| First Drive | Ellmau, Austria | Volkswagen Passat Alltrack |
Key Facts
Model tested: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI DSG
Pricing: £31,000 (approx..)
Engine: 2.0-litre TDI turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed DSG automatic, four-wheel drive
Body style: crossover estate
Rivals: Audi A4 allroad, Subaru Legacy Outback, Skoda Octavia Scout
CO2 emissions: 155g/km
Combined economy: 47.9mpg
Top speed: 131mph
0-62mph: 8.9 seconds
Power: 170hp at 4,200rpm
Torque: 350Nm at 1,750rpm
In the Metal: 
Mountain goat looks and Passat ordinariness mix to create the more adventurously styled Alltrack. There's a 30mm hike in the ride height, while the wheelarches now feature contrasting black plastic extensions/protectors for the off-road look, along with new front and rear bumpers with improved approach and departure angles. Matt chrome features on the front grille, window surrounds and roof rails.
The interior now has an off-road button (more of which later), Alcantara upholstery and the occasional Alltrack badge. All very smart and typically Volkswagen solid in its exacting fit and finish. It'll look as good in the car park at Chamonix as it does at Waitrose, which is the point, really.
Driving it:
Nobody is ever going to get overly excited about driving a 2.0-litre TDI Passat estate with a DSG transmission; and raised suspension and some chunky body addenda does nothing to change that. It's all predictably competent and never exciting. You would need to drive a regular Passat estate alongside it to really notice any difference that suspension height increase makes to the ride and handling, while the DSG gearbox is as quick and unobtrusive as ever when shifting. The four-wheel drive system is largely imperceptible too, with 90% of the drive being directed to the front axle unless it's needed elsewhere.
Where the Alltrack differs is when you take it off the tarmac. It's fitted with much the same specific driver aids as its Tiguan Escape relative, all bundled into one off-road button. Press it and you get hill descent control, revised anti-lock brakes and differential locks to better braking and provide traction on loose surfaces. It'll get you further off road than a conventional estate car, though, despite under-body protection, you'll want a Tiguan or Touareg if you're tackling more than an un-surfaced, rutted route.
The 2.0-litre TDI engine delivers 170hp but doesn't feel particularly rapid, it needing working hard to make progress. The car is heavier, but only by around 100kg. Those needing a Passat for towing are certain to appreciate its greater 2,000kg (braked) capacity - some 200kg more than a conventional Passat.
What you get for your Money:
Lots of kit comes as standard, and so it should. The only other Passat Alltrack available in the UK is a 140hp TDI model with a six-speed manual gearbox and Volkswagen is quoting an anticipated starting price of £28,500. Add at least a couple of thousand to that for this 170hp DSG-equipped model, then. Helping soften that blow is standard dual-zone climate control, that Alcantara interior, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a touch-screen satnav system and iPod connectivity.
Worth Noting
Choose this DSG-equipped model and press the off-road button and the shift characteristics are changed to suit. It'll not shift up automatically if in manual mode for better off-road ability for example. The hill descent assist system works in all models, automatically braking the Alltrack when the descent angle is greater than 10 degrees.
Summary
Dog walkers, hikers and Alpinists now have a specific Volkswagen Passat in the line-up to pick for their more rugged needs. Chunkier styling and its greater ability appeal, but it comes at a cost. Audi's A4 allroad 2.0-litre TDI is available (albeit it less generously equipped) for much the same money. Opt for a Skoda Octavia Scout and the difference is far greater - enough for a several years of family ski holidays and some nice new skis to put on the roof.
