After the Polo left, the Virtus GT line carried the crown of enthusiasm for automotive geeks. The company felt it wasn’t enough to keep the legacy alive, and the Tiguan had an awaited new face. The manufacturer has now officially launched the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line. The company has priced the SUV at ₹49L ex-showroom in India, and in some cities, it reaches ₹60L on-road. That said, let us see how powerful the R badge proves to be.
We already have the Virtus GT Line as a sporty option by Volkswagen India. But there was always this feeling that it lacked something—something that the Jetta, Passat, and Tiguan had. And that something was the pick-and-drop CBU model. Yes, the Virtus is a good sedan, but what it lacked was Volkswagen’s global quality. Volkswagen has opened doors with the Tiguan R-Line to entertain an audience that seeks German quality.
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line – Design
Although it shares the name with its sibling, the Tiguan, Volkswagen has launched this as a completely different model from the standard Tiguan. The front of the Tiguan R-Line features an upright bonnet with sharp cuts. Adding to the appeal is the bumper with a large grille. Volkswagen has integrated the grille into the bumper itself, while in place of the traditional grille, you get an LED light bar that connects both headlights.
The SUV features all-black elements as well as chrome inserts. This can be seen on the lower side of the bumper. Small details like the ‘R-Line’ logo right beside the right headlight, as well as the smoked headlights, give the car a sportier appeal. You get a quad projector setup overall, and that’s it—there are no fog lights or anything of the sort at the front.
Moving to the side, the long length of the SUV is easily noticeable. In numbers, it is a little over 4.5 meters. Moreover, the silhouette of the Tiguan R-Line will remind you of the Audi Q5. It is sharp and sleek, yet bold and muscular. As mentioned earlier, you get chrome fittings around the windows, making them look like a single piece. The side body cladding is slim and blacked-out—again to give it a bold design essence. Just like the front, you get an ‘R-Line’ badge on the front door under the mirror housing.
Sharp Rear Styling
At the rear, there isn’t much to talk about, as it just follows a sharp, bold, and muscular design. Yet to brief it, you get the typical Volkswagen rear with the LED light bar joining both taillights with the Volkswagen logo in the middle. Surprisingly, it just says ‘Tiguan’ and not ‘Tiguan R-Line’ at the rear. Following that is a little reminder of the AWD system named 4Motion. Overall, the SUV is really muscular and lives up to its name—the ‘Tiguan R-Line’.
Interior Design and Features of Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line
Hopping onto the interior, you notice that there isn’t much to play around with. You get a simple but large 15-inch infotainment system and a 10-inch instrument cluster with customizable Digital Cockpit Pro, providing access to essential information and controls.
The steering is typical, like what we’ve seen in the Virtus and the Taigun. But now it gets an ‘R’ at the bottom. The Tiguan R-Line offers features that enhance convenience and improve the driving experience. It includes the IDA voice assistant and voice enhancer, which allow for quick and easy access to various functions.
A Head-Up Display helps keep important driving data within view, while Wireless App-Connect and wireless charging support seamless connectivity. The multifunction steering wheel offers access to various functions directly from the driver’s seat.
Along with this, the company has equipped it with a first-in-segment shift-by-wire system. Instead of a traditional gear shifter, it features a column-type gear selector located to the right of the steering wheel. The single lever on the left side of the steering wheel combines all the wiper and indicator controls.
The centre console is clean thanks to the deletion of the gear knob. You just get three switches, including the rotary dial through which you can go through several settings like driving mode, volume, and many more. Beside that is the engine start/stop button, followed by the parking brake.
The ambience keeps you settled, as you get segment-leading ambient light colour options. Furthermore, the design treats you to an illuminated panel on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. For a more airy feel, you get a full panoramic sunroof that the front passenger can access.
Ride and Comfort Quality
The seats feature well-bolstered leather stitching and a mix of suede-like fabric on the seats. The cushioning provides good support. While not overly plush, this type of seat always suits long drives. Moreover, you get massage and ventilated seat functions for both the front passenger and the driver. Even though you don’t get adjustable headrests at the front, there is good support for the head with those one-piece seats. Overall, the seats are great—they hug you at higher speeds and provide better comfort in long-term usage.
The wide door opening at the rear welcomes you, offering a roomy space. You get a good amount of legroom, knee-room, and shoulder room when three passengers sit inside. Furthermore, even though there is a drivetrain hump in the middle, you can seat three adults at the back. For additional comfort at the rear, the Tiguan R-Line gets two AC vents with adjustable climate control, as it features a three-zone climate control setting.
The Tiguan R-Line is based on an adaptive suspension setup. This not only brings amazing ride quality but also better handling. You can adjust the suspension damping using the dial in the center console. Overall, the ride quality is on the stiffer side, but it adds to better handling.
Overall, the ride and comfort are top-notch—it is exactly what you expect from Volkswagen.
Engine and Performance
A 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine powers the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line, producing 201 bhp of maximum power and 320 Nm of tyre-spinning torque. Volkswagen mates this engine to a 7-speed DSG gearbox, along with shift-by-wire and paddle shifters. These are all figures from the spec sheet—now let’s find out how it feels to drive one.
Well, on the road, the SUV feels amazing—with that ride height, you get a good view of your surroundings, and with that long bonnet, you also get to use your judgment easily. This all comes in handy while roaming around cities. Adding more to the ease of driving in the city is the steering wheel. Unaware of how, Volkswagen has managed to make the steering so versatile that it is smooth as butter in the city, but as raw as a hydraulic unit on the highway.
Performance is the best aspect of the SUV. In the real world, when talking about city drives, it is very intelligent—intelligent in terms of gear shifts and throttle response. It is gentle. But it turns the tables on the highway. The steering weighs up, and adding to the feel are those quick gear shifts and the throttle response. All this is configured for sport mode.
Moreover, when there is a need to overtake, Volkswagen’s tried and tested 7-speed DSG gearbox lets you take full control using the paddle shifters. In manual mode, you can just downshift and let the nose of the SUV pull up and take off. You never know what this R-Line packs in unless you step onto the throttle on the open road.
Conclusion
Now the question lies here—should you go for it? Well, the answer lies in your requirements. See, if you are a Volkswagen enthusiast and you know the worth of original imported Volkswagens, then obviously this is the SUV you’d want to go for—blindly. But confusion arises for people who have a budget of, let’s say, Rs 60L on-road and are searching for something unique—very different from the overpriced yet common Toyota Fortuner. Then I guess this is the best option you can get. Because this being a German SUV, it doesn’t come close to the big buddies like the BMW X1 or the Audi Q3 Sportback in terms of maintenance.
