VW Tiguan Monochrome review

As we enter our fourth year in its shadow, the car industry is still trying to recover from Covid-related component shortages, factory closures and shipping issues.

For Volkswagen’s Tiguan, the pandemic has spawned a new variant, the Monochrome.

The Monochrome is a special edition of the popular VW Tiguan and seven-seat Tiguan AllSpace.

However, unlike a typical special edition, the Monochrome is as much about what’s been left off the spec sheet as what’s been added.

Based on the top-of-the-range R-Line model, the Monochrome keeps the 162kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine but foregoes some of the luxuries such as heated leather seats.

The touchscreen is also smaller, shrinking from 9.2 inches to eight inches.

To compensate, the Monochrome has an exterior styling package that adds black finishes to the 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, grille, bumper, window surrounds and mirror caps.

Metallic paint, usually a $900 option, is free, as is dark window tinting on the rear windows and a Monochrome edition badge on the rear tailgate.

Prices start at about $59,400 drive-away for the five-seater and $61,700 drive-away for the AllSpace, plus on-roads. That’s roughly $4500 less than the Tiguan R-Line and $5000 less than the R-Line AllSpace.

Standard gear includes built-in satnav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, ambient lighting and digital radio.

Notable omissions, available on similarly priced rivals, include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, an auto tailgate and leather upholstery. Many competitors also have a brand-name audio system at this price.

From the driver’s seat, the Monochrome doesn’t feel like a stripped out model, though. The customisable digital driver display is crisp and hi-tech, displaying the satnav and music choices in front of you so you don’t have to fiddle with the centre screen.

Ambient lighting adds a nice glow to the cabin at night, while the cloth seats have a sporty looking diamond pattern with suede bolsters. There are R-Line motifs in the cabin and on the door sills.

The sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel is a nice touch, while the smaller 8-inch screen and physical dials for the temperature control do the job perfectly well. Our only complaint is that the seat feels a little high.

Standard safety gear includes seven airbags, lane-keeping assistance, radar cruise control, fatigue detection and auto emergency braking in forward and reverse.

Semi-automatic parking, a multi-view rear camera and sensors front and rear take the guess work out of carpark manoeuvres.

On the road, the AllSpace delivers an impressive blend of comfort and control over bumps. The big wheels and low-profile tyres can struggle to soak up pockmarked inner city streets but on the open road it’s a relaxed and refined long-distance cruiser.

Sharp steering, excellent body control and the added security of all-wheel-drive in the wet all combine to give the driver confidence in tricky conditions. It’s not a hardcore off-roader, but you can select different settings for changing surfaces such as mud, sand and rocks.

Rear passengers have plenty of leg and headroom, courtesy of the wide body and tall roof, while there are individual air vents and USB ports for charging devices.

A third row of seats comes in handy for transporting a couple of extra kids on weekends.

Things are pretty tight back there, but the second-row seats slide forward to liberate more leg room. Those sliding seats are also handy for carrying cargo, as you can slide them right up to the front seats to lengthen the load area.

The 162TSI engine has been around for a while – it powered earlier versions of the GTI hot hatch – but it still feels punchier than most mid-size SUVs. It feels strong off the mark and delivers good in-gear acceleration for overtaking, helped by a responsive and quick-shifting dual-clutch auto.

It’s not the most fuel-efficient engine in the business, though, using a claimed 8.6L/100km of premium unleaded. Around town, it uses more than double the fuel of a hybrid Toyota RAV4.

VERDICT

Spacious, comfortable and refined, if a little thirsty.

3.5 stars

VW TIGUAN ALLSPACE MONOCHROME

PRICE About $61,700 drive-away

MOTOR 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol, 162kW and 350Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE Five years, u’ltd km, $2950 for five years

SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane-keep assist, fatigue detection

THIRST 8.6L/100km

BOOT SPACE 700 litres

SPARE Space saver