I guess I’d take the VW over that. Like I’d take Sonata over a Camry, doesn’t mean much.
Like you said, it is likely to be overpriced and underwhelming, so good luck. The Atlas seems more realistic for targeting Pathfinder, Pilot, Explorer, Traverse etc. A real third row, in other words, not a seat stuck in the cargo area.
Yeah, it’s basically one of those Compact Plus crossovers, which maintain the narrow compact width and adequate second row of an ordinary compact crossover with additional length at the rear and a somewhat-usable third row. This distinguishes it from larger three-row crossovers. Some examples of such vehicles would be the Suzuki XL-7 (discontinued, of course), the Journey and the Outlander.
And yes, the larger Atlas goes up against Pilot, Traverse, Highlander, et al.
“Some examples of such vehicles would be the Suzuki XL-7 (discontinued, of course), the Journey and the Outlander.”
Boy, that’s some heady company. And none of those were very good/successful. Those two remaining entries are nearly dead.
This was supposed to be the redesigned Tiguan TDI’s debut in north America. But VW had to go and eff it all up.
With so many other long established models available it’ll be interesting to watch the sales trajectory.
“…VW’s warm embrace.”
More like icy, boney fingers around your throat than a warm embrace. Ready to squeeze when you least expect it.
Will this actually come as a seven seater over here, or will they make this a five seater with extra space for the plus sized Americans?
Tiguans get crap mileage, cost 20% too much and are gorgeous.
Summed it up perfectly I think.
Wait a minute, they’re only going to bring the 7 seat long wheelbase version to North America? Doesn’t that compete pretty directly with the new Atlas designed just for North America? How will they compare in size and price?
I really like the design. If the reliability holds up, could be a winner.
Atlas is bigger.
This looks better.
Will the NA market version continue to come from Wolfsburg or will this be built in Chattanooga or Puebla?
Puebla.
Probably a great car, but they’ll kill it with price, just like they do with every model, except, for some reason, the GTI.
See new All Track wagon, for example.
And there are still seven of us out here that would choose a manual version.
W/ VW, price is just the beginning of a very expensive relationship.
Very expensive.
While not a crossover guy, one thing I can really appreciate about this Tiguan (and all VW’s in general) is that they still have generous amounts of window, and thus can actually see out of them. The whole swoopy rear-end with gunslit windows trend really needs to die in this segment.
I’d rather they bring over the Passat wagon, but an elongated Tiguan is not a terrible option. I wouldn’t be embarrassed to drive this.
Styling already looks old.
I don’t dislike the styling, it looks quite sensible. But that’s not going to get people’s attention when the other options wear better badges and look more interesting. They’re also going to have to give it a price cut, because as others have mentioned above, it’s always been too expensive.
I agree with the rest of the posters – it is a nice looking car but it will be priced much higher than its competition. The only people I see buying one are those who they’re getting superior “German Engineering”. As a current GTI owner I can attest to the fact that when the warranty runs out be prepared for some very expensive repairs. VW will run it right up your arse.
So are they going to call the current one the Tiguan Nospace?
I’ll be here all week.