Volkswagen Passat Alltrack arrives

Volkswagen's high-riding AWD, the Passat Alltrack, lands with improved safety and off-road features and is the opening batsman for a team of new Volkswagen AWD/SUV products on their way in coming years.

The B8 Passat Alltrack is just $1400 more expensive than its B7 Passat-based predecessor, and new standard equipment includes active cruise control, autonomous braking, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Connectivity has been improved with the App-Connect system, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Off-road ability – such as it is – has been augmented by a 175mm ground clearance (up 9mm) and the use of Continental tyres with 'ContiSeal', a protective coating within the tyre that self-seals punctures up to 5mm in diameter.

The Passat Alltrack continues with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel but gains 5kW of power and has a 20Nm torque increase. Fuel consumption is identical to the B7 Alltrack at 5.4L/100km (although the B7 Alltrack started with 130kW/350Nm outputs and 5.7L/100km fuel consumption, but was upgraded in April 2013 to 135kW/380Nm and 5.4L/100km).

The Passat Alltrack continues with just one transmission – a six-speed DSG with manual and sport modes at the selector but no steering-wheel paddles.

A Haldex electronically-controlled multi-plate clutch provides an on-demand all-wheel drive system (only the front wheels are driven until wheel slip occurs), aided by traction control.

The Passat Alltrack also has XDL, which brakes the wheels on the inside of the bend during fast cornering to improve steering response.

Weight is down from 1725kg to 1671kg, in part because Volkswagen has ditched the steel underbody protection in favour of toughened plastic, saving 16kg.

Cosmetic changes compared with the two-wheel drive B8 Passat wagon include bumpers with faux skid plates, wheel arch mouldings and flared side sills. Other features unique to the Alltrack variant include anodised silver roof rails, matt chrome door mirror caps, 18-inch Kalamata alloy wheels and anthracite-coloured door, sill and wheel arch cladding.

Inside, the Alltrack gets brushed stainless steel pedals for the driver, embossed stainless steel sill tread plates and floor mats with Alltrack embossed on them, horizontal ventilation strip and door panels with custom trim in a "Tracks" design and a centre console in "Titanium" trim.

Safety equipment in addition to those already mentioned includes multi-collision brake technology, driver fatigue detection system, a low tyre pressure indicator, parking distance sensors, reversing camera and stability control.

The Alltrack has an 8.0-inch Discover Pro infotainment unit with integrated satellite navigation. It also offers USB, SD card and AUX-in connectivity, as well as the App-Connect system already mentioned and of course Bluetooth phone connectivity. The infotainment unit also features an off-road information screen, which displays steering angle, a compass and an altitude indicator. Carrying over from the previous Alltrack is the driving profile selector, with five driving programmes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Off-road and Individual. Selecting Off-road mode activated hill descent control (limiting speed between 2km/h-30km/h on an incline of more than 10 per cent), and changes ABS, throttle mapping and transmission mapping to better suit off-road driving.

The Alltrack has leather seats (with an ergoComfort driver's seat, which has electric seat back adjustment, adjustable thigh support and electric lumbar support adjustment). Tri-zone climate control system, auto-on headlights and wipers and a power tailgate are also standard.

Maximum towing capacity is an impressive 2200kg, although maximum towball mass is just 90kg.

The $3500 optional Luxury Package adds a panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, electric folding mirrors, Park Assist 3 parking system, LED daytime running lights, LED headlights with Dynamic Cornering Function, Headlight washers and a chrome grille strip.

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack pricing (MRSP, excluding on-road costs)
Passat Alltrack $49,290
Passat Alltrack (with Luxury Package) $52,790