Volkswagen Golf Alltrack first drive review

Volkswagen's enduring Golf has long been the German brand's hero line, with a handful of variants sold here - three- and five-door hatches (warm and hot), drop-tops and even a wagon.

Volkswagen Golf Alltrack first drive video review
Can a high-riding Golf tackle leading SUVs?

Volkswagen's enduring Golf has long been the German brand's hero line, with a handful of variants sold here - three- and five-door hatches (warm and hot), drop-tops and even a wagon.

Now, spurred along by the unstoppable appeal of SUVs and their 'softer' crossover relations with Australians, VW has introduced a Golf sitting somewhere between the traditional role it has played for decades, and a functional all-rounder that can fulfil a variety of roles of the tougher nature.

The higher-riding, all-wheel-drive Golf Alltrack crossover wagon is handsomely equipped, good for the daily school run, but with capabilities that extend to cargo lugging, bouncing along a beach or dirt trail, heading into the bush with cycles on the roof rack, or perhaps merely tackling a steep driveway in the Yarra Valley or at Whale Beach.

It becomes VW range's second crossover, following the bigger Passat Alltrack, and complementing the compact Tiguan SUV.

Turning the regulation Golf Wagon into a more versatile crossover vehicle, meant some judicious re-engineering and some differencing styling changes.

The Alltrack was gifted the latest 4Motion all-wheel-drive system which it shares with the new Golf R Wagon, along with improved ground clearance aided by a 20mm hike in ride height and larger wheels. Some under-body armour protects the vitals in the rougher going,

The Alltrack will never be mistaken for a full-on off roader, but flared wheel arches, side-sill extensions, unique front and rear treatments, and new wheels separate it from the garden variety Golfs.

VW Australia went with a turbocharged petrol engine used previously in other group vehicles (including Skoda's Scout) but never before in the Golf. It was a fortuitous selection in light of this week's environmental scandal in the US, which targeted VW turbo diesel models.

The 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo generates 132kW from 4500rpm all the way to 6200rpm, but its 280Nm of torque, hitting a peak early at 1350 and still pulling like a bear to 4500rpm, is the biggest asset.

Working with a slick six-speed dual-clutch six speeder, the engine's high and low dual injection system helps the Golf Alltrack to a handy zero-100km/h time of 7.8 seconds – not bad for a rig weighing 1479 kilos – while also managing a city-and-country combined fuel return of 6.7 litres per 100km. Using premium unleaded, that is. Engine start/stop and brake energy recuperation contribute to the fuel savings, as well as a coasting function. On our test drive in and around the national capital, Drive saw a real-world figure of 9.1L/100km.

One of the Alltrack's revelations is its on-road competence. Sure, it rides higher than a regular Golf, but there is not the slightest hint of anything but surety and steering precision from its firm, sporty chassis, riding on 205/55 R17 Michelins. And the engine is up to the job.

Just as the regular Golf hatch is a class leader in ride and handling, so too does the Alltrack version impress with its superb suspension control. Very occasionally, it will jar on a sharp bump, but generally it provides the most pleasing, surprisingly rapid, transport with little of the body roll sometimes associated with SUVs.

The Alltrack takes to typical Australian gravel with confidence thanks to electronics which lift the anti-lock braking threshold, allowing the tyres to bite into the surface and create a dirt wedge, desirable for improved stopping.

The regular Golf driver profile selections offers modes ranging from Eco to Sport, but in the case of the Alltrack there's also an Off Road choice, which gives more appropriate throttle pedal characteristics and allows more wheelspin.

Near Canberra is a notorious section of a rally stage known as the Mineshaft. As you might guess, it is a very steep plunge, rutted and gouged by rain water and the pounding from countless rally cars.

The Alltrack's Off Road mode includes an automatic hill-descent control feature which operates at speeds up to 30km/h. It easily controlled the speed at which the vehicle bucked down the Mineshaft, the driver touching neither brakes nor throttle. Easy.

The latest 4Motion AWD system with a compact and strong Haldex 5 coupling cleverly allows the Alltrack to operate in front drive much of the time. But at the merest hint of slip, it sends close to 100 per cent of the available torque rearwards.

With a few subtle differences, the smart cabin is borrowed from other Golfs, with its supportive sports seats is trimmed in leather-appointed upholstery – that's Wolfsburg-speak for a blend of real and artificial hide. There's also a leather multi-function steering wheel. Drivers have good vision too. In the rear, tall Aussies get way more knee room than on Qantas, and ISOFIX child seats can be accommodated.

Volkswagen's infotainment technology, with a slightly larger 6.5-inch high-definition screen, has an App-Connect system pandering to both types of smart phones (Apple and Android). It does all the latest tricks, including jpeg image viewing.

The list of standard features for the $37,990 Golf Alltrack is robust: seven airbags, cruise control, driver fatigue detection, front and rear parking distance sensors, rear camera with static guidance lines, and optical parking system in radio/navigation display.

Cargo versatility is a standout. Golf wagons (and the Alltrack) all have storage capacity of 605 litres with the rear seats in place or 1620 litres with the second row (40-60 split) folded flat. There's also a cargo barrier net and a load-through hole for skis. A space-saver spare is a compromise some adventurous owners won't be thrilled about.

Competitors will include the Skoda Octavia Scout, the Subaru XV, and the larger Subaru Outback and Mazda CX-5.

All up, the Alltrack has the value for money and the all-round versatility and capability to become a bit of a star in the Golf line-up. It is darn-near as nimble as any other Golf on bitumen, but will also tackle a rutted gravel track without shame. With a touch of style.