Volkswagen Golf Alltrack road test review

New high-riding wagon adds rugged appeal to the Golf platform.

November 20 2015

David McCowen

Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Photo: Supplied

Drive rating	6.5/10 Scoring breakdown
Owner rating	0/10 See all reviews
Price	$37,990
Body type	suv
Engine size	1.8L,4 cylinder
Performance	Power: 132kW Torque: 280Nm
Fuel economy	6.7 L/100 Km
See Volkswagen Golf 2015 full specs

Scoring breakdown

How is this calculated? Hide scoring breakdown

Value	7/10
Performance	5/10
Economy	4/10
Safety	9/10
Handling	7/10
Comfort	7/10
Connectivity	9/10
Space	8/10
Servicing costs	4/10
Resale value	7/10
Overall rating	6.5/10
See Volkswagen Golf 2015 full specs

The Volkswagen Golf is more than a car.

On sale in its various forms around the world for more than 40 years, the Golf has become a motoring institution that includes hatchbacks, convertibles, wagons, performance cars and now this, a pseudo SUV.

Ridding higher than the Golf Wagon on which it is based, the Golf Alltrack serves as an alternative to ever-popular SUVs – a segment Volkswagen also caters to with its Golf-sized Tiguan crossover.

What do you get?

Volkswagen has taken a one-size-fits-all approach to the Golf Alltrack, which is available in just one petrol-powered, automatic form priced from $37,990 plus on-road costs.

That's $3500 more than the top-end petrol-fuelled Golf Wagon, but there is plenty of gear to account for the difference. Unlike the regular, front-wheel-drive wagon, it drives all four wheels with "4Motion" drive system borrowed from the Golf R. The Alltrack also has a different look with tough bumpers at the front and rear, chunky 17-inch alloy wheels and a more powerful engine than the regular wagon.

Inside the new Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Photo: Supplied

Those changes join a strong standard equipment list that includes a modern 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a reversing camera and parking sensors.

Optional extras are grouped in packages led by a $1300 driver assistance pack that includes useful active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and self-parking systems. Drivers who want more from their Golf can opt for a $2500 sport luxury package, bringing 18-inch wheels, tinted windows, a panoramic sunroof and steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles to the party.

What's inside?

While the luxury pack is nice to have, the Golf's cabin remains one of the best in the business even without additional tinsel.

The Alltrack is fitted as standard with comfortable heated sports seats trimmed in leather, and an excellent driving position that offers plenty of adjustment to suit drivers of a wide variety of sizes.

It looks polished too, finished "dark magnesium" trim with chrome highlights that join aluminium-look pedals. There is plenty of tech on board thanks to smart keys with a starter-button system, and a capacitive touchscreen linked to an eight-speaker stereo.

Put to the test with an iPhone 6, the screen mimics key functions including mapping, messaging and music player modes as well as internet radio apps such as Pandora. It's an intuitive system that connects simply to a handset using a phone's USB charging cable, encouraging drivers to be safer on the road by using voice-activated features rather than handling their phone.

The wagon is fitted as standard with the latest Apple CarPlay infotainment system. Photo: Supplied

Behind the front seats there is sufficient if not ample room in the second row – the wagon shares the same wheelbase as the compact Golf hatchback – but it offers loads more room in the boot.

The Alltrack has 605 litres of cargo room with the back seats in place, or 1620 litres with them folded flat, making it one of the most practical offerings in its class. That factor is helped by a 12-volt socket in the boot that could prove handy for accessories such as portable fridges or bicycle tyre compressors.

It also has strong safety credentials with seven cabin airbags including driver's knee protection and full-length curtain coverage for the front and rear.

Under the bonnet

The Australian Alltrack offers just one engine, a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine that produces a solid 132kW of power and 280Nm of torque.

Local customers miss out on a punchy diesel option that makes 135kW and 380Nm overseas, though Volkswagen made the call long ago that buyers would rather have the cheaper, lighter and more responsive petrol version. That's fairly fortuitous given that the brand is fighting the PR battle of its life over a diesel emissions tampering scandal, though the modern diesel motor used in the latest-generation Golf has not been caught up in the brand's pollution crisis.

Customers are unlikely to miss the diesel motor given that the petrol version in local models has an official fuel figure of just 6.7L/100km and can nip to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds, making it a crisp and efficient performer.

The motor is paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that works with engine stop start and brake energy recovery systems to save fuel, though owners will have to be careful on the throttle to match the brand's claimed fuel use.

Shared with a handful of Audi models and the new Volkswagen Passat, the Alltrack's engine is a smooth and quiet unit that responds readily to driver inputs, working well proving a fine match for the model's well-sorted dynamics.

How it drives

Volkswagen's light and rigid platform for small and medium-sized cars forms a fine base for the Alltrack's dynamic behaviour.

The car drivers like a slightly bigger Golf, feeling fit thanks to a more powerful engine than hatchback models, with a surety of traction through its variable all-wheel-drive system.

The Golf primarily drives the front wheels, engaging the rear axle only when extra grip is called for in a variety of conditions such as sporty driving, slippery surface or off-road exploration.

A previous test of the model using an overseas off-road course highlighted the competence of its off-road driving profile, using reprofiled stability control and ABS settings as well as hill descent control to go anywhere a crossover such as a Hyundai Tucson might venture.

On the road, the Alltrack strikes an excellent ride and handling balance with body roll kept to a minimum, its Michelin rubber offering plenty of grip. Weighing in around 1480 kilograms, the Alltrack is a good 100 kilograms lighter than some SUV-bodied rivals, a factor that makes it more pleasant to drive.

It's hard to notice the additional 20mm of ground clearance it has compared with a regular Golf Wagon – not until you need it, anyway – though the Alltrack's 175mm of minimum ground clearance doesn't match all of its rivals.

Verdict

While high-riding SUVs are in vogue, they aren't necessarily the best solution to everyone's motoring problems. By thinking outside the box, Volkswagen has taken the practicality of a wagon and added the off-road versatility of a light SUV. It's an excellent package, one that deserves consideration from buyers happy to swim against the tide.