Volkswagen's Golf Alltrack, the AWD compact crossover-cum-wagon wunderkind that joined the Golf lineup last year, returns for 2018 with a number of notable changes. Those include updated styling that echoes that of the hatchback and Sportwagen variants, and the addition of a manual transmission option that is sure to delight driving enthusiasts disappointed by last year's lack of a three-pedal version.
Updated styling comes in the form of new front and rear bumpers, new halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights and full LED taillights. Positioned a step up from the Golf Sportwagen Highline (which can also be had with AWD but lacks the Alltrack's lifted ride and more rugged appearance), the Alltrack adds a Fender audio system to its list of standard features, along with paddle shifters in cars with the six-speed automatic transmission.
The Alltrack is part of VW's plan to bring a boatload of crossover models to its global lineup in the coming years, and it replaces the outgoing Tiguan at the bottom of the brand's SUV range, as an all-new 2018 version of that model gains a larger interior and three-row seating.
It's an appealing package in its combination of compact car footprint and overall height with the traction capabilities of an SUV. It's as if Volkswagen, even as it pushes deeper into SUV territory elsewhere in its lineup, is seeking to prove that you don't need to buy a proper SUV to get a truly practical vehicle that can hold its own in winter weather or on unpaved roads.
Alltrack's power comes from a 1.8L turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the rest of the Golf lineup, making 170 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque that can be put through an optional six-speed automatic, or the newly-added manual stickshift.
As an offshoot of the Sportwagen Highline model, the Alltrack shares that car's standard features, which include 18-inch wheels, power driver’s seat, ambient interior lighting, automatic headlights, chrome exterior trim, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, sports seats, rain-sensing wipers and navigation. Features adopted from lower-spec Sportwagen models include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and leather trim for the steering wheel, shifter and parking brake lever, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen, passive keyless entry and satellite radio.
Alltrack options include a light package that adds adaptive LED headlights; and a driver assistance package of adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection with rear traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, lane assist, automatic high beams, park assist and park distance control.
