VW Alltrack’s Amazing Feat: Making the Station Wagon Cool, Rugged

SEATTLE – Station wagon. There, I’ve gone and said it.

That’s essentially what the all-new ’17 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Yet, to some people the moniker “station wagon” is synonymous with loser cruiser, vintage 1955. A marketer once told me if you say “station wagon” to focus-group members, they say “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” the movie about a kooky clan on a cross-country trip in a clunky station wagon.

The Alltrack defies that stereotype. It’s stylish with modern design touches such as aluminum alloy wheels, side-sill body cladding and silver-painted mirrors that match the silver roof rails.

It also offers serious driving dynamics, both on and off road. An all-wheel-drive system and an exclusive Off Road Mode setting see to that.

So news flash: Station wagons can look hip and act agile.

But we live in a CUV/SUV world.  Offspring of station wagons, those vehicles are everywhere, and many of them are great products although you could argue they're station wagons on stilts.

However, when the luxury likes of Bentley, Maserati and Jaguar start making CUVs (as all three did this year), you know that segment is a superpower. If the U.S. Army debuts a military-style CUV, it’s time to wave the white flag.

VW isn’t saying how many Alltracks it expects to sell. That’s a tough guess. But the car demonstrates there’s something to be said for a viable SUV alternative.

The Alltrack is lower to the ground than an SUV, giving the VW greater road grip, stability and agility. Some people like the higher ride SUVs provide, but that means a higher center of gravity that, in turn, can make it more susceptible to rollover accidents under dire driving circumstances.     

The Alltrack has cargo room (30.4 cu. feet (1.2 cu. m) with rear seats up; 66.5 cu. ft. (1.9 cu. m) with those seats folded) that’s comparable to the stow room of a similar-size SUV. But with the Alltrack, you don’t need a stepladder to stash your bike in the back.

The Alltrack is the latest member of the Golf family, all sharing the same VW MQB platform. The Golf lineup includes the GTI, R and SportWagen.

The SportWagen is the closest relative to the Alltrack, although the latter is differentiated by various design elements. The Alltrack also stands 0.6 ins. (15 mm) higher.

And although VW’s 4Motion AWD system is optional on the SportWagen, the Off Road Mode that’s on the Alltrack isn’t available on the SportWagen. The fifth-generation AWD 4Motion system, standard on the Alltrack, uses an electro-hydraulically controlled clutch-pack differential to deliver up to 50-50 torque delivery to front and rear wheels. 

A media drive on Bainbridge Island near Seattle included a loop on a rocky and rugged back road. The Alltrack, in the Off Road Mode, barely broke a sweat. Another feature put to work during that part of the drive was the Hill Descent Control, providing automatic braking on sharp inclines. 

At one point during our offroading, my driving partner took a wrong turn. In front of us were two sizable fallen trees totally blocking the way. It was obvious (at least to me) that we weren’t where we were supposed to be. The Alltrack is offroad-worthy, but tree climbing isn’t part of its skill set.

The new Golf model goes on sale in October. One can’t quite imagine buyers leaving the VW dealership and bee-lining to nearest abandoned mining trail for some bumpy recreational driving.

But nor do most Jeep buyers take their vehicles on the Rubicon, the mother of tricky trails. Yet Jeep is quick to slap a “Rubicon” badge on certain models.

Fact is, knowing you can confidently go offroad in your vehicle is almost as important as doing it. It means you’re probably OK on wet or snowy pavement. That’s automotive psychology 101.

The Alltrack comes in three trims: S, SE and the top-level SEL. Prices range from $26,950 to $32,890.

Available advanced driver-assist systems include adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and emergency front-assist braking.      

Powering the vehicle (and the other Golfs) is an EA888 1.8L TSI turbocharged direct-injection 4-cyl. The engine makes 170 hp and 199 lb.-ft. (269 Nm) of torque. A 6-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission is available at launch, and a manual transmission will be offered on the S and SE in early 2017.

Although CUVs vie for buyers in a crowded segment, the Alltrack’s competitors are limited. In a presentation here, Golf Product Manager Megan Garbis shows a slide comparing how the Alltrack stacks up against the Subaru Outback.

She cites 16 different ways, including the Alltrack having more torque (although a bit less horsepower, 170 vs. 175) a sunroof that’s twice the size as the Outback’s and twice as many (eight) sound-system speakers. Gee, you think VW is going after the Outback?

Garbis tells WardsAuto after her comparo demo: “It’s a slam dunk for Alltrack.”

Well, at least score one for a station wagon in today’s CUV-crazy market.  

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'17 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Specifications