After receiving a good response at the recent Geneva Show, the new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack will be available in UK showrooms at the end of May. The Alltrack has VW’s 4MOTION four-wheel drive system, and a raised ride height, which VW claims will give it ‘greater agility off-road’. The UK will have two available models; a 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp with six-speed manual gearbox, which is priced at £28,475, and a 2.0-litre TDI 168bhp with six-speed DSG transmission, priced at £31,025.
Standard equipment includes Alcantara upholstery, 2Zone electronic climate control, touchscreen satellite navigation, DAB radio, MDI iPod connectivity, Bluetooth telephone preparation, and 18-inch Canyon alloy wheels. A Driver Alert System that monitors the driver’s responses to raise awareness of fatigue is also standard, as is ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme). More importantly, the Alltrack will have a very competitive towing capacity of 2000kg, which is 10 per cent higher than the two-wheel drive Passat. It will be an interesting competitor to Subaru’s excellent new SUV, the XV.
