VW Golf Alltrack Finally Makes It Stateside At The NY Auto Show

The Golf Alltrack makes its debut in the United States, two years after its European unveiling in Paris.

Mirroring its bigger sibling’s traits – the Passat Alltrack – this new addition to the North American line-up follows a very successful formula, widely used by VW Group’s subsidiaries.

Based on the regular estate version of the Golf, the Alltrack gets a 20mm (0.78in) higher ground clearance along with the Haldex-5 coupling, 4Motion all-wheel drive system – although the vehicle will transfer up to 50 percent of the drive torque to the rear axle only when its sensing limited traction, remaining a front-wheel-drive car most of the time for improved fuel economy.

On the outside, it differs from the normal model with 17-inch “Valley” alloy wheels, door mirror caps painted in glossy “Reflex Silver”, and “Alltrack” badge on the wings, whilst it also features a chrome trim strip beneath the side windows and the “Silver” anodized roof rail. The S and SE trim-lines have 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, while the topline SEL trim has 18-inch wheels.

In Europe, the Golf Alltrack comes with a choice of one petrol unit and three diesels, but for obvious reasons only a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder TSI gasoline engine, capable of sending 170 HP (172 PS) and 199 lb-ft (270 Nm) of torque will be available Stateside. Initially, the engine will be mated to a DSG transmission only, but Volkswagen will also offer a six-speed manual down the road.

The interior is, from the get go, offered with leatherette seating surfaces, but a brown leatherette option is also available alongside aluminum pedal covers, door sills with Alltrack branding and ambient lighting.