Hormazd Sorabjee
For any long-term participant in the OurIndia fleet, five trips to Mahabaleshwar in six months must be some sort of record. Not that this is a particularly important record, but frequent visits to the mountain station strongly emphasize that the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a real long-distance bus. Each round trip, including running around in Mahabaleshwar, is about 600 kilometers. Therefore, out of our accumulated 12,000 kilometers, about 2,400 kilometers is my second home on the mountain.
There is no shortage of capable “highway stars” in our long-term fleet, but Tiguan Allspace is special. Especially because the way it accomplishes work is quite unspectacular, or the way it accomplishes the small things we take for granted; like the logical layout of controls, backlit buttons and small illuminated rooms, you don’t have to fumble at night, otherwise ordinary infotainment systems Responsiveness, and a simplified menu that is easy to switch and greatly reduces driver distraction. I like the ease of use of this Tiguan best, especially on wet, unlit, single-lane highways.
Large boots always come in handy during Mahabaleshwar travels.
Early June is the best time to visit Mahabaleshwar, when the monsoon clouds have begun to roll in, and the first showers have turned the hot Western Ghats into a lush green landscape. Along with the rain comes mist; a lot. At 4,500 feet above sea level, you are in thick clouds and visibility is almost non-existent. This is where the Tiguan Allspace’s dynamic turning LED lights, which rotate with the angle of the steering wheel, make a huge difference by illuminating the edges of dangerous narrow roads in the mountains. To be honest, for what I consider to be gimmicks, they have proven to be really useful. It’s not that you will be blind in low light conditions, but that you do realize the value of a good set of light beams under such conditions.
Light moment: LED lights are very effective even in fog.
That’s how it is; the more I live with Tiguan Allspace, the more I appreciate the more refined things, such as wide, clean, blind-spot wipers or tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) systems, which are easy to reset. Resetting the TPMS may seem like no big deal, but if you own a Hyundai or Kia, you will understand how painful it is to have the low pressure warning light go out after resetting tire pressure.
Tiguan’s TPMS proved invaluable during one of my Mahabaleshwar trips. Before I felt the left rear tire slowly deflate, a low tire pressure warning flashed. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a roadside tire repair shop half a kilometer away, and I got in. The last thing I want to do is change a tire in the middle of the road by myself! Instead of switching to a space saver under the luggage full of luggage, the tire wallah leaves the car on the jack, the wheels are closed (but for safety, there is a bracket underneath), and the perforation is repaired (by a small nail on the crown) Cause), we were on the road within 20 minutes.
Comfort level: The perfect padded seat is very suitable for long-distance driving.
The only perforation was the only problem we encountered on the Tiguan, and it worked flawlessly.However, the 2.0 TSI engine does have an appetite for oil, and the oil warning light flashes at around 9,700 kilometers, which forces the oil to be filled before the scheduled oil change interval of 15,000 kilometers.
Speaking of the 2.0 TSI engine itself, it is one of the strengths and weaknesses of Tiguan Allspace. I like its smoothness, low-speed responsiveness and wide torque distribution, which gives the motor great flexibility. The 190-horsepower TSI is used in conjunction with a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and is suitable for most tasks. In the office to home circuit, it is very smooth, when you go up and down the accelerator pedal, there is almost no feeling of tilting the dual clutch. On the highway, I found that turbo gasoline was a little lacking. There is a full suitcase and four passengers in the car, you will miss the mid-range grunt of the diesel engine, and you must tighten the free-spinning engine to avoid traffic jams. Yes, the engine must work hard, which will reduce fuel efficiency, which is another weakness of the engine. In Mahabaleshwar running, it is difficult to get a double-digit number, and the best highway number I got on the downhill return trip was 9.8kpl. Gravity really helps!
TURBO THIRST: TSI engines consume a lot of fuel when they work hard.
Other complaints? On the ruts and sharp edges, the loud and dull sound of the suspension when rebounding or when the damper is extended, destroys the original comfortable ride experience.
In addition to these small issues, Allspace also pays attention to comfort. The ride is very stable and quiet, the seats are very comfortable, and you rarely feel tired after a long journey. In addition, the abrasion of the cabin looks almost not bad. Of course, the seat fabric and dashboard plastic do look dim, but after a quick wipe with some fabric cleaners from Turtle Wax, the cabin will shine like new.
CLUNK CLUNK: The suspension collides through potholes and ruts.
During the eight months that this spacious and safe SUV has served us, it has become a trustworthy friend we know closely. This is why we regret to see it go.
See also:
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace long-term review, second report
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace long-term review, the first report
