• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, Yesterday

Volkswagen of America is introducing the third generation of its popular Tiguan SUV, and lessons have been learned from the first two incarnations. 

For starters, there is no third-row option. It’s a roomy two-row SUV. VW found that a lot of folks wanting a three-row SUV were gravitating toward what used to be the Tiguan’s big brother — the Atlas — so it ended up not being needed on the Tiguan. 

I say “used to be,” because the new Tiguan, with a starting price of $29,495, has sporty good looks all of its own and looks much less like the younger sibling of the Atlas than the previous version did. 

There’s a lot to like about the Tiguan. It handles well in a variety of road conditions, including snow and dirt roads. 

Its interior styling is definitely elevated. Lower trim levels includes a 12.9-inch infotainment system, while the top trim features a 15-inch display. The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro is now standard as a 10.25-inch configurable display.

I loved the handy small side pocket next to the back row of seats. The Tiguan is not lacking cupholders, but it’s never a bad thing to have more storage for phones, small purses and the like. 

The exterior has a shorter rear overhang and features connected rear taillights that continue Volkswagen design language seen across other recent VW redesigns.

The vehicle is just beginning to reach dealers aligning with a teaser campaign.

The first of three TV spots, “The Dogs” features the earworm-worthy background track of “Mr. Big Stuff,” made popular by Jean Knight in 1971. 

The typically clever Volkswagen spot shows a variety of stylish dogs with their equally stylish owners admiring a Tiguan, whose backseat is inhabited by an English Bulldog. It ends with “Now anybody can drive like Somebody” with an emphasis on “Somebody.” 

The spot is a teaser and only briefly shows the driver, actor Timothy Simons ("Veep," "Nobody Wants This"), says Rachael Zaluzec, CMO and senior vice president, customer experience, Volkswagen of America. 

Two additional spots still in development by VW’s agency of record Johannes Leonardo will feature Simons more prominently and break in June, Zaluzec tells Drive Time. One will focus on the interior while the other focuses on the vehicle’s performance attributes. 

“Mr. Big Stuff”  will be featured in the upcoming spots, Zaluzec says, calling it the “anthem” for the campaign and its premise: The new Tiguan is a very big deal. 

Having had the chance to drive it, I would have to agree.