The Golf family welcomed its latest addition this year, as the 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack joined the brood. That now makes six members of the family for 2017: Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, e-Golf and now Alltrack.
The Alltrack shares a lot with the SportWagen (compare them), including its powertrain, general dimensions and trim levels (S, SE and SEL). There are a few key differences, mostly in styling and price. The Alltrack starts about $2,000 more than a similarly equipped SportWagen, which is a big markup for the changes it offers.
The off-road-oriented, all-wheel-drive-touring Alltrack aims at the Subaru Outback, which is another raised wagon-like vehicle. The Alltrack also offers enough cargo room and capability to go up against compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester and Jeep Cherokee. Compare these competitors with the Alltrack
I spent a week with a mid-trim 2017 Alltrack SE,to see if its add-ons are worth its added cost.
The Alltrack looks like a butched-up SportWagen: The bumpers are different and there are silver (instead of black) roof rails, but the biggest styling change is the addition of black plastic lower cladding all around the car that makes it look more rugged. There's also 0.6 inch of added ride height and an extra 1.4 inches of ground clearance, bringing the total up to 6.9 inches.
S models get 17-inch wheels and halogen headlights, while the SE adds a standard panoramic moonroof. SEL models get 18-inch wheels and optional bi-xenon headlights.
