2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Review

There's smooth propulsion from VW's rewarding 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, but 170 horsepower isn't that much for more than 3,400 pounds of wagon. It's hardly slow, but the Alltrack isn't in a particular hurry, either. The dual-clutch automatic transmission can feel sluggish from a stop.

We observed an uncharacteristically firm brake pedal feel for a VW product, which is a good thing. These brakes don't draw much attention to themselves — that's a good thing — and they feel capable and predictable at all speeds.

There's little in the way of on-center slop in this steering system, giving the Alltrack a responsive character from the helm. We wouldn't call this steering engaging, exactly, but most drivers should find it perfectly adequate.

The Alltrack leans a fair amount when you drive around turns. We've been disappointed by the regular Golf SportWagen in this regard, and the Alltrack's elevated ride height doesn't help matters. There's nothing sloppy about the Alltrack's handling, but like the steering, it doesn't really engage the driver.

Once you're underway, the DSG dual-clutch transmission is masterful, upshifting so quickly and smoothly that the tachometer needle may be your only indication. It sometimes feels indecisive in parking situations, but that's normal for the breed. The engine is a little sleepy below 2,500 rpm.

With 6.7 inches of ground clearance, the Alltrack won't be challenging the Subaru Outback (8.7 inches) for off-road-wagon supremacy. Even so, we took the Alltrack on a fairly rigorous rocky trail without destroying the underside. There's likely more capability here than most buyers will need.

There's a big difference between the base S trim's bare-bones front chairs and the SEL's well-bolstered power seats, though the base versions are comfortable enough. In the usual Germanic fashion, the cushioning is on the firm side.

The SEL comes standard with 18-inch wheels that look nice but don't help the ride any. Small impacts can register vividly in the cabin, and the ride quality is more taut overall than the SUV-lite looks suggest. The shocks feel supple over big dips; it's the little stuff that can be unsettling.

In limited testing, we've found that road noise can sometimes be intrusive. Engine refinement is great, though. As usual, VW has taken the time to give this turbocharged four luxury-grade manners. A smooth operator.

Three knobs keep things blissfully simple. The air-conditioning system had no trouble keeping the cabin cool on a warm summer day, enormous panoramic sunroof notwithstanding. The specific dual-zone controls are very intuitive.

Seemingly every control is where you expect it to be, and if it's not, you quickly see the logic in where it ended up. Gauges are straightforward and highly legible. Nothing fancy, just strong fundamentals.

Front passengers will have no complaints, but those in back might have something to carp about. The rear doors have a relatively narrow opening, and if the front seat is pushed back for long legs, there's not much room for the rear passenger to squeeze behind.

Everything falls readily to hand in the Alltrack, which is unsurprising because it's basically the same praiseworthy interior you'll find in an ordinary Golf. The wheel telescoping range is very generous for taller drivers, as is the seat-height range.

Rear passenger space is at a premium relative not just to the crossovers the Alltrack competes against, but also to the Subaru Outback. With a tall driver settled in, the rear passenger's shins may rub against the driver seatback. The front compartment, on the other hand, is airy and spacious.

Excellent in all directions, thanks to the Alltrack's tall greenhouse, plentiful glass and relatively slim pillars for a modern car. With the panoramic sunroof, you've got great skyward visibility, too.

The rear door panels use hard plastic right up to the windowsill, unlike the softly trimmed panels in front. Likewise, the lower dashboard wears a hard, shiny plastic covering that's not up to VW's usual quality standards. Everything seems nicely put together, though; no squeaks or rattles.

To VW's credit, the flip-door ashtray area in front of the shift lever has been converted into a phone shelf with a USB port and aux jack — it's super-convenient for stashing and connecting your phone. Otherwise, though, the center console only offers two cupholders and a shallow armrest bin.

The Alltrack's 30.4 cubic feet of standard cargo space seats is SUV-grade stuff, as is the 66.5-cube maximum when you fold the rear seatbacks down. Those seatbacks conveniently flip forward via release handles on either side of the cargo area, so there's no need to walk around to the backseat.

Low-resolution touchscreen graphics set the Alltrack apart from most cars in its price range (and plenty of cheaper ones). It's as if VW dumbed things down to entice shoppers to buy an Audi. Also, plenty of navigation voices on the market don't sound like robots. VW has some catching up to do.

Sophisticated smartphone capability is anchored by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus compatibility with commonly used apps such as Pandora, Spotify and TuneIn internet radio We had no issues connecting an iPhone 6, whether by ordinary Bluetooth connection or Apple CarPlay.

The optional Driver Assist package for S and SE trims adds adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous braking and parking steering assistance. Common aids such as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning are curiously absent, though.

The base S starts with a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (170 horsepower, 199 pound-feet of torque) and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, dubbed DSG in Volkswagen-speak. Purists can raise a cheer: A six-speed manual transmission will also be available starting in early 2017. Regardless of transmission, power reaches all four wheels through the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

Standard features include 15-inch alloy wheels, foglights, LED daytime running lights, power-adjustable and heated side mirrors, silver roof rails, air-conditioning, cruise control, power windows and locks, a leather-trimmed tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats with manual adjustment and power recline, 60/40-split folding rear seats with a center pass-through, and ambient cabin lighting.

Also standard are a rearview camera, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, VW's Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration and Car-Net Security and Service telematics, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base audio system includes eight speakers, a CD player, satellite and HD radio, and auxiliary audio, USB and SD card inputs. 

Options include the Driver Assist package, which bundles adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, and steering guidance for parallel and perpendicular parking.

Moving up to the SE adds automatic headlights, automatic wipers, heated windshield washer nozzles, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, a 115-volt outlet in the cargo area, and a Fender Premium audio system (adds a subwoofer and upgraded sound). The Driver Assist package and a manual transmission are also optional.

The top-level SEL builds on SE features with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic dual-zone climate control, a 12-way power driver seat, and upgraded infotainment with touchscreen navigation. A Driver Assistance and Lighting package is optional and includes that same features as the Driver Assist package as well as adaptive xenon headlights that bend in the direction of the car's turn and automatic high beams.