Volkswagen Teron R-Line goes local: Assembly starts in India

Volkswagen India has announced the start of local assembly for the upcoming Volkswagen Teron R-Line SUV. In line with the plan to launch the SUV in the first quarter of 2026, assembly work is underway at the company’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant. The new Teron will serve as the brand’s top-tier offering in India, slotting above the Tiguan R-Line. It will be offered in a seven-seat layout and marks the brand’s return to the premium three-row SUV segment after the discontinuation of the Tiguan AllSpace.

Talking about the engine first, the Teron is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo petrol engine that produces 204 hp of power and 320 Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox that supplies power to all four wheels. Design-wise, it has a sharp, sporty appearance with angular bumpers, large 19-inch alloy wheels and special R-Line branding. Built on the MQB EVO architecture shared with the Tiguan R-Line, it benefits from an extended wheelbase of 2,789 mm, approximately 109 mm longer, to accommodate the third row of seating.

The new Volkswagen Teron R-Line will be brought to India via the CKD route, which may make it priced more competitively, with an estimated ex-showroom price between Rs 45 lakh and Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom). The SUV will be launched in March 2025 and will compete with the Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster, the upcoming MG Magister, Jeep Meridian and the Skoda Kodiaq in the Indian market.Once inside, there’s a large 15-inch touchscreen angled towards the driver, which handles most of the vehicle’s primary functions. While it retains the massage feature for the leather-trimmed front seats seen on the Tiguan R-Line, the Teron swaps seat heating for front-seat ventilation, which is more practical for the Indian climate. Additional highlights include a fully digital instrument display, a panoramic sunroof, customizable ambient lighting with 30 color options, and Matrix LED lighting technology. Cargo capacity is also generous, with the third row folded giving up to 850 liters of boot space.