The latest car to enter the 'soft-roader' fray is Volkswagen who has announced details of the new Passat Alltrack, an estate car that adds the benefits of an SUV to form a new crossover model.

Ignoring the fact that VW already offers the Tiguan, the new Passat Alltrack is a four-wheel drive version of the Passat Estate that has its suspension jacked up by 30mm for extra ground clearance, protective cladding added to the wheelarches and some stainless steel-look cladding added to the under-body.

Those who know of such things will note that the increase in height - in addition to restyled bumpers - gives the Passat Alltrack better departure, approach and breakover angles. Make no mistake though; the new car will not be a dedicated mud-plugger, even with the Tiguan Escape's off-road mode that activates hill descent assist, adjusts the anti-lock braking system, electronic differential locks (EDS) and - on models equipped with it - the DSG gearbox as well.

Instead the Passat Alltrack will be more at home in the winter urban jungle where its front-wheel drive biased 4Motion system, that only sends power rearwards when required, will come into its own.

No word yet on prices but we do know that the Passat Alltrack will be available with either a 2.0-litre TDI 140 engine with six-speed manual gearbox or a 2.0-litre TDI 170 with six-speed DSG transmission.

Volkswagen dealers in the UK will start taking orders in April, for July 2012 deliveries. No word on pricing as yet.

Paul Healy - 24 Nov 2011