Test Drive: 2018 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

Ah, the station wagon.

Once beloved as the go-to vehicle for families, they have been replaced by a bevy of other options that consumers have flocked to.

But there are those among us who still have a special place in their hearts for station wagons.

And while there are few options to choose from, Volkswagen has two models for those who still love this vehicle style.
In this case, we are looking at the 2018 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, and if you hadn’t guessed by the name, this version of the VW wagon is capable of going anywhere you desire.

That’s thanks to fact that the Alltrack comes standard with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, which is one of the major differences between it and its brethren, the Golf SportWagen.

Another big difference is the price.

The base price of the VW Alltrack, when fitted with the six-speed automatic DSG transmission with Tiptronic, is $35,745.

Our tester came in at $39,785 after the only two available options were included, notably the $795 light package (adaptive LED headlights with cornering lights) and $1,500 for the driver assistance package (adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, automatic high-beams, lane and park assists, and pedestrian detection).

Under the hood of the Alltrack is a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it produces 170 horsepower and 199 ft-lb of torque (it’s the same engine as in the Golf). Fuel economy comes in at a combined average of 9.4L/100km.

The five-door design of the Alltrack looks very much like a Golf from the front, but the resemblance ends as soon as you start walking around the side. There’s no mistaking that this is a wagon, and it looks especially sharp in the Blue Silk Metallic exterior colour.

There is a distinctive look to the front end thanks to a grille that is specific to the model; the front and rear bumpers are also slightly different.

There’s a nice set of 18-inch Canyon alloy wheels and silver roof rails to complete the look.

Continue on Page 2