Everything you need to know about Tiguan, only without the accent

What in the world is up with those crazy commercials for the new Volkswagen Tiguan (you know, the ones with the little classic VW Bug that talks with a funny German accent)?

Now that I have seen them a few times, they have grown on me, and I almost think they’re kind of cute.

But I’ll be honest: when I first saw that commercial, I thought it was a little, well, odd.

Remember Mike Myers’ weirdo German character "Dieter" from those Saturday Night Live sketches? These commercials are just like that. Not bad, just strange. Very…European.

Well, I guess that’s probably the whole point.

But if you’re like me and don’t quite get the Tiguan commercials, don’t worry – I’m here to help. I’ll give you the important information about this terrific little car (and without a German accent) so you won’t be in the dark any longer.

The 2009 Tiguan is Volkswagen’s impressive new entry into the rapidly expanding compact crossover SUV segment.

Smaller and more economical than the Touareg, VW’s heftier and considerably more expensive midsize SUV, the Tiguan (with a starting price of $23,200) is aimed at that big new crop of consumers who want the sporty convenience of an SUV without having to cough up so much dough (especially at the gas pump).

EPA fuel-economy ratings are 19 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway for models with manual transmissions, and 19-city/24-highway for automatics.

Given the highly competitive and already overcrowded crossover market, any newcomers hoping to get a piece of the action have to bring some serious stuff to the table – and oh baby, did they ever.

The Tiguan has all of those great features we have come to expect on these vehicles – navigation, back-up camera, satellite radio, trip computer, etc. – but then it goes one step further: real, honest-to-goodness off-road capabilities.

Now, while most of the people who buy SUVs probably don’t go on much rougher rides than, say, jumping the curb at the McDonald’s drive-through, many consumers actually want an SUV that can make it through some slightly tougher terrain. This is where many crossovers disappoint.

The Tiguan, however, has available all-wheel-drive as well as great approach, break-over, lateral driving, static, and departure angles for navigating those steep inclines. (If you’re into off-roading, you know what that stuff means. If not, don’t worry – I’m not going to bore you with an explanation.)

For the rest of us everyday drivers, the Tiguan is still an incredibly agile (and quite stylish) little compact SUV.

Powered by the 200 horsepower turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine also found on the Volkswagen GTI, and paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic, the Tiguan delivers all the power you need to get around town everyday, as well as enough power for those days when you want get out of town and find a little adventure.

Though it is a compact, the five-passenger Tiguan it actually offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo – 23.8 cubic feet of space with all of the seats in place, and 56.1 cubic feet of space with the 60/40-split rear seat folded down. Also, the front passenger seat can be folded down flat for additional space. Cup holders and storage nooks are plentiful, and there are three auxiliary power outlets (one up front, one in the middle for backseat passengers, and one in the rear cargo area).

Safety is always a major concern when buying a car, especially among consumers with children. The Tiguan has some really great safety features, including electronic stability control, six air bags, steel-reinforced door beams that help protect occupants by absorbing impact energy, doors that lock automatically when the car reaches eight miles an hour and unlock after an air bag has been deployed, hazard lights that turn on automatically after air bags deploy, and a deformable steering column that collapses on impact to help protect the driver.

The Tiguan comes in three trim levels: the entry-level S model, the midlevel SE, and the top-of-the-line SEL.

The S model, which starts at $23,200 (plus $690 freight) for a manual transmission and $24,300 for an automatic, comes with plenty of features to keep you happy without breaking your budget.

Standard amenities include: air conditioning, cruise control, an AM/FM radio with in-dash CD-player and eight speakers, SIRIUS satellite radio, daytime running lamps and power windows. All-wheel drive is not offered on S models.

The SE model is the next step up, with a starting price of $26,925 plus freight for two-wheel-drive automatics and $28,875 for automatics with all-wheel drive (a manual transmission is only available on the S model).

The top-of-the-line SEL model starts at $30,990 for two-wheel drive and $32,940 for all-wheel drive, and adds 12-way power adjustable front seats and Bi-Xenon automatic headlights with an Adaptive Front Lighting system that turns the lights for added visibility when going around curves.Another great option on SE and SEL models is the power sliding panoramic sunroof ($1,300). This baby is huge—it takes up a major portion of the entire roof of the car, and is amazing on those beautiful starry summer nights here in Texas. (I’m sure it’s also pretty during the day, but if you have the desire to open a sunroof in the middle of the day in June in Texas, you’re a crazy person.)

The Tiguan really impressed me, and I am happy to say that despite those oddball commercials, I thoroughly enjoyed this vehicle.

Just please don’t ask me to try to explain those guy-in-red-plastic-hair-kicking

-a-tree commercials for Wendy’s. I don’t get them, either.

The automotive columns of Jennifer R. Williams appear regularly in the Star-Telegram. Contact her at autoscribe jennifer@yahoo.com