Great Styling, On/off driving dynamics
Space saver spare tyre
The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack blends the practicality of a family wagon with the adventurous spirit of an SUV. Priced from $37,990 (plus on-roads) the Volkswagen Alltrack is yet another variant in the ever expanding Golf line-up.
With its higher ride height and beefed up exterior flare the Volkswagen Alltrack is set to offer an alternative for those who aren’t interested in the latest SUV craze.
Volkswagen Alltrack is offered in single variant and with only a 1.8 litre turbocharged TSI engine matched to a 6-speed DSG transmission.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Overview
Starting with a standard Golf Wagon the team at Volkswagen have raised the ride height by 20mm, added 4Motion all wheel drive and styled the exterior to look more rugged.
As we have come to expect from Volkswagen Australia the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack comes with a long list of standard features which includes 6.5” Touch screen with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, Bi-Xenon Headlights, LED Daytime running lights, 17” Valley Alloy wheels, Rear View Camera and Parking sensors, Leather Appointed seats, Dual Climate control, Keyless Entry and push button start.
There is the usual list of USB chargers, AUX inputs and Bluetooth connectivity to round out the package
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Engine
The single choice of the 1.8 litre turbocharged TSI engine blends performance with economy. The engine produces 132kW and 280Nm, with a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.7-litres per 100km.
The engine is no slowcoach either with it performing the 0-100km/h sprint in an impressive 7.8 seconds.
On our test loop in Canberra which include a drive via the city centre out in to the country side we were able to take advantage of the stop/start technology as well as the brake energy recuperation and coasting function which helps improve fuel economy.
Drivers are also able to set the performance of the car via the 5 mode drive select button which changes the steering, accelerator and engine characteristics to match one of the selected modes Eco, Normal, Sport, Off Road and Individual.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Interior
Jump inside the Volkswagen Alltrack and you will be welcomed by the classic Volkswagen interior.
Once again the German brand delivers a high quality and well thought out interior cabin.
The leather clad front seats are both supportive and comfortable at the same time, you can easily settle in for a long distance journey without feeling fatigued.
Rear seat space is top notch with plenty of legroom and the ability to fit three adults on shorter journeys.
The multifunction steering wheel can be adjusted for both height-and-reach and whilst there is not electric seats this time round it’s quick and easy to find the right driving position.
The luggage capacity is an impressive 605 litres which increase to 1620 litre when you fold down the 40/60-split-fold rear seats.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Exterior and Styling
Starting with a standard Golf wagon the team of designers added a host of exterior accessories to give a more rugged look and all aid the Alltrack off road.
For the rugged look they added black wheel arch covers, black bumper moldings, side rails, black roof rails and 17”alloy wheels.
For added protection off road these is also some underbody protection to help prevent damage to the underside of the Alltrack.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack On the Road
The Golf Alltrack offers impressive off road performance with excellent car like handling that a number of SUVs could never match.
On normal bitumen the Golf Alltrack was refined and a pleasure to drive. Pushing the Alltrack hard in to corners rewarded the driver with a sporty performance and an engaging drive.
The level of road noise in the cabin we next to none, the cabin was a lovely quiet place to be.
We were expecting the Alltrack to be a little under done once we hit the dirt roads out of Canberra (including some rally stages) but the 4motion system with Hill Decent cabilities allowed the Alltrack to shine.
The Alltrack was all composed and never felt like it was out of control - admittedly this wasn’t the back of Bourke but still it wasn’t the inner city.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Issues
We only found a few little issues from our time behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Alltrack. Blind Spot monitoring should at least be fitted to the optional Driver Assistance Package.
We would also like to see a full size spare on a car that is meant to go a little further of the sealed roads of suburbia.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Verdict
With its usual high level of standard equipment and a decent amount of space for your luggage the Alltrack offers a very compelling package. In a normal day to day environment the Alltrack offers car like handling and performance. Yet when you need to get away from it all it offer the ability to support an active lifestyle.
The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is a very attractive alternative for those looking at a small SUV. With its 4Motion all wheel drive system the Alltrack actually has the ability to get a little off the beaten track unlike some of those SUVs.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Competition
With most manufacturers offering small SUV that could compete with Golf Alltrack we thought it best to offer the wagon options that best rival the Alltrack.
Subaru XV starts from $26,490 for the 6-speed manual with 110kW engine and tops out at $34,990 with a CVT transmission.
From the same stable is the excellent Skoda Octavia Scout which starts at $32,990 for the 110 TDI 4x4 with a 6-speed manual transmission. The entry level Scout is a cracking car and difficult to go past. There is also the 132 TSI model with a 6-speed DSG at $38,590 and the 135 TDI for $41,390.
