Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, With An Adventurous Spark

The forerunner of the four-wheel-drive, country-style family bodies was the Audi A6 Allroad, back in the year 2000. Since then, there have always been several dealers with this useful configuration, and one of them is the newcomer Volkswagen. Golf Alltrack.

This type of bodywork comes from the search for extreme versatility, is it a compact, a family or an SUV? What we do know is that they are the ideal option for those who cannot decide.

Exterior design of the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

Among its direct rivals, which may be the León ST X-Perience or the V40 Cross Country, the Golf Alltrack has one of the most discreet bodywork, although it does not reach the sobriety of a Skoda Scout.

The front is the same as in the normal Golf, although it has a protector on the lower part of the bumper to mitigate possible damage off the asphalt. The 20 millimeters more than the Variant is noticeable at first glance and, although it is not a particularly tall vehicle, it breaks with the sporty touch of the model from which it comes.

On the side of the car, the protectors for the wheel arches and the very eye-catching specific side skirts stand out, which, together with the chrome roof bars, give that country look that the brand seeks.

From behind is where the increase in height is most noticeable due to the large rear overhang of the car . In addition, the lower guards in black and aluminum colors give the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack a robust appearance.

Interior design and habitability

The interior design and the levels of habitability are identical to those of the Variant. In the Alltrack there are no trim levels, the standard equipment is equivalent to that of the Golf Variant with a Sport finish, although with slight improvements, such as the LED headlights with cornering lighting or the Discover Media multimedia system.

Its practical and tidy dashboard highlights the quality of materials and the perfection of its settings. It is a car where you will not hear the famous ‘crickets’ that produce the vibrations.

The central screen is located a bit low for the reading of the navigator, but the digital instrument panel solves the problem, since it is fully configurable and we will be able to read in it the indications of the navigator and a multitude of parameters.

The front seats are spacious and comfortable, and the seats on this particular model clearly improve on those of the normal Golf with the Advance trim. In the rear seats, two adults will enjoy the necessary space to travel without restriction, but a third adult would be uncomfortable due to the narrow width of the central square.

The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack does  have ventilation outlets for these seats, something that many manufacturers do not do in their compacts and that significantly improves comfort while on the move; dispensing with them is incomprehensible.

The trunk is another of the sections where our protagonist shows his chest, since it has 605 liters of capacity, a figure much higher than the 324 liters of the V40 Cross Country, and similar to the 587 of the León ST. A Skoda Scout outperforms it slightly at 610 liters, but it is a higher-end car.

Driving dynamics and engines

The magnificent MQB chassis of the German firm guarantees excellent dynamic capabilities despite the increase in height and having suspensions with a little more travel for visits to the field.

Its effectiveness on the road is enhanced by the optional DCC suspension with variable stiffness dampers, which lets you choose between three riding modes: Comfort, Normal and Sport. Even so, its reactions are not as fast and precise as in the compact model, but it complies without problems.

The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack does not offer all the off-road qualities that it may appear. The ground clearance is only 17.5 centimeters, so the terrain must be very flat so as not to hit the bottom. Any SUV is better in this regard than the Alltrack; You can not have it all.

Side guards are more useful for mitigating typical parking lot door knocks than they are for the field, but with the SUV fever we’re experiencing, all black plastic is welcome.

Mechanically, it is only available with three engines, one gasoline and two diesel, but all three with powerful and solvent mechanics.

In gasoline, the brand has relied on the 180 hp 1.8 TSI automatic with which it accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in just 7.8 seconds, although with a consumption of 6.7 l / 100 km, a bit high. .

In diesel, it has a 2.0 TDI 150 hp manual or another 184 hp automatic, both with the same block and fully recommended for performance and consumption, but not so much for the noise that reaches the cabin in low gears.

Prices and conclusion

Part of a generous € 35,010 that the less powerful version costs, up to 38,610 for the 184 hp diesel. These are somewhat high figures, but the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is only available with the most complete equipment.

With the same engine, it is € 5,000 cheaper than a Passat Alltrack, which makes us wonder if it is worth giving up that extra space and comfort. In any case, the car will not disappoint you, as long as you do not look for in it a companion of adventures outside the asphalt, its favorite natural environment.