While some in the U.S. pine away for a brown manual diesel wagon, the Europeans will play in their Volkswagen Passat Alltrack estates.
Based upon the standard Passat Estate, the Passat Alltrack is powered by either two turbocharged gasoline mills — generating 147 and 217 horsepower — or a trio of TDI diesels capable of 147, 188 and 236 horses, respectively. Stop-start and regenerative braking are standard.
Whatever power is chosen, it goes to all corners through the Alltrack’s permanent 4MOTION system, which aides in tackling trails with the help of electronic locking diffs and a 1.1-inch ride height increase over the Passat Estate. Stainless-steel underbody guard, modified bumpers, and ruggedized wheel arches and side skirts protect the Alltrack from the rocks and brush. Towing capacity is 4,850 lbs.
Other features include custom 17-inch wheels with optional 18- and 19-inch sets, HUD, front assist, emergency assist, rear traffic alert, and trailer assist.
Continental Europeans might go for this, but Brits are just as hooked on CUVs as you guys in the US (although mostly in a smaller size class). In Britain, VW fanboys with families to transport will buy the Tiguan or Touraeg.
These would definitely sell in the US. I’d take one with a 2.0 TDI.
The Biturbo version is the one to have. That’s the 237 HP diesel.
Is that the same as what Audi runs (3.0)?
I didn’t realize it was available in this class.
No, it’s a twin turbo version of the 2.0L 4 cylinder diesel. It makes something like 237 BHP / 369 lb-ft.
Thanks, I wasn’t aware of any other engine being available other than the 2.0.
People say these wouldn’t sell, I tend to think they wouldn’t fare any worse than say the Beetle in terms of sales. I for one would seriously look at one for the wife, provided it had adequate ground clearance for winter weather driving.
count me as a piner here in the states.
i bought a new manual passat in aug 2013 – i would have gladly purchased this one instead of the sedan
do not need the ride height, awd, cladding etc but i would take it.
keep in mind that the tow rating would be lowered in the states to ~1000 lbs. don’t know why we get derated compared to europe.
The tow rating is probably lower because of the very real possibility in the US that the trailer could be towed all day long at highway speed in much higher temperatures than Europe experiences. That and lawyers.
It’s a station wagon. Station wagons don’t sell well in the U.S. That said, I love wagons and manual transmissions. My Accord has a manual. Had there been a wagon I would have gotten one. The other problem with it is it’s a VW. Not my opinion, but the U.S. market’s.
Wagons with phony off-road attributes sell very well here. The Subaru Outback sells like crazy and the Audi Allroad sales are greater than those of the A4 Avant were. Even Volvo has decided to lift the V60 to increase sales. The V70 left our shores, but with the lift kit it is still here as the XC70. In reality these wagons are all downgraded from their original versions, but not in the eyes of the American consumer.
You don’t buy a wagon to off road.
It’s funny hot things work differently on each side of the pond. As a European, i can’t give a crap about manual diesel wagons, as they’re so common around here you barely notice them (we’re talking “trucks in Texas” levels of popularity, though most of them aren’t brown). On the other hand, there’s a guy near me who owns a rusted out 70s Suburban… I literally lose my sh*t every time i see it.
You’ve got the right idea!
Now for those vents, that long vent assembly running across the dash…
It’s kinda cool in a 70s retro way, but when you move the vents a little, are they going to ruin the perfect continuity of the trim in there? I could not handle having the lines ruined by someone moving the vent around to be more comfortable.
Never coming here, It would kill the A4 Allroad demand, since it’s the same thing, but at 2/3 (rough guess) of the price.
Not at all the same. The Passat is much larger than the A4 and is a transverse mounted slip & grip AWD system rather than the A4’s longitudinal full time quattro system.
I didn’t see any mention of a battery/hybrid drive. How does regenerative braking work in a non-battery car?
I’d be very interested in this car. I don’t need AWD for frequent snow or rock-crawling but occasionally on slippery inclines I make use of AWD – especially when I’m towing, especially when it gets snowy/icy around here a few times per year. Doesn’t stay slick making snow tires pointless.
Wagons (cars) are usually more pleasant to drive than tall vehicles so that’s my motivation. The typical CUV is nicer to get in and out of. The wagon/CUV bodystyle is much, much more useful than a sedan IMHO.
Prob going for a non-brown Jetta Sportwagen 6MT TDI next time.