The long-awaited long-wheelbase Volkswagen Tiguan for our North American market has made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, growing larger and gaining a third row.

Longer by nearly 11 inches, the Tiguan we’ll get is a lengthened version of the all-new one that has already been on sale in Europe and based on the latest MQB architecture. Unlike theirs, ours will be built in Mexico and offer a third-row seating arrangement.

Thus it’s styled much the same as the rest of the Volkswagen lineup, and nearly identical to the current global Tiguan – just longer. As such it boasts up to 57 percent more cargo capacity afforded by its 109.9-inch wheelbase that’s 4.4 inches longer than the global Tiguan.

Overt the last generation Tiguan, it raises the game not only in size but in modern crossover design sensibilities. The new silhouette enjoys a more off-roady 26-degree approach angle up front and a lower lift-in height for loading it up at the rear.

Powering the Tiguan in North America will be a single and sole engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct injected four with 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. You might ask why not 210 like the GTI, this one is tuned down for fuel economy and a diet of regular fuel.

It will drive either the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Optioning the 4Motion with Active Control all-wheel-drive system will give you a variety of drive modes for whatever terrain you want to throw its way.

The interior boasts Volkswagen’s latest design ethos offering base cloth seat trims up to fully optioned bliss. You can option the new digital cockpit display, that allows you to reconfigure the instrument cluster your way, with information sets to choose from.

Second-row seats slide up to 7-inches fore and aft allow for more room for the third row seats which are standard on front-wheel drive Tiguan but optional on models with 4Motion all-wheel drive.

Like most to which it will compete such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and others, it will offer a hands-free power lift gate now. For the first time a panoramic sunroof will be available too.

A long list of driver assistance technologies will be optional as expected including adaptive cruise control with stop and go capability, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, a blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert and lane departure warning just to name a few.

The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan goes on sale here in North America later this year and will join the all-new Volkswagen Atlas to round out the brand’s newest SUV lineup.

Pricing and final specifications will be announced closer to launch.