2018 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB

Volkswagen’s aptitude when it comes to selling SUVs in the United States has been—how do we say this?—less than keen. It arrived late to the game, and its first self-developed SUV was overly ambitious, expensive, and cursed with an inelegant name: Touareg. Doubling down on the dumb name game, VW’s second ute, the compact Tiguan, was too small, too bland, and too expensive to contend with the rising wave of stylish, well-packaged entries such as the 2017 Honda CR-V, the Mazda CX-5, and the Ford Escape. But VW seems to have crossed over—bad pun intended—a hump, recently previewing a family of new crossovers that appear to be better sized, better equipped, and much better-looking, including the appealing second-generation 2017 Tiguan for Europe and other world markets, the recently unveiled three-row Atlas mid-size model, two attractive subcompact crossover concepts dubbed T-ROC and T-Cross, a full-size crossover concept called T-Prime, and now this new long-wheelbase 2018 Tiguan, which VW claims was developed specifically with the U.S. market in mind.

Based on VW’s flexible Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) transverse-engine vehicle architecture, the new long-wheelbase Tiguan is identical in most ways to the shorter model (which won’t come to the United States), only with 4.4 more inches between the axles and 10.7 inches of additional overall length. Behind its long rear doors is a second-row seat split into 40/20/40 sections that can slide up to 7.0 inches fore and aft. The stretch also makes room for a third-row seat that will be available on all-wheel-drive models but standard on all front-drivers, plus up to 57 percent more cargo space. As you might imagine, the third row doesn’t offer a huge amount of space—think Mitsubishi Outlander, not Lincoln Navigator L.

VW said it plans to price the Tiguan “very competitively with other compact SUVs” but did not provide details about trim levels, other than to say that it would mirror other vehicles in the lineup. Given that, expect cloth-upholstered base models to be denoted by an S, followed by SE and SEL models as you go up the range, topped with a slick R-Line package. Fancier models will offer Volkswagen’s trick reconfigurable “digital cockpit” instrument display as an option. Also available are Volkswagen’s Car-Net connected-vehicle services, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink, as well as a Fender audio system, a panoramic sunroof, and a foot-activated power tailgate.

Despite its entry-level position in the VW crossover lineup (at least until a smaller one arrives later), the new Tiguan will be available with an array of driver-assistance features, including a standard rearview camera, optional adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, and automated emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, and a blind-spot monitor with rear traffic alert. Should a collision happen, the Tiguan will offer automatic post-collision braking to prevent a second one.

Power comes from an updated version of Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injection inline-four that produces 184 horsepower (16 hp less than the outgoing model) and 221 pound-feet of torque (14 more lb-ft than before), while shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive models will offer four driver-selectable modes: Normal, Snow, Off-Road, and Off-Road Individual, with top-shelf versions providing screen support via the 8.0-inch dashboard display depicting compass, steering angle, pitch and roll angles, and engine oil temperature.

A few weeks, ago, we drove a U.S.-spec all-wheel-drive 2018 Tiguan prototype covered in light camo in South Africa and found that, despite being down on power compared to last year, it could accelerate energetically and steered with little by way of feel but with eminent obedience and unwavering stability, even over rough pavement. We toggled the adaptive dampers between their Comfort and Sport settings, observed the eight-speed automatic in both its self-shifting and manual modes, and generally found the new Tiggy’s demeanor to our liking.

Once we drive and then test final production models and learn how much VW will charge for them—we’re guessing between $26,000 and $40,000—we’ll figure out where this new Tiguan ranks in its segment. It’s looking a lot more like a contender than its predecessor did.