VW Tiguan R-Line review: Is it worth Rs 50 lakh? – Introduction

Earlier than the hotly anticipated Golf GTI makes it to India, Volkswagen has launched the Tiguan R-Line. Prior to now, now we have had it with the diesel engine, then got here the three-row Tiguan Allspace and eventually was reverted again to being a five-seater with a petroleum engine. The brand new mannequin is available in as a CBU (Fully Constructed Unit), will get a 2.0-litre, 204hp TSI engine, a five-seat format and a Rs 50 lakh price ticket. It’s a distinctive providing, however is it definitely worth the cash?

VW Tiguan R-Line exterior design and engineering (8/10)

Longer and wider than the outgoing Tiguan SUV

The place the earlier Tiguans have been all angular, the brand new one embraces curves and daring traces. Dimensionally, it’s longer and wider however will get the identical wheelbase as earlier than and has shortened when it comes to top now. The entrance will get a easy and clear look with Matrix LED headlamps up high together with a DRL strip that stretches the width of the automobile. The bumper low down options blacked out therapy for pretend mesh and enormous air dams to channel air across the automobile. Additionally a chunky chrome strip on the backside provides some bling to an in any other case sporty look.

Matrix LED headlights are bridged by a closed grille, which additionally options an ‘R’ badge.

The aspect options dual-tone 19-inch wheels that look sporty together with gloss black wheel arches. There are two sharp creases on the shoulder line and a chrome strip surrounding the home windows. It will get 176mm of floor clearance and roof rails so as to add some top to the look. Nonetheless, it does miss out on keyless entry.

On the rear, the IQ LED taillamps stretch from finish to finish and the upright design provides it that typical SUV look. No exhaust ideas right here appears to be a missed alternative for the R-Line but it surely does get some extra chrome. General, it’s a design typical to VWs. Restrained however broadly acceptable.

VW Tiguan R-Line inside house and luxury (7/10)

Buttonless dashboard, 15-inch touchscreen

The Tiguan R-Line includes a fully new inside other than the steering wheel which shares lots with the India 2.0 vehicles with the one distinction being an ‘R’ on the steering base. The format is easy and minimalistic and because of this the dashboard is totally buttonless. The one bodily buttons are low down on the centre console the place you’ve the digital parking brake, the engine begin cease and you’ve got a knob which if you contact and press can change the settings from quantity to drive modes.

Minimalistic inside with most capabilities within the touchscreen.

The remainder of the options have been included by the large 15-inch touchscreen. Excellent news is the UX UI which could be very easy and uncluttered. The menus and capabilities are intuitive and regardless of having the local weather controls on the display, it isn’t difficult. What it does miss out on is a 360-degree digital camera, which is a characteristic accessible on vehicles in a lot decrease segments. Additionally, the decision for the reversing digital camera is poor and at nighttime it struggles for readability.

The display in any other case is clean, will get wi-fi connectivity and even ambient lighting with a number of themes. When it comes to general high quality, it’s a little bit of a mixture. Whereas the construct is nice and on the highest half of the sprint and the doorways you’ve mushy contact materials with uncovered stitching, the decrease half will get exhausting scratchy plastic that takes away a few of that premium quotient. Facilities embrace a flip open cubby gap that reveals two wi-fi charging pads together with two type-C ports. There may be extra space decrease down after which it additionally will get a big massive cubby gap once more with two cup holders. 

Handbook controls for adjusting entrance seat; lumbar adjustment is electrical.

When it comes to consolation, the game seats are very snug and get loads of help with broad bolsters and even a number of massaging capabilities. Cooled seats are lacking and as a substitute it options seat heating, which for patrons within the north will come in useful as soon as yearly.

The large miss although, is the absence of electrical controls for the seat adjustment. In 2025, manually adjusting the seats on a Rs 50 lakh SUV is solely unacceptable. The lumbar adjustment is electrical, however the whole lot else requires arm twisting.

House is nice, however no recline for the backrest robs some consolation.

For the reason that wheelbase is just like the earlier model, house within the rear is nice for 2 adults. Nonetheless, the excessive transmission tunnel with the protruding AC vents means the center passenger must undergo. What additionally robs away some consolation is the upright backrest that can not be reclined. The seat can transfer additional forward to open up extra baggage room, and the centre again relaxation flips open for straightforward entry to the boot. Headroom, nonetheless, is spectacular regardless of that includes a panoramic sunroof.

652-litre boot; seats will be flipped down and slid forward for extra room.

Practicality smart the Tiguan R-Line options an enormous 652 litre boot together with an area saver spare wheel beneath the boot flooring. There are seat flip switches too however an electrical tailgate is lacking.

VW Tiguan R-Line efficiency and refinement (7/10)

204hp-2.0-litre TSI engine; 0-100kph takes 7.1 seconds

Powering the Tiguan R-Line is a 2.0-litre TSI engine placing out 204hp and 320Nm and mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Efficiency, nonetheless, is nothing to boast about.The ability supply is linear and it lacks punch, particularly within the bottom-end of the rev vary. 0-100kph is a decent 7.1 secs however the general drive received’t excite you. It will get drive modes and ‘Sport’ does supply some extra eagerness, however other than that there isn’t a lot to look ahead to. It prefers being pushed sedately on the highways.

204hp engine is refined however lacks bottom-end punch.

What is sweet, nonetheless, is the response from the paddle shifters. Though the gearbox doesn’t maintain the gears until the 7,000rpm redline and upshifts round 6,000rpm, you possibly can management a good quantity of the shifts, particularly throughout downshifts. And whereas on the subject of redline, there isn’t a candy exhaust word to talk of. The engine as a substitute sounds coarse at excessive rpms so its finest to upshift a bit early.

VW Tiguan R-Line mileage (7/10)

12.58kpl (claimed by Volkswagen)

VW claims 12.58kpl in accordance with European approval strategies and there isn’t an ARAI determine but. Nonetheless, it does get cylinder deactivation which suggests two of the 4 cylinders can routinely shut off to avoid wasting gasoline. As soon as we get the automobile for an extended period we are going to put it by a correct gasoline effectivity run in accordance with Autocar Take a look at Requirements.

VW Tiguan R-Line trip consolation and dealing with (8.5/10)

New DCC Professional system adjusts damping in actual time

Whereas the powertrain is relaxed and unassuming, what could be very spectacular is the trip and dealing with. The main contributing issue right here being the DCC Professional (Dynamic Chassis Management), which may modify the damping primarily based on varied elements. It really works seamlessly and you may discover the distinction between the stiffer Sport mode and the softer Consolation mode. On a winding part with clean asphalt, the suspension takes under consideration the street floor, steering angle, and even throttle place to change the damping. It stays flat and composed by corners and as soon as the street will get bumpy, the firmness is exchanged with extra absorption.

Driving it within the twisties is enjoyable, primarily because of adaptive dampers.

What additionally modifications character in accordance with the modes is the steering heft. It’s gentle and breezy in Consolation and weighs up in Sport. Add to that the well-bolstered seats, and the general expertise from behind the wheel is best on a ghaat part. Grip ranges are good too courtesy the 4MOTION AWD system.

VW Tiguan R-Line options and security (7/10)

Panoramic sunroof, Degree 2 ADAS

There may be loads of equipment on the Tiguan R-Line since it’s a CBU. It will get Matrix LED headlamps, 19-inch wheels, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, massaging entrance seats, three-zone local weather management, heated seats, 9 airbags, and Degree 2 ADAS amongst others. What it misses out on, are ventilated seats, an electrical tailgate and an electrical modify for entrance seats.

VW Tiguan R-Line value and verdict (6/10)

What works for it’s its trip and dealing with stability, which is leagues forward because of DCC

At Rs 49 lakh, the Tiguan R-Line is pricey for what it gives. The engine isn’t too thrilling, some options are lacking and the rivals just like the Skoda Kodiaq and even the Audi Q3 supply higher worth and model energy respectively. What the Tiguan has in its favour is the trip and dealing with and a little bit of exclusivity as it’s a CBU and also you received’t be seeing many out on the street. For the small pocket of patrons that don’t have the necessity for an additional row of seats and do not look after the badge, the Tiguan R-Line is an SUV price testing.

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