Does stretching a Tiguan appeal to the family man? Jonathan Musk takes a closer look.

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SECTOR Large SUV   PRICE £29,370-£39,965   FUEL 36.7-56.5mpg   CO2 131-175g/km

Building on the success of Tiguan, the Allspace is a long-wheel base version that offers more space, seven seats as standard and a subtly more aggressive on-road presence.

The main differences to be found include an additional 215mm overall vehicle length, including an extra 106mm wheelbase that ensures a cavernous interior.

Family drivers will be grateful for the front-facing third row, though access to it requires acrobatic ability for anyone above five-feet tall. They’re also not the most supportive and when upright restrict the boot to 230-litres. The middle row provides the most flexibility, being able to move back and forth 180mm but they’re only split 60/40 hampering versatility despite the 54mm extra claimed knee room. The seats are also a bit like sitting on a park bench and offer little ergonomic support for adults and those with young families may be disappointed to find only two ISOFIX points, with no option to add more.

Overall boot capacity is increased 85-litres over the standard Tiguan, while folding all the seats down offers the Allspace a plentiful 1,775-litres (+120 over Tiguan). There’s also dedicated stowage for the parcel shelf at the rear, keeping it safe, although the boot floor is raised to accommodate this.

The rest of the interior is largely unchanged from the regular Tiguan, meaning the Allspace benefits from tactile materials and stunning build quality. Engines range from a 148bhp petrol to a 237bhp diesel. Front or all-wheel drive is also available for much of the range, though let’s face it – this is no mud plugger.

As such, the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel with the six-speed manual and front-wheel drive would actually be our fleet pick, emitting just 131g/km and achieving a combined 56.5mpg. Tiguan is Volkswagen’s third best-seller and the Allspace is a sensible seven-seat addition to the range.