Volkswagen Tiguan R-line Vs Audi Q3: Which SUV Offers Value For Rs 50 Lakh?

Volkswagen recently launched the new-generation Tiguan R-Line in its sporty R-Line avatar. The Tiguan R-Line is brought in as a completely built unit (CBU) and becomes the flagship Volkswagen model in India. On the other hand, the Audi Q3 is the entry-level Audi SUV available in both regular and sportback forms. 

Both SUVs are priced similarly, making it interesting it interesting to compare their specifications to give you a fair idea of which SUV would provide more value if you are in the market shopping for a Rs 50 lakh SUV: 

Price

By the looks of it, the Tiguan R-Line fits right somewhere in the middle of the Q3’s pricing. While the Tiguan is offered in a single variant, the Q3 comes in as many as three trims. So, for similar pricing, which SUV offers the better package? Let’s check that: 

Dimensions

Dimension	Q3	Tiguan R-Line
Length	4,485 mm	4,539 mm
Width	1,849 mm	1,859 mm
Height	1,607 mm	1,656 mm
Wheelbase	2,680 mm	2,680 mm
Boot space	460 litres	652 litres

As seen in the table above, the Tiguan should be your pick if you want more road presence and a larger boot space is your need. That being said, the Audi Q3 is not far behind in terms of dimensions. While the Tiguan R-Line looks sportier in the R-Line theme, the Q3 looks more sophisticated and premium. 

Features

Equipment	Q3	Tiguan R-Line
Wheels	18-inch alloy wheels	19-inch alloy wheels
Infotainment system	10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system	15-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Driver’s display	12.3-inch digital driver’s display	10.25-inch digital driver’s display
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto	Yes, wireless	Yes, wireless
Connected Car Tech	Yes	Yes
Audio system	10-speaker system	8-speaker system
Climate control	Dual-zone climate control	Three-zone climate control
Sunroof	Panoramic	Panoramic
Wireless phone charger	Yes (1)	Yes (2)
Ambient lighting	Yes, 30-colour ambient lighting	Yes, 30-colour ambient lighting
Ventilated front seats	No	No
Powered front seats	Yes	Yes with massage function
Airbags	6	9
360-degree camera	No	No
Parking sensors	Yes, front and rear	Yes, front and rear
ISOFIX mounts	Yes	Yes
Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)	Yes	Yes
Electronic parking brake with auto hold	Yes	Yes
Parking assist	No	Yes
ADAS	No	Yes

Overall, the Tiguan R-Line is better equipped and offers more modern features. Over the Q3, it offers three extra airbags, ADAS features, more zones of climate control, an extra wireless phone charger, parking assist and massage function. The Q3 comes with 2 extra speakers. So, as you might have concluded, the Tiguan is definitely superior and the SUV to consider if features are your priority. 

At the price point, you expect both the SUVs to come with ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera, which feels like a big miss on both. 

Powertrain

Both SUVs come with the same turbo-petrol engine, however, the Tiguan R-Line is tuned to generate greater power. The torque output is the same on both cars, and the engines of both SUVs are mated to a 7-speed DCT that sends power to all four wheels. 

Notably, the Tiguan is quicker by 0.2 seconds and slightly faster as well. 

Verdict 

The Tiguan R-Line and Audi Q3 have a few similar traits, but there are key differences which make your buying decision a bit complicated. With the Tiguan, you get sportier styling and many more features, which add to its feel-good factor and safety. The Q3, on the other hand, is an Audi at the end of the day and offers the sophisticated design and plush interior that you would expect from any car that comes from the German marque’s stable, along with the snob value of the four rings. 

One should also note that the Q3 is locally manufactured while the Tiguan is an imported model. However, even after being a CBU, the Tiguan is not absurdly expensive and offers quite a lot for the money. 

Both cars are on par in terms of performance, and one can expect the two to be fun to drive. However, we recommend that you test drive both cars to find out how they behave and which one suits your needs more. 

The Tiguan R-Line looks better on paper, but the Q3 brings Audi’s brand image and identity, which might play a crucial role in your buying decision. So, that was our opinion! What do you think about these two SUVs? Let us know in the comments section.