Item: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Alltrack sits near the very top of the Passat range so isn’t exactly a bargain. That said, you do get an awful lot of equipment including four-wheel drive, three-zone climate control, the infotainment with sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity, plus parking sensors at both ends.

That little lot may sound appealing, but it’s worth remembering that driving all four wheels does have a negative impact on running costs. Where a regular two-wheel drive Passat Estate with a 2.0-litre diesel emits as little as 120g/km of CO2, the Alltrack bumps this up to 133g/km. The BMW 3 Series Touring with the equivalent 320d engine puts out 132g/km, while the Alltrack’s fuel economy of 55.4mpg beats the Touring’s 47.9mpg by a hefty amount.

That said, the Alltrack’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">emissions and economy</a> are still better than many four-wheel drive SUVs. If you live somewhere remote and can do without the high driving position, an Alltrack might be one of the more sensible options out there, especially as VWs tend to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">hold their value</a> better than other mainstream rivals.

Speaking of sensible, all Alltracks come with a raft of airbags including one for the driver’s knee, stability control, traction control, auto lights and wipers plus automatic <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">emerghency braking</a>. Automatic high beam for the lights, pedestrian detection and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-new-car-technology-that-could-save-your-life/n17548">lane-keeping assistance</a> are all on the options list, too.

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Even with the added weight of its standard four-wheel drive, the 2.0-litre diesel with 187bhp still feels particularly strong. It pulls well from low revs and makes for easy progress along motorways or country roads, even with a full load. It’s not particularly refined, though, and sounds a little strained at higher revs. It doesn’t bring any additional towing capacity, but even so, its potential to drag a 2200kg braked trailer should be enough for a big caravan or trailer and is more than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/estate/review/n40">Skoda Octavia Estate Scout</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/review/n108">BMW 3 Series Touring</a> can pull. &nbsp;

It comes exclusively with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that proves smooth in the majority of situations, only hesitating if you ask for a sudden burst of pace, such as when quickly inserting yourself into a gap in the traffic at a roundabout.&nbsp;

The handling is much the same as the regular Passat but the Alltrack has a raised ride height of 27.5mm and is set up with a focus on comfort. So far we’ve only tried an Alltrack with the optional adaptive dampers – Dynamic Chassis Control in VW speak – that provide a relaxed, if slightly floaty, gait in Comfort mode, a bit more body control in Normal mode and good resistance to body lean in Sport.

Only over particularly craggy roads does the Alltrack become fidgety, although the optional 19in wheels of our test car won’t have helped. Whichever mode you pick, the handling is safe and secure but not at all exciting. That said, the slightly numb steering is precise and it isn’t at all unpleasant to drive. As for off-road ability, it copes well with slippery surfaces but its limited ground clearance and road-biased tyres mean it’s better suited to broken road surfaces than serious cross-country expeditions.

Opt for a Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and you’re basically nailing the sole of a hiking boot to a regular brogue. The top half of the Alltrack looks as reassuringly businesslike as the regular estate, but underneath you get four-wheel drive, increased ground clearance and skid plates to conquer even the muddiest boot-sale car park.

Just to let everyone know you’ve spent more on your Alltrack in order to channel your inner Bear Grylls, you also get flared wheelarches, SUV-inspired bumpers and a set of big alloy wheels. There’s only one engine option; a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with 187bhp, and four-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic gearbox are standard.

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Apart from the sprinkling of SUV touches, the rest of the Alltrack is much the same as any other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/passat/estate/review/n29">Passat Estate</a>. That means a classy and well screwed together interior, a commodious boot and refined diesel engines. But how does the Passat Alltrack compare with other estate on stilts such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4-allroad/estate/review/n17204">Audi A4 Allroad</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/estate/review/n40">Skoda Octavia Estate Scout</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/review/n108">BMW 3 Series Touring</a>.

Before you go off exploring, read on for our definitive verdict on the Passat Alltrack. And if you’ve decided the off-road life is the way to go, head to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> pages to see how much we can save you on your new car.&nbsp;

If the tarmac suits you better, though, you might want to check out our reviews of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/passat/saloon/review/n28">Volkswagen Passat Saloon</a>, Passat Estate and plug-in hybrid <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/passat/estate/review/n17181">Passat GTE</a>.

As the Alltrack is towards the top end of the Passat range, its interior really is very plush. Areas you touch regularly feel of high quality while attractive trims and ambient lighting are standard. The interior can’t quite match the quality of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4-allroad/estate/review/n17204">A4 Allroad</a>, but then the Audi is a fair bit more expensive.

It’s very easy to get comfortable, too. The steering wheel has plenty of adjustment for both reach and rake while the seat has plenty of movement as well. You even get adjustable lumbar support as standard to make particularly long journeys less taxing on your back. Visibility is impressive thanks to slim pillars and standard fit parking sensors.

All the major controls fall easily to hand and feel reassuringly solid when you operate them. A multifunction colour display between the dials is standard but you can have a fully digital instrument cluster instead if you’re feeling really flash. This can be configured to show all sorts of driving data and makes it easier to make calls, change music or enter destinations into the sat-nav on the move.

Another standard item is a 8.0in colour touchscreen with super-clear graphics and very user-friendly menus, plus gets DAB radio, Bluetooth and wireless smartphone mirroring, so you can use <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> without plugging your phone in. It’s only beaten by the premium systems in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/review/n108">BMW 3 Series Touring</a>, which uses a rotary dial controller and is easier to use on the move. A larger 9.2in system is available, but it’s quite costly and arguably unnecessary.

Estate

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

PASSAT ALLTRACK

The VW Passat Alltrack is versatile and has reasonable off-road ability, but a regular Passat&nbsp;Estate will make more sense for most people.

The Passat Alltrack may cost <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/review/n108">BMW 3 Series Touring</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/estate/review/n101">Audi A4 Avant</a> money, but it’s worth remembering that it’s bigger than both. In fact, it’s closer in size to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/estate/review/n34">5 Series Touring</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/estate/review/n17864">A6 Avant</a>, which goes some way to justifying the seemingly steep price.

Front seat passengers will have no complaints thanks to plenty of room and a central cubby that doubles up as a cushioned armrest. The glovebox can be cooled to keep snacks fresh, while you can plug your phone into the USB socket and stow it out of sight.

There are two cupholders behind the gearlever, and deep door pockets will take a 1.0-litre bottle. Move to the rear and two adults will be able to get comfortable, even if they’re particularly tall.

Try to squeeze a third back there and there may be complaints about the sizable centre tunnel that they’ll have to straddle. Storage is similarly impressive with big door pockets that can each take a 1.0-litre bottle and a central armrest with a pair of cupholders.

The Passat Alltrack’s boot is uniform in shape, cavernous and has a usefully square opening with a low load lip. Adding to the practicality are 40/20/40 split rear seats that can be folded from the boot and a variable height boot floor. For this sort of money, only the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/estate/review/n40">Skoda Octavia Estate</a> can beat it.

The VW Passat Alltrack is versatile and has reasonable off-road ability, but a regular Passat 
Estate will make more sense for most people. 


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack review

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Review of Volkswagen Passat Alltrack interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

As the Alltrack is towards the top end of the Passat range, its interior really is very plush. Areas you touch regularly feel of high quality while attractive trims and ambient lighting are standard. The interior can’t quite match the quality of the A4 Allroad, but then the Audi is a fair bit more expensive.,It’s very easy to get comfortable, too. The steering wheel has plenty of adjustment for both reach and rake while the seat has plenty of movement as well. You even get adjustable lumbar support as standard to make particularly long journeys less taxing on your back. Visibility is impressive thanks to slim pillars and standard fit parking sensors.,All the major controls fall easily to hand and feel reassuringly solid when you operate them. A multifunction colour display between the dials is standard but you can have a fully digital instrument cluster instead if you’re feeling really flash. This can be configured to show all sorts of driving data and makes it easier to make calls, change music or enter destinations into the sat-nav on the move.,Another standard item is a 8.0in colour touchscreen with super-clear graphics and very user-friendly menus, plus gets DAB radio, Bluetooth and wireless smartphone mirroring, so you can use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without plugging your phone in. It’s only beaten by the premium systems in the BMW 3 Series Touring, which uses a rotary dial controller and is easier to use on the move. A larger 9.2in system is available, but it’s quite costly and arguably unnecessary.,

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Volkswagen Passat Alltrack review

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