Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Review 2024

The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack has the potential to be all the car you ever need. Off-road estates such as the Alltrack, Subaru Outback, and Ford Focus Active Estate, can do (almost) everything asked of them. Only having a diesel engine is a potential drawback for the Golf Alltrack, though, and it can quickly become expensive. But it offers an appealing alternative to buying an SUV.

The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is the off-road-capable alternative for those who want a change from the predictable SUV. Adding raised suspension and four-wheel drive to the Golf Estate creates a practical and upmarket family car that can venture further into the rough that you might imagine.

Given the proliferation of SUVs, off-road estates such as the Golf Alltrack are rare in 2023. Ford does offer the similar Focus Active Estate, while the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60 Cross Country are premium-priced options. There is also the slightly leftfield Subaru Outback, which has been the friend of farmers for many years. 

As such a specialist choice in the automotive landscape, Volkswagen has chosen to equip the Alltrack solely with a diesel engine. This may limit its appeal a little, but the extra torque and fuel economy of diesel power makes a lot of sense here. Standard 4Motion four-wheel drive is responsible for providing extra traction in slippery conditions, and gives the Alltrack a surefooted feeling whatever the surface is like underneath.

Adding 15mm to the Golf Estate’s ride height has, thankfully, little impact on the way the Alltrack drives. It feels very much like a regular Golf, with light steering and a generally comfortable ride.

Underneath the plastic cladding and increased ride height, the Alltrack is also still very much a Golf Estate at heart. This means a practical and spacious interior, with a sizable boot that’s capable of accommodating everything from DIY supplies to sports gear. Comfortable cloth seats, stainless steel pedals and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel bring a touch of class to the cabin, too.

The downside of being a Golf is that the Alltrack makes use of Volkswagen’s infamous touchscreen infotainment system. A 10-inch multimedia screen controls almost every interior function, with multiple presses and jabs needed to complete even the most basic tasks. 

There is only one trim level offered, but the Alltrack is comprehensively equipped, with everything from LED headlights to satellite navigation, plus three-zone climate control. This does go some way towards justifying its £39,000 starting price, while the options list allows for plenty of additional customisation.

The incredible popularity of small SUVs means the Golf Alltrack is likely to be a rare sight on UK roads. This is a genuine shame, as it boasts all the light off-roading ability needed to rival an SUV, along with a spacious boot and refined driving dynamics. Those who do choose an Alltrack will be rewarded with an estate car that can do pretty much everything.

To convert the Golf Estate into the Alltrack, Volkswagen has raised the suspension by a modest 15mm. As a result, there is minimal impact on how the Alltrack drives compared to a normal Golf. It manages to resist wallowing through corners, with more than respectable body control. The steering itself is light and accurate, and the overall ride quality is comfortable on all but the worst roads. 

Volkswagen fits 17-inch alloys as standard, but there are 18-inch wheels available on the options list. These make the ride feel slightly busier, but never to the point of being jarring. 

Heading off the beaten track, the Alltrack is controlled and compliant when tackling dirt roads and green lanes. It’s not a true off-roader, but few vehicles are – and few people truly need one. 

The Alltrack is best when specified with the optional Dynamic Chassis Control. Although this costs an extra £995, it offers a range of settings for the suspension and steering. Sport mode makes the driving experience feel particularly engaging.

When it comes to picking an engine for the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, there are no decisions to be made. Unlike the previous model, there is only one engine available, but it happens to be perfectly suited to the Alltrack’s nature. 

Although diesel engines have fallen out of fashion (not least thanks to the Volkswagen ‘Dieselgate’ scandal), the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine fitted to the Alltrack makes a lot of sense in this package. It produces a healthy 200PS, and can propel this high-riding Golf from 0-62mph in just 7.1 seconds. 

Out on the road, a substantial 295lb ft of torque translates into a feeling of effortless performance. It acts as a reminder of how effective a diesel engine can be in the right setting, and is aided here by the slick-shifting seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. Steering wheel-mounted paddles offer manual shifting if you prefer, but the gearbox is typically best when left to do its own thing.

The 4Motion permanent four-wheel-drive system fitted to the Alltrack helps provide plenty of traction in slippery conditions, or when heading off-piste entirely. It juggles torque between the front and rear axles as needed, even sensing before a wheel is about to lose grip. Volkswagen’s XDS electronic differential lock helps here, too. 

A dedicated Off-Road mode is unique to the Alltrack, and automatically adjusts the engine and transmission for driving in the dirt. Hill Descent Control is automatically engaged, helping the Alltrack travel safely down steep slopes without the driver needing to touch the brakes. The Off-Road setting also allows the Alltrack to stay in a chosen gear for longer, aiding throttle control.

The standard Volkswagen Golf is one of the safest new cars around, having been awarded a five-star rating by Euro NCAP. This included high scores for both adult and child occupants, along with recognition for its extensive list of standard safety equipment.

The Golf Alltrack should perform just as well at keeping everyone safe. Front Assist helps warn of impending collisions, with Autonomous Emergency Braking able to stop the car automatically if needed. Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist are also standard, as is Volkswagen’s ‘Car2X’ system. 

The latter uses the Golf’s onboard data connection to share and receive information with other vehicles, helping warn of potential hazards up ahead.

Volkswagen offers an optional tow bar for the Golf Alltrack, clear in the knowledge that is likely to be a desirable car for pulling trailers, horseboxes and caravans. In fact, the Alltrack can tow the most of any Golf Estate, being able to haul up to 2,000kg.

As a high-riding version of the Volkswagen Golf Estate, the Alltrack boasts a spacious and useful interior. Its bespoke bumpers extend the bodywork by 6mm, taking overall length up to 4,639mm. That makes for quite a sizable vehicle, albeit one almost identical in length to the Ford Focus Active Estate. 

Along with the Alltrack’s off-road ability, a large boot is key to its appeal. The 4Motion four-wheel-drive system has no impact on boot capacity, so it can accommodate 611 litres of luggage with the rear seats up. The back seats split and fold, and dropping them down increases the boot capacity to a roomy 1,642 litres. 

The boot itself has a full-length load cover, while the floor is a variable height design. There are also load lashing points to keep things secure, with LED lighting to make sure nothing gets lost. 

Space in the front of the Alltrack is generous, with legroom and headroom the same as other Golf models. Things are a little tighter in the rear, but adults can still be accommodated without issue.

The Volkswagen Golf has traditionally been synonymous with high-quality cabin construction. Previous Golfs typically felt more upmarket when compared to rivals, but every car manufacturer, it seems, now strives to be a ‘premium’ marque. 

This means that, although the Alltrack’s interior is relatively solid, it does not have the expensive feel of older Golfs. Volkswagen has clearly cut costs with some of the plastics, and parts of the centre console feel notably utilitarian. 

At least the Alltrack’s cloth-trimmed seats add a little touch of class, as do its standard carpet mats and stainless steel pedals. 

Like all eighth-generation Volkswagen Golfs, the Alltrack makes use of an ‘Innovision Cockpit’ layout. This combines a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel with a 10.0-inch multimedia touchscreen. The latter is at least neatly integrated into the dashboard, rather than appearing like an afterthought. 

Unfortunately, Volkswagen’s infotainment system still leaves much to be desired, even after several software updates. Almost every interior function is controlled through the main touchscreen, and it can require multiple presses, passing through several folders, to make simple setting changes.

There is a touch-sensitive slider panel beneath the touchscreen for volume and temperature control, although this is not backlit. A selection of shortcut buttons can be found lower down the dashboard, but these do not negate much of the touchscreen-prodding that is needed. 

Familiarity with the Golf Alltrack will doubtless overcome some of the issues, but the infotainment system will never feel truly organic or straightforward. It stands as a reminder that physical buttons make an interior substantially easier to use.

No amount of use will make the touch-sensitive controls for the optional panoramic sunroof a pleasure to operate, though. Volkswagen can, and should, do better.

Being offered as a standalone version of the Golf Estate means that the Alltrack has just one starting price: just below £39,000 at the time of writing. This is around £10,000 more expensive than the (front-wheel-drive only) Ford Focus Active Estate, and closer in price to the four-wheel-drive Subaru Outback.

Features such as LED headlights, climate control air conditioning, satellite navigation, parking sensors and a host of safety equipment all come fitted as standard to the Alltrack. Throw in the four-wheel-drive setup, diesel engine and DSG automatic transmission, and it makes sense in the overall Golf Estate hierarchy. 

The Golf Alltrack also compares favourably against the equivalent Volkswagen Tiguan SUV in like-for-like diesel specification.

Taking a Golf Estate, adding four-wheel drive and jacking up the ride height has an obvious effect on the Alltrack’s fuel economy. However, Volkswagen has ensured that running this off-road estate will not break the bank. 

The previous version of the Golf Alltrack came with the choice of three different diesel engines. In the real world, this translated into average fuel consumption up to 53mpg, and the latest Alltrack should deliver similar numbers on the road. 

Official WLTP fuel consumption tests for the Alltrack show its 2.0-litre diesel engine achieving combined fuel economy of 50.4mpg. A 50-litre fuel tank is standard, giving the Alltrack a useful cruising range. Even for those covering higher mileages, or tapping into the diesel engine’s extra torque, the Alltrack should remain affordable.

When it comes to VED (annual road tax), the Alltrack’s CO2 emissions of 147g/km mean a first-year charge of £230. After this, drivers will pay £165 each year.

Volkswagen’s standard warranty will cover the Alltrack for three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Alltrack is a single model in the Volkswagen Golf Estate range, meaning there is only one specification on offer. It sits above the sporty R-Line in the Golf lineup, and comes with a comprehensive array of standard equipment. 

On the outside, bespoke Alltrack bumpers are the most obvious change versus the regular Golf Estate. This extends to black plastic trim along the side sills, while there are also roof rails and a black radiator grille. An additional front underbody guard helps protect the engine when taking the Alltrack off-road.

Other standard items include 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18-inch items available as an option. LED headlights with a cornering function are fitted, with Volkswagen’s now-common light strip extending across the front grille. Sporty LED front fog lights and LED daytime running lights provide further illumination, with electrically folding side mirrors also part of the package.

The interior benefits from sports seats clad in grippy ‘7 Summits’ cloth upholstery, alongside a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. Heated seats are an optional extra, but likely to be a useful one given the Alltrack’s adventurous remit. 

Ambient lighting, three-zone climate control air-con, front and rear parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers are all standard. The lengthy list of safety equipment includes Adaptive Cruise Control, High Beam Assist and a dynamic road sign display.

Controlling most functions is the 10-inch multimedia touchscreen, combined with a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. This incorporates satellite navigation, DAB radio and smartphone connectivity. Wireless smartphone charging is included as well, with multiple USB-C sockets dotted throughout the cabin.

The Alltrack’s options list is extensive, and includes premium features such as LED Matrix headlights or a large panoramic sunroof. A handy rear-view camera can be specified, along with electronic hands-free opening for the tailgate.