Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace review: the seven-seat crossover Bahraini families overlook
motorssouq Editorial Team
The Allspace Tiguan is the most underrated seven-seat crossover on the Bahraini market. It rides and steers with more polish than a RAV4 or Santa Fe, the third row is genuinely usable for children rather than decorative, and the 2.0 TSI has enough torque to never feel strained with a full load. Front-wheel-drive versions are the sensible buy for Bahrain — save the 4Motion premium unless you regularly cross into the mountains on the Saudi side of the causeway.
Pros
- Standard long-wheelbase body gives a genuinely usable third row, not a token one
- 2.0 TSI has enough low-end torque to never feel strained with a full load
- Best-handling mainstream crossover in its size class in Bahrain
- Euro NCAP 5-star rating with a full driver-assistance suite
- Front-wheel-drive versions are meaningfully cheaper to run than 4Motion
Cons
- Third row is fine for children only, and cuts cargo space sharply when in use
- 4Motion all-wheel drive is an expensive option most Bahraini owners never need
- Panoramic sunroof drain tubes need periodic checking in this climate
- Less brand recognition on the used market than a RAV4 or CR-V, which can slow resale
Every other market calls this the Tiguan Allspace and sells it alongside a shorter standard Tiguan. Bahrain never got that choice — the long-wheelbase body with the optional third row was simply the Tiguan, and it turned out to be the right call. Volkswagen accidentally built the segment's best-kept secret: a crossover with genuinely usable seven-seat capability that most families cross-shop against five-seaters without realising the option exists.
The 2.0-litre turbo four with 320 Nm from 1,500 rpm is the right engine for the job. It never feels like it is working hard even with the third row occupied and the boot loaded, and the eight-speed automatic shifts more smoothly under load than the Golf's six-speed unit does.
The third row, honestly
Two extra seats fold from the boot floor and are genuinely fine for two children on a school run or a short causeway trip — not for adults on a long haul, and not with the boot loaded, since cargo space drops sharply with the third row up. Where it earns its keep is the flexibility: fold it flat and the Tiguan swallows more than most mid-size SUVs manage.
On the road
Steering weight and body control are noticeably more resolved than a RAV4's, and the ride absorbs Manama's speed bumps without the floatiness that some rivals fall into. Wind and road noise at 120 km/h on the highway to the causeway are well suppressed for the class.
What to check on a used one
4Motion all-wheel-drive versions carry a genuine fuel and purchase-price premium that most Bahraini owners never use; a front-wheel-drive example is the sensible choice unless off-tarmac use is a real requirement. On any used Tiguan, verify the eight-speed automatic's service history and check for the panoramic sunroof's drain tubes running clear — a known point of water ingress if neglected in this climate.