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This is the second time that Volkswagen has trotted out a butch-looking station wagon-on-stilts under the Alltrack moniker. The last version, a Passat, debuted at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
This newest version is based on the Golf Wagon, and packs TDI diesel or turbocharged gasoline engines. Haldex AWD is standard. While the Alltrack is confirmed for the European market, I’m wondering about the chances for this model coming to North America. VW showed an all-wheel drive Golf Wagon at the 2014 New York Auto Show, but this seems like a more likely option, given the success of the Subaru Outback.
34 Comments on “Paris 2014: Volkswagen Takes The Golf Wagon Outback...”
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I’ve never understood comparisons between the Jetta SportWagen/Golf Variant and the Outback. I’ve got a Jetta SportWagen and (while roomy) it’s definitely a whole size smaller than the Outback. Now the Passat wagon, back when that was still around, would have been a better competitor….especially because it had 4Motion.
It’s probably the All-Wheel-Drive part that invites comparison. Size is relative since even the Outback is smaller than many other AWD wagons it competes with.
True. And I suppose a Golf/Jetta wagon (especially one with plastic cladding) might attract the same kind of active-lifestyle-oriented customer that the Outback would.
Plus, VW is tapping into a market niche that is currently underserved because there are so few ‘smaller’ AWD vehicles to choose from.
And I think it will sell.
Given VW’s historical track record of quality, or the lack thereof, VW would have to pitch to a demo that is either too young or too senile to remember VW of the past.
Not to put words in Derek’s mouth, but I don’t think he is saying this would be a competitor to the Outback, rather that jacking up a station wagon and putting a bunch of silly butch cladding and faux skidplates on it would make it an easier sell in ‘Murika. See Volvo Outback (XC70), Audi Outback (AllRoad), BMW Outback (X1), etc.
Americans only seem to like station wagons these days if they can pretend they are crossing the Serengeti while dropping the sprogs at school.
Correct!
They could call it the Golf Sportwagen – Pontiac edition. Pontiac sure did love their plastic cladding.
It does give off that *Vibe*, doesn’t it?
That’s not a bad thing. The Vibe wasn’t an unattractive car, and personally I like the idea of thin strip of plastic cladding where my car is most likely to start seeing paint chips and rust spots.
@ bosozoku
Ok smartass, coffee came out of my nose…
Translating “Fahrvergnügen” as “Driving Excitement” wouldn’t be all that much of a stretch. Hmm…
The CC would make a nice Bonneville.
It isn’t the silly butch cladding that would make it easier to sell to me, it’s that cars have gotten so low to the ground that the “allroad” version is more comfortable to get in and out.
That’s a good point, jefmad. Regular cars can be too low for comfortable entry and exit. And ground clearance has become so ignored that it’s seldom listed in spec lists…. unless you’re talking about the 4WD community, where the debate between the utility of 8 inches and 12 inches rages on.
I stand about 5’6″. I’ve noticed, over the past few years, that it’s become hard to find vehicles of that same height. Most cars are shorter, and light trucks start much taller. A decade ago, my Forester was that height. Three decades ago, my Golf GTI was almost as tall, and it had almost six inches of ground clearance. Those were practically sized cars, IMHO. Versatile, built for good roads or bad, human-scaled.
Somewhere back in time, I think, the Car Gods gathered and decided to discard those Happy Medium-sized cars. The split the market, the better to encourage us to buy two cars instead of one. This proposed Golf variant would be a small step back towards a more sensible case of vehicle. But as with all the elusive VW concepts, I’ll believe it when I see it at the dealer.
Kyree
The two are bound to be compared as they are the only two (proper-ish) wagons available that aren’t from a premium make. I was surprised when I first realized this, but the even bigger shocker is that only the Sportwagon and Cadillac CTS-V are available with a manual transmission. I will buy one of these as a second family car, although my personal preference would be a gasoline motor with my AWD and manual transmission.
My buying the more expensive and profitable AWD version will be wholly dependent upon it coming with a manual transmission in case VW is listening.
You can’t get a manual transmission on the 3-Series wagon? Wow.
Wow? This doesn’t surprise me one bit. BMW is weening its victims from even the most tenuous connection with its past.
My rental in Germany was a 318d wagon with a manual and cloth seats, too. It would be nice if we had the option for models like that but actually I’m surprised we’re getting the wagon at all.
Unfortunately manuals are disappearing from a lot of models that really ought to have them.
Since new models rarely shrink, the interior dimensions of the new Golf Sportwagen may be remarkably similar to the previous Passat Wagon.
I can’t believe no one pointed this out: VW offers “Toffee Brown Metallic” on the Tiguan… optioned right, this could be it: the brown, AWD wagon with a diesel + 6spd manual powertrain. I guess dreams really can come true!
Still crappy Haldex AWD, still no reason to buy this rather than a more efficient FWD car.
dal,
I agree with you 100%, but I’ve actually come up with a justification that makes me happy Haldex AWD exists.
Isn’t this just a cheap Outey allroad? Since it’s VW, 10 bucks says they’ll almost be priced the same. But hey, America wants wagons and not SUV’s….Somebody’s been reading jalopnik too much.
I am going to keep my Anthracite / Taupe 2005 Subaru GT Limited 2.5 Turbo sport wagon, which is significantly better than the Outback.
Even though it may have 83,000 miles, I will keep babying it so that when VW decides what to sell, I’ll buy another.
OK. H8Rs gonna hate, but I really like the look of this. It would handily replace both my small Jeep KJ and my Saab for those treacherous runs to Total Wine ahead of impending snowstorms! AWD only, thank you.
I could easily see this in my garage. Now, if my daughter (soon to be 6’1″) can fold herself in the back seat behind my 6’4″ frame, we have a winner!
I don’t know about you guys. But I would buy the shit out of this. I live off of a pretty gnarly dirt road that is quite steep and rarely plowed in the VT winters. I would love this to replace my Forester. I highly doubt it will be available in the USA but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
This wouldn’t be a good replacement for your Forester in your circumstances because the AWD system isn’t nearly as good. Your only real alternatives at this point are the Audi Q5 and the Jeep Cherokee (with optional upgraded AWD system).
That’s silly, haldex vehicles have no problem climbing given ample clearance and appropriate tires. Whether this vw will have that clearance or just the poser looks like the US allroad is unclear
Sure they can get up the hill, if you don’t mind waiting a second or two for the power to be distributed rearward every time you need traction. Not a very satisfying experience, though.
I’ve driven plenty of both in mountain snow. Full-time AWD systems, whether “more intelligent Haldex” like Acura SH-AWD or other configurations like Subarus and “real” Audis, are just more effective.
This isn’t an Outback competitor, it’s an Outback SPORT competitor. If the Outback Sport still existed.
Subie took a slight risk by giving the newest-gen Impreza-based Outback Sport an entirely new nameplate: XV Crosstrek, which sounds very similar to Alltrack.
Dumb idea, right?
Wrong. In its 24 months of existence, they’ve sold more than 120,000 of them in the U.S. and Canada. They’re FLYING off lots.
It’s no wonder Subie’s leaving VW US in the dust. They’re making cars that appeal to people right now, and that they actually want to buy.
Newsflash!
VW attacks the Subaru Crosstrek market.
More details sometime or another.
The VW wagon, in my mind, competes with the Forester. VW would do well to bring an AWD Wagon with raised suspension to the US. As Subaru has shown this is what is selling right now. Bringing the diesel over, as an option, would in fact, give them an edge over Subaru.
BUT… I suspect, the Bluecross SUV is What VW has in mind for a Subie competitor.
I’ve cross-shopped VW and Subaru, a few years ago. The two brands’ markets and mission are very comparable, but the Forester’s driving experience was so disappointing that I remained in the VW camp– even at the expense of buying one of those dreaded Tiguans! But I’d much rather have had a ruggedized station wagon that could ford a puddle or two. Give it the tow rating of the Forester, and call it a job well done.
Never thought I would consider a newer VW (former VW dune buggy and bus owner – and no, I wasn’t a hippie) but this one hits my eye just right. Fortunately, at my age, I probably won’t be buying another “practical” car any time soon.
The skiing rumor mill seems to thing that if this comes to the U.S., it will be the diesel version.
If so, it will sell very, very well in snow country, but I’m not sure how that will translate in terms of real sales volume.
On a related side note, re the above, if BMW offered a manual in their 3 Wagon, I’d own one. The 8-speed auto drove me nuts with its constant shifting. Good quality shifts, to be sure, but ALWAYS shifting.