Topic: Test Drive: 2017 Volkswagen Golf AllTrack

[AutoTrader.ca]

Golf Alltrack's interior and powertrain its strongest assets.
Read more...

[Noto]

A great read, but requires a few fact checks... Engine displacement in the summary Table is wrong and it's 199 torques, not "the better part of 200".

I also don't think it's truly in the same ballpark as the outback, but I see the idea as stated...

[OliverD]

Why mention Android Auto but not Apple CarPlay? It comes with both.

While I'm not personally a fan of Outbackifying wagons, I do think the Alltrack looks great. The normal Golf wagon looks a touch boring in comparison.

Still, I'd probably choose the normal wagon. I have no need for the increased ground clearance, despite the fact that I was plowing through 15 cm of snow on my way home from work yesterday.

[JacobBlack]

A great read, but requires a few fact checks... Engine displacement in the summary Table is wrong and it's 199 torques, not "the better part of 200".

Summary table will be fixed.
But 199 is absolutely" the better part of 200", so I'll be leaving Thst one.

[EV-Light]

Said cabin as a distinctively upscale VW flair to it: elegant, simple, sophisticated, very nicely built, and flaunting quite the styling theme.

 

[OliverD]

Said cabin as a distinctively upscale VW flair to it: elegant, simple, sophisticated, very nicely built, and flaunting quite the styling theme.

 

You disagree? 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I really like this. Strong contender to replace the Passat.

Noise may be a concern though.

[EV-Light]

Said cabin as a distinctively upscale VW flair to it: elegant, simple, sophisticated, very nicely built, and flaunting quite the styling theme.

 

You disagree? 

You know I am not a big fan of VW's interiors...it's too outdated in my opinion - I see no diff between this and my 2013 VW Jetta, in which I already though the interior was outdated.
having said that, looks like the next gen interior is fantastic:

[Dante]

If you put things in perspective, at $36,900 before freight and other standard fees (when passing on the gizmo Driver Assist Package), it's very competitive (cheaper in some cases) with top of the line, similarly equipped, compact SUVs as well as the Outback 2.5, while offering similar cargo space with most in a car-like package.

Like the review said, if don't want/like a compact SUV but still need some utility and all-weather/all-road capability it's a very viable option. One issue I see though is that you cannot get a lower trim/cheaper  Alltrack where with the SUVs which have their own nameplate you can.


BTW: it's "Alltrack" not "AllTrack"

[Triple Bob]

Said cabin as a distinctively upscale VW flair to it: elegant, simple, sophisticated, very nicely built, and flaunting quite the styling theme.

 

You disagree? 

You know I am not a big fan of VW's interiors...it's too outdated in my opinion - I see no diff between this and my 2013 VW Jetta...

I see no difference between a V6 Mustang, and a V8 Mustang...

[OliverD]

The lack of a lower trim model is a misstep for sure. VW could have easily brought us an Alltrack that is roughly equivalent to the Comfortline wagon. If the price premium would be the same as the current Alltrack vs the Highline, it would mean a "base" automatic Alltrack for $30,245.

I guess VW is betting on people who want a cheaper AWD model to just go with the normal Golf wagon.

[dirtyjeffer]

I guess VW is betting on people who want a cheaper AWD model to just go with the normal Golf wagon.

^^ this.

keep in mind, Canada is a small market, and the likely take rate on wagons is not going to be very high, therefore there wouldn't be a business case for more than one trim.

[Dante]

On the flip side, a Trendline with AWD and DSG for $26,000 is great value and it undercuts most if not all similar offerings in the AWD compact SUV or wagon space. The Outback starts at $28,000 and not even Kia sells you a AWD Sportage for less (starts at $27,000).

You just have to manage with car-like ground clearance.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

From the article:

Apparently, lower-cost versions of the AllTrack are incoming, if that’s your thing

Hopefully there'll be a Trendline with stick available.

We'll have to wait and see, I guess.

[OliverD]

I guess VW is betting on people who want a cheaper AWD model to just go with the normal Golf wagon.

^^ this.

keep in mind, Canada is a small market, and the likely take rate on wagons is not going to be very high, therefore there wouldn't be a business case for more than one trim.

I dunno, VW seems to have no issue offering configurations in Canada that aren't offered in the U.S.

[EV-Light]

On the flip side, a Trendline with AWD and DSG for $26,000 is great value and it undercuts most if not all similar offerings in the AWD compact SUV or wagon space. The Outback starts at $28,000 and not even Kia sells you a AWD Sportage for less (starts at $27,000).

You just have to manage with car-like ground clearance.

Yup, the trendline wagon is a great deal! It's competing at Impreza 5-doors price levels, except the VW is definitely more premium!

[SaskSpecV]

 "Know who drives AWD wagons with a manual transmission? Total bosses, that’s who."

So if I got my 6MT Forester slammed, would that count? 

I've only seen one Alltrack in the wild, but this should be a strong seller (provided the lower trim versions show up reasonably soon). 

I asked this in another Alltrack thread, but what is the basis for the Outback comparisons?  Is it VW pushing this narrative, or simple auto writer group-think (one writer said it, so now everyone does), or just because they are both "AWD lifted wagons"?  If the latter, why not compare the Alltrack to the Audi Allroad then?  My question is not because I favour the Alltrack or the Outback, but because the Outback is completely larger class of vehicle (midsize Legacy platform, versus compact Golf platform).  The Golf wagon/Alltrack does have a very large cargo space - not quite up to Outback levels, but pretty close - but the rear seat room is MUCH smaller in the VW wagons than the Outback. 

[Dante]

I asked this in another Alltrack thread, but what is the basis for the Outback comparisons?  Is it VW pushing this narrative, or simple auto writer group-think (one writer said it, so now everyone does), or just because they are both "AWD lifted wagons"?  If the latter, why not compare the Alltrack to the Audi Allroad then?  My question is not because I favour the Alltrack or the Outback, but because the Outback is completely larger class of vehicle (midsize Legacy platform, versus compact Golf platform).  The Golf wagon/Alltrack does have a very large cargo space - not quite up to Outback levels, but pretty close - but the rear seat room is MUCH smaller in the VW wagons than the Outback.

One perspective and basis for Alltrack vs Outback comparison is they they are the only 2 mainstream, raised,  AWD, wagons, under $40K MSRP on the market at the moment. Sure, one is smaller one is larger, one is more refined than the other, one may have more features than the other, etc. but all these become part of the comparison.

Audi Allroad is a luxury offering and in another price range which would be comparable with the Volvo V60 Cross Country most likely as the only other competitor.

[Noto]

Yup, the trendline wagon is a great deal! It's competing at Impreza 5-doors price levels, except the VW is definitely more premium!

I'm not so sure that's true any more - the Impreza is all new for 2017...

https://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebSiteID=282&WebPageID=20630

Totally redesigned, featuring the all-new Subaru Global Platform chassis
All-new horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder, 2.0L direct injection SUBARU BOXER engine
PZEV emissions equipment
5-speed Manual Transmission (5MT) or optional, next-generation Lineartronic® CVT
Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive
Vehicle Dynamics Control system (VDC) and Traction Control System
Active Torque Vectoring
Front forward, front side-impact, side curtain and driver knee airbags
EyeSight® Advanced Driver Assist System
 
Reverse Automatic Braking
Subaru Rear/Side Vehicle Detection System (SRVD)
Rear-view camera
16-inch, 17-inch or 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels
Steering responsive LED headlights
Power tilting and sliding glass sunroof
Voice activated, dual-zone automatic climate control
Advanced Infotainment System with voice-activated GPS navigation, 8-inch high-resolution capacitive touch screen, AM/FM/CD/MP3/AHA/WMA, SMS text messaging capability, SiriusXM™†Traffic, Travel Link and Satellite Radio installed (free 3-month trial subscription included)
Integrated crossbar brackets

[tortoise]

I dunno.  While better, that Impreza interior still doesn't look very good.