The 2018 Tiguan is the SUV Volkswagen has desperately needed for years

What is the Tiguan like to drive?

Under the hood, all US-bound Tiguans are powered by an updated version of VW's venerable E888 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four-cylinder engine. The motor has been updated to improve efficiency and torque delivery. In addition, the old Tiguan's 6-speed automatic has been replaced by a new 8-speed unit.

However, the overall output of the engine is down 16 horsepower to just 184 — all while it's gained more than 200 pounds in weight.

Even though peak power and torque are more accessible than the gen-one Tiguan, the new car lacks the pep and enthusiasm of the outgoing model. According to Car and Driver, the sprint to 60 mph takes a leisurely 9.1 seconds. Not good, considering the old car could do it in around 8 seconds.

For me, the Tiguan driving experience was solid, but not spectacular. The steering was responsive albeit a bit numb (common for crossovers) while the ride was compliant and comfortable. On the highway, the Tiguan's lack of power is apparent. The engine and transmission combo feel overwhelmed and winded during high-speed passing maneuvers. The Tiguan will summon up some power and speed, but there is a delay and you will have to put the transmission into sport mode.

Matt DeBord also complained of some roughness in the drivetrain and juddering at low-speeds. However, I couldn't replicate those symptoms on our test car.

These are all issues that, we believe, can be solved with a more powerful version of the E888 engine. The 235 horsepower unit found in the entry-level Atlas should do the trick.

One major area of improvement is fuel economy. The old Tiguan's fuel economy was appallingly poor for a four-cylinder compact crossover.

My personal vehicle routinely struggles to reach the 19 mpg mark. Loaded with people, groceries, and a large cache of apples fresh from a trip to the orchard, our all-wheel-drive test car managed to return about 24 mpg in mixed city and highway driving. Further, a front-wheel-drive Tiguan we tested earlier this year managed to deliver a stellar 31 mpg on the highway.

Speaking of cargo, it's a major improvement over the previous model. According to VW, cargo capacity up 58%. With the third row folded down, the Tiguan has 33 cubic feet of cargo room.

On the other hand, the third-row seat is almost pointless. It was too cramped for everyone except the smallest of children and is a $500 option on all-wheel-drive models. Oddly enough, it comes standard on front-wheel-drive Tiguans. We really only used it as a cargo divider.

Matt also thought it was much too small, but figured it could be useful of you suddenly had to transport an extra pair of kids.

Rearward visibility is also quite good. — something we can't say about many modern crossover SUVs.

As a result of the extended wheelbase, the second row of the Tiguan has ample room for three adults.

The center console features a traditional PRND shifter (THANK YOU!) rather than a joystick. There'a also a drive mode select with several on-road, as well as snow and off-road settings.

The nine-speaker 480-watt Fender audio system is also terrific. It delivers rich bass and a full sound that's perfect for jamming out to some classic rock. Which is a good thing since my colleague Matt DeBord believes the satellite radio should remain set to the classic rock stations at all times.

While we can't see it here, MIB II features full Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration.

It's quick, responsive, and easy to learn. The screen-side buttons work well in conjunction with the on-screen menus.

While the screen tends to smudge a bit easier than others we've tested, MIB II is one of our favorite systems.

The center stack is dominated by an optional 8-inch touchscreen display running VW's latest MIB II infotainment systems. Tiguan's come standard with a 6.5-inch screen running the same system.

Our test car came equipped with the optional 12.3-inch Volkswagen Digit Cockpit configurable instrument display. The system is quite intuitive and is a dialed-back version of Audi's flashier Virtual Cockpit. Lower spec cars come standard with a traditional analog gauge cluster.

The overall quality of the materials used is quite good, while the seats are softer and more supportive than those found in its predecessor.

Inside, the Tiguan's interior really impresses. VW's updated interior is attractive with superb ergonomics.

Outback, the Tiguan gets the formulaic SUV rear end with a single-piece lifting rear hatch.

Aesthetically, the new Tiguan has been given VW's new corporate front fascia, with rounded-out headlights and grille. Thanks to the MQB platform, the Tiguan is wider and rides lower, giving it an athletic yet refined look. With that said, ground clearance has actually improved by an inch.

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