2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace revealed | video

Volkswagen has revealed a production version of the forthcoming Tiguan Allspace, a long wheelbase version of its mid-size SUV. 

Launched at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the seven-seat wagon will give VW vital firepower in a highly competitive part of the local market.

With 110mm added to its midsection between the axles, the Allspace is 215mm longer overall than the five-seat version. While it’ll be sold as a five-seater with extra luggage room in Europe and the US, Australia will take only three-row versions of VW’s newest SUV.

The Allspace has been slightly redesigned to separate it from the regular car, with a specific grille and bonnet as well as different trim materials on lower models.

Locally, VW Australia told CarsGuide that local specs would be finalised closer to the car’s launch midway through 2018, but indicated the seven-seater would likely mimic the existing Tiguan line-up of mid-grade Comfortline and top-spec Highline.

It’s unlikely either front-wheel drive or manual gearboxes will be offered in the seven seat range, with the Allspace instead using an all-wheel drive powertrain backed by a seven-speed DSG. VW’s 2.0-litre petrol engine in 132 and 162 guise, along with its 110 diesel, are the most likely engine options.

A quick poke around the Detroit show car reveals a three-row set-up that follows the usual 2/3/2 configuration, with the third row seats folding flat into the floor to free up valuable cargo real estate.

There’s a surprisingly usable amount of room behind the third row even when they’re in use, though thanks to the overall size of the car, the rearmost pair of seats are really only suited to the smallest of passengers. Even teen children are likely to struggle with the arrangement.

The seven-seat Tiguan will finally give VW the ammo to go up against similarly sized three-row candidates like Nissan’s X-Trail and the Mitsubishi Outlander, and is just one of a slew of high-riding crossover products coming from the German carmaker in the next two years.

Seven seats. Useful feature or unnecessary addition? Tell us what you think in the comments below.