VW’s Golf-in-welly-boots – the eco-friendly Alltrack - unveiled

2014-11-11 19:46:08

This is the new Volkswagen Golf Alltrack – the latest addition to VW’s ever-expanding soft-roader family. The Golf Alltrack follows in the footsteps of the company’s larger Passat Alltrack. In the UK market, the Golf Alltrack will come as standard with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive meaning that it truly is a Golf-in-welly-boots when it goes on sale in the summer of 2015.

As you would expect from an estate-cum-SUV, you get an increased ground clearance. In the case of the Golf Alltrack, that is 20mm higher than a standard Golf estate. It also gets revised suspension settings, plastic mouldings to wrap around and protect the front, sides and rear of the body work, and aluminium accents to convey the impression that the front and rear have protective skid plates. The 17-inch alloy wheels and honeycomb-styled radiator grille are unique to the Golf Alltrack. A set of silver-effect roof rails complete the look, along with re-profiled rear bumper and dark red lights at the back.

The cabin is broadly unchanged, but the Golf Alltrack does get a smattering of extras underneath the Alltrack branding, including leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear-shift lever.

Four engines are available on the Golf Alltrack – three diesel and one petrol. The petrol engine is a 178bhp 1.8-litre TSI unit that produces 207lb ft of torque. It returns 41.5mpg on the combined cycle and emits 158g/km of CO2. This engine is a brand new addition to the Golf range and is capable of taking the Golf Alltrack to 62mph from a standing start in 7.8 seconds before going on to top out at 135mph.

The entry level diesel engine is the 109bhp 1.6-litre TDI. It produces 184lb ft of torque and is able to accomplish the 0-62mph sprint in 12.1 seconds before going on to 116mph. It returns 60.1mpg on the combined cycle and emits 124g/km of CO2.

The mid-range engine is a 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit that produces 251lb ft of torque. It is able to complete the benchmark 0-62mph challenge in 8.9 seconds before going on to reach 128mph. It emits 127g/km and returns 57.6mpg on the combined cycle.

The most powerful diesel engine is also a 2.0-litre unit and is the most powerful Golf estate so far. It produces 181bhp and is able to pull 280lb ft of torque. It returns 55.4mpg and emits 134g/km of CO2. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and can go on to 136mph.

The petrol engine and the most powerful diesel unit are both mated to a 6-speed DSG twin-clutch transmission as standard.

VW’s widely-acclaimed 4Motion all-wheel drive system uses a Haldex centre coupling to divert power to the rear axle when the front wheels start to slip. It is now in its fifth generation. Volkswagen claims that the electronically-governed clutch is able to send 100% of the drive to the rear wheels in extremis. In ordinary conditions, drive to the rear wheels is uncoupled under low engine load or when coasting, providing greater efficiency.

Whilst the Golf Alltrack isn’t an out-and-out off-roader, it should be good for avoiding the likelihood of getting stuck on sodden grassy fields or for traversing the odd farm track.

As you would expect from a Volkswagen Golf, there is also an array of electronic systems which use sensors and the brakes to reduce wheel-spin to any individual wheel. Functions that are usually found on off-road vehicles can also be found on the Golf Alltrack. This includes hill descent control linked to a modified ABS system, as well as different accelerator pedal characteristics according to terrain. The Golf Alltrack is able to handle trailer loads of up to 2,000kg.

This is an abridged article especially prepared by First4Auto on behalf of EcoCars4Sale.

Reported By

Andrew Merritt-Morling

Chief Editor