2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line special feature: Sand to sea!

It is a spectacular sight – the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line parked atop a dune, bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun. The soft lines of this new Tiguan look unreal in this light – a reminder that this car is well and truly new. A click of the key fob turns the lights on. LEDs sweep back and forth on the nose, lighting up the VW roundel in the process. It immediately feels special. Light shows such as this were features that only high-end luxury cars got until not too long ago, and now the Tiguan wears it proudly.

There’s something surreal about starting a journey here, in the heart of Rajasthan’s Thar desert. The vastness is humbling, as is the lack of people. You truly feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Good thing then, that the Tiguan R-Line is by our side. It has a job – to get us from the deserts of Rajasthan to the coastline in a day. Not too long from now, we’ll be standing on a beach, listening to waves crash against the shore. This is Sand to Sea, with the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line!

First up, a reminder on what this new Tiguan is all about. It is the new generation of the Tiguan, improved in every single way from the last one and for the first time in India, we’re getting the sporty R-Line trim. Big upticks to the platform, suspension, engine mean the driving experience has evolved significantly, while the exterior styling and interiors have taken a step up. One thing that hasn’t changed though, are its SUV credentials. 4MOTION AWD is still very much a part of the Tiguan’s arsenal.

Dive into the drive mode menu and selecting off-road mode is easy enough. It sets up drivetrain, suspension and traction control for the rough stuff. On challenging terrain such as soft desert sand, it ensures that the axle with the most traction is doing the heavy lifting and actually moving the vehicle forward. Surfing the dunes in the Tiguan R-Line is an exhilarating feeling – the 2.0L TSI engine keeping the revs in the powerband, the tyres confidently clawing at the sand while the AWD system works its magic.

We have 700km to cover in a single day, so we can’t spend all day playing in our giant sand pit. The trails leading out of the desert are the perfect place to put the ride quality of the Tiguan R-Line to the test. Mind you, there are big updates underneath the skin compared to the previous-generation SUV including a heavily updated platform and a new suspension system with Dynamic Chassis Control Pro. Set the Tiguan R-Line to Comfort mode and the suspension slackens up, giving it a ride that is really cushioning. Over the rutted tracks around the desert, you can carry serious speeds fully confident that the suspension is working underneath you to maintain traction and keep you comfortable in the cabin.

With the trails spitting us out onto the Bharatmala road, the difference in terrain is stark. Slicing through the desert, this road is a few 100km of absolutely spotless tarmac. With arrow-straight sections peppered by the occasional twist and turn, the Tiguan R-Line comes into its own. These German cars are designed for high speeds and long distances. A road like this is home ground for an SUV such as the Tiguan.

I can finally let the Tiguan’s 2.0L TSI engine sing. It’s a familiar motor but now with outputs boosted to 201bhp and 320Nm of torque. The DSG, the gold standard for automatic twin-clutch transmissions, remains. Power is delivered smoothly and strongly, with performance that impresses. This is no slouch. The engine enjoys being revved out and getting it up to triple-digit speeds is easy. When you’ve got a full day of driving ahead of you, an engine that can do those kinds of speeds effortlessly is a must. The Tiguan delivers, without a doubt.

On a perfect road like this, you can also use the Level 2 ADAS that the new Tiguan comes with. Not so much for safety because there’s nothing really in the way. But more from the perspective of easing the mundaneness on the driver. Roads like these through Rajasthan are relentless. They go on for miles and miles, and occasionally there won’t be a car in sight. You have lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control to lean on, allowing you to relax in the driver’s seat, turn the massage seats on – yes this has massage seats! – and enjoy the drive.

From the edge of the desert, we head south. First Jaisalmer and then onwards to Sanchore. These roads are also a great place to put the handling of the Tiguan R-Line to the test. That R-Line badge isn’t just cosmetic – it means business. Dial the drive mode up to Sport and the body control firms up immediately, the steering weighs up and the engine gets more eager. The highways in Rajasthan sweep through the countryside, offering up some of the best driving experiences in the country. The Tiguan is a perfect companion, hunkered down and poised, responding to every input with confidence. VW makes some of the best-driving cars around and the Tiguan R-Line reinforces that fact. The enthusiast will not feel short changed here.

Past Sanchore, we cross the border and hit Gujarat. After spending long hours in a car like this, you realise how much thought has gone into making this cabin a comfortable place. One thing is clear as soon as you step inside: this SUV is for those who are all about driving. The R-Line trim brings with it all sorts of sporty bits: the bumpers, the seats, the steering wheel, the R graphics on the screen. The dash is very tech-laden: you’ve got a big display for the cluster and an even bigger infotainment screen. You’ve got loads of storage areas baked into the cabin: large door pockets, a deep centre console and a twin wireless charging pad for two phones. It’s clear this has been designed with real-world usability in mind. The dash has really neat-looking ambient lighting that uplifts the cabin after dark. Interestingly, the seats are fabric and while this doesn’t sound great, the fabric feels premium and more importantly, stays cool in the blazing summer heat. Plus, the seats have a massage function which is really useful on long days on the road!

As we get closer to Mandvi, truck traffic increases considerably – this area houses more than one major port and these highways are important trade routes within the country. Road quality deteriorates and we switch back to Comfort mode. The Dynamic Chassis Control Pro on the Tiguan is really interesting – it has 15 different levels and you can actually set up the suspension to be even softer than it is in Comfort mode. This really slackens up the ride and ensures that you’re kept comfortable on the inside. The R-Line looks so futuristic against the almost Mad- Max like scenes unfolding on the highway – ratty trucks belching black diesel fumes, kicking up dust as they struggle to overtake each other.

The road eventually narrows as we get closer to Mandvi and the sun inches closer to the horizon. We continue for a few kilometres until we find a small trail that leads to the beach. Off-road mode engaged once again, we find our way onto the golden sands. The waves of the sea lap against the shore, as the Tiguan drives up to it. Not too close, of course. Never get too close to the sea in a car! The sun turns from yellow to orange to a deep red, almost matching the Persimmon Red Metallic shade this Tiguan R-Line is dressed in. Sand to Sea, complete!

This journey really put the car through its paces – off-road, on the highway, through tight town streets and now, here at the coast. And through all of it, the Tiguan R-Line has felt like it belongs. It’s capable without being overcomplicated, quick without being harsh, comfortable without being floaty. I love that VW is embracing its sporty DNA fully with a car like this, not shying away with conservative design. It’s loud and it’s capable. What a machine! Now, all that’s left to do is kick back and enjoy the sunset.