2017 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg Edition quick spin review

1. What is it?

The latest member of the Volkswagen family to get a special edition named after the company's hometown in Germany.

The formula is the same as before, with VW adding some extras, both mechanical and styling, to make it stand apart from the standard Passat Alltrack.

2. How much does it cost and what do you get?

Priced from $54,990 (plus on-road costs), it is $5700 more expensive than the regular Alltrack.

But the extra money does bring some meaningful goodies. For starters VW has included its Adaptive Chassis Control, which means you can adjust the powertrain and suspension settings across a variety of modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport and Off-Road).

It also gains 19-inch alloy wheels (up from 18s), LED headlights and taillights, darker rear window tint and a hands-free power tailgate that opens with the swipe of your foot under the bumper.

Inside, you get VW's Active Info Display (a fully digital instrument screen), black Nappa leather seats, black headlining, piano black interior highlights and ambient lighting as well as steering wheel gearshift paddles.

It also comes with an exclusive colour option - Crimson Red metallic - or standard options of white or grey metallic.

3. What's under the bonnet?

The Wolfsburg runs the same powertrain as the regular Passat Alltrack. That means a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

Thanks to that latter figure, the Alltrack feels punchy off the mark and the power helps it pull strongly across the rev range. It's not sporty performance but it makes the Alltrack feel strong and easy to drive.

The six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission does a good job on the move, with quick shifts and a willingness to hold a gear to keep the engine on the boil. But in typical dual-clutch fashion there is some hesitation at low speeds and on a couple of occasions the Alltrack rolled back when we took off from a stand still on a hill.

4. What's it like to drive?

The Alltrack is designed to fill a niche between a conventional passenger car and a proper SUV. The ride height is 27.5mm higher than the standard Passat wagon and the suspension set-up is different to give it better off-road prowess. But it is definitely more wagon than SUV, with good manners on sealed roads while lacking the fully-elevated driving position favoured by many SUV buyers.

The addition of Adaptive Chassis Control brings a new element to the Alltrack, allowing you to soften or stiffen the suspension between Comfort, Normal, Sport and Off-Road settings.

By switching between the various Drive Modes you can change the character of the car, but only in a subtle way. In Sport the gearbox will hold gears for longer and the throttle response is sharper.

But in all settings - even Comfort - it still feels nicer to drive than a proper-sized SUV, with less body roll and more responsive handling.

The ride is comfortable most of the time but it can occasionally crash over sharp edged bumps, which isn't unusual for VW.

5. What's it like inside?

The addition of the digital dashboard, leather seats and other trim highlights elevates the cabin ambience. The Wolfsburg feels like a premium offering from behind the wheel with its combination of technology and quality. Not surprising given their close connections it is giving Audi a run for its money in terms of cabin finish.

Space is good in both the front and rear, so it is more than capable of playing the family transport any similar priced SUV could.

Luggage space is more than respectable with 639-litres in the boot and a 40:20:40 folding rear seat.

6 . Is it safe?

There are no extra safety features for the Wolfsburg but the Alltrack was already well equipped.

There are nine airbags to protect all occupants in the cabin plus front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Active safety features include autonomous emergency braking at low speeds, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert as well as adaptive cruise control.

7. Would I buy it?

The current trend may be for SUVs over passenger cars but I still think there is a lot to like about the 'old fashioned' station wagon.

The Passat Alltrack is a good example of the concept and the Wolfsburg offers some meaningful extras that justify the price premium. It looks, feels and drives like a luxury wagon.

8. What else should I consider?

If you don't want to spend the extra money, the regular Passat Alltrack is still a nice car, as is the normal Passat wagon if you don't plan on going off-road much.

The Subaru Outback Premium is the most direct rival in terms of concept, as a wagon crossover. It is a nice car but ultimately lacks the final layer of polish offered by the Volkswagen.

2017 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg Edition pricing and specifications

Price: From $54,990 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 140kW at 4000rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1750-3250rpm

Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 5.4L/100km

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