VW Passat Alltrack 4motion (2012) Goes On Sale - CAR Magazine

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Home Car News First Official Pictures Volkswagen VW Passat Alltrack 4motion (2012) goes on sale Back to Volkswagen +1 View all Volkswagen Passat Reviews

Volkswagen is launching its own cut-price rival to those mud-loving Allroad models from Audi in May 2012 – the new Passat Alltrack 4motion.

It’s a Passat estate in a Barbour and green wellies, its ride height hoiked up and with 4motion all-wheel drive boosting traction for soft-roading and pulling horseboxes over slippery grass.

VW quotes a two-tonne towing capacity – 200kg greater than an equivalent Passat estate.

VW Passat Alltrack (2012): the lowdown

The Passat Alltrack comes only in diesel trim – with two different power outputs for its 2.0-litre TDI engine. It can be specced in 138bhp form or 168bhp. The lower-powered diesel comes with a six-speed manual transmission; the higher-powered model gets a six-speed DSG twin-clutch ‘box.

Prices start at £28,475 for the entry-level car, the higher-powered Alltrack costs £31,025.

That compares favourably with an Audi A4 Allroad, which starts at £31,475 for a 2.0 TFSI Quattro, rising to nearly £37k for a 3.0 TDI. You can’t currently buy an A6 Allroad in the UK, but a Skoda Octavia Scout with an identically powered 138bhp 2.0 TDI looks a tempting alternative at £22,720.

It’s interesting that most competitors in this field are from the VW fold. Volvo and Subaru offer beefed-up estates with SUV pretensions, but it’s arguably the Volkswagen empire which has exploited this niche most aggressively.

VW Passat Alltrack (2012): what do I get?

All new VW Passat Alltracks come with Alcantara upholstery, climate control, touchscreen sat-nav, DAB radio, cruiser control and 18in alloy wheels.

Both models achieve nearly 50mpg on the combined cycle, the lower-powered diesel model topping 49.6mpg, the 168bhp version 47.9mpg.The welly-booted Passat goes on sale in UK dealers on 28 May 2012.

About the author

Tim Pollard Director of Content – Digital

Tim oversees the digital teams that bring you CAR magazine and Parkers, our car-buying sister website. A lifelong motoring journalist, he has worked at many of the UK's biggest car titles, including stints on Autocar, What Car? and MSN Cars at Microsoft. Over two decades he has built extensive experience reviewing cars, writing features, breaking news about future products and navigating the airports of the world.

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