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The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack arrived in its latest form in 2015 and ran until 2020, and is one of that popular breed of estate cars given the off-road treatment, with rugged body cladding, raised suspension, and all-wheel drive.
Well, we say ‘popular’, but used Passat Alltracks aren’t always easy to find, so buyers may need to wait until the perfect model comes up. The wait could be worth it though, as the Alltrack is just as accomplished as the Passat Estate it’s based on, but with extra visual appeal and the ability to go slightly further into the wilderness.
Alternatives like the Skoda Octavia Scout and Audi A4 Allroad are a little easier to find than the Alltrack, so make good alternatives even if neither matches the Passat’s boot size. The Volvo V60 Cross Country and Subaru Outback are also appealing rugged estates.
You could make a case for the Passat Alltrack on the basis of its extra ability over a standard Passat Estate when the going gets rough - for that trip up a farm track, for extra peace of mind in a really bad winter, or if you have what marketing types like to call an ‘active lifestyle’ and regularly find yourself in places where you need the automotive equivalent of a pair of sturdy walking boots.
But you could also plump for an Alltrack simply because it looks quite cool, with the same classy lines as a regular Passat Estate but slightly more distinctive details and a touch of the same appeal that sells people on off-roaders. And either way of thinking is equally valid, because ultimately, it’s simply a good car.
It’s got the best ride quality of any Passat (another potential selling point), and while it leans more in corners than a regular model, it’s hardly all at sea - and you’ll relish the security of all-wheel drive when the weather turns. The sole diesel option has strong performance and doesn’t use a great deal of fuel either, despite the extra driven wheels. It’s worth noting that the Alltrack is a good tow car, too.
The huge interior is another Passat Estate benefit carried over to the Alltrack, with welcome touches like standard heated seats, and one of the biggest boots in the class, with well over 600 litres of space. The layout is tastefully styled and very clear too - even the touchscreen is easy to use.
The Passat Alltrack goes up against siblings from other Volkswagen Group brands like the Audi A4 Allroad and Skoda Octavia Scout, plus the more compact Volkswagen Golf Alltrack and SEAT Leon X-perience. From other manufacturers, the Volvo V60 Cross Country and Subaru Outback walk a very similar path, the Outback probably being the choice for more serious off-road use.
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There’s just the one, so it’s more a case of deciding whether you want or need the upgrades the Alltrack offers over other Passat Estates, which includes a handful of unique colours including a rather fetching metallic green. It’s probably fair to say that only a small handful of potential buyers might actually need more ground clearance or all-wheel drive, but for that select few, the Alltrack exists.
The Alltrack is itself a trim level in the regular Passat Estate range, so there’s just one model listed below, with a level of equipment that reflects its place towards the top of the Passat range. Alltrack trim is effectively based on the already well-specified R-Line models, but adds extra kit and of course, some unique styling touches too.
The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack’s dimensions are:
The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack’s boot size is:
The Passat Alltrack cost just a shade under £40,000 brand new, just avoiding a sizeable surcharge on its VED rates. This means you’ll pay £180 per year for tax at the time of writing, the same as any other Passat Estate save the £10 cheaper Passat GTE.
The Alltrack sits right in the middle of the 50-group insurance rating system, on group 25. It’s roughly in the middle of the Passat Estate range as a whole in fact, which starts at group 15 and rises to group 33 for an R-Line Edition with a more powerful twin-turbo diesel engine.
Read our full Volkswagen Passat Alltrack review