VW Passat Alltrack 162 TFSI review

Passat Alltrack is Volkswagen’s long, low, elegant answer to a question no one seems to be asking, and that’s a great shame.

Passat Alltrack is an AWD take on the regular, already sexy, Passat wagon. But, it isn’t for everyone. Passat Alltrack is regal, well appointed, drives beautifully, and is reasonably frugal. It has the latest Volkswagen gadgets, and a cabin fit for a queen, but most would prefer to pay more, for less comfort, a terrible drive, and a thoroughly shoddy finish. They’d rather a Hilux or Navara, just for image. It’s a funny old world, isn’t it?

Audi A4 Allroad and A6 Allroad  are Audi versions of the Passat Alltrack, and are equally a pleasure to drive, but the badge costs.

The Drop-Dead Gorgeous Exterior looks hand crafted

Deeply dished 18” alloys wear 245mm wide rubber. The delicious bodywork is discretely swathed in all manner cameras and sensors that watch out for your well-being. Were you to be suddenly taken ill, they’d scan the road to make sure you won’t bang into something, then slow you down to a comfortable stop.

To look at it, you wouldn’t think such amazing things were cloaked within.

2 models signal the number of shekels its owner was prepared to part with. Our 162 TFSI is the base model, but poverty stricken, it is not. The other model is called “Premium”, suggesting any other trim level, is not.

Headlights look like fine crystal worthy of a royal table. They’ll ignite as the sun slips beneath the far horizon, and change their intensity as other drivers approach. The top model goes further. It will manipulate the illumination to leave limpid pools where on-comers might otherwise be dazzled, while allowing everything else to be lit with the light of a small star.

The joy of a wagon gaining a little extra height and all-wheel-drive, is that the profile looks svelte, rather than the bloated pomposity of an SUV. But, the Passat will be used in exactly the same way most SUVs are used. Most people, except tradies and grey nomads, do not actually need an SUV or tray-back. Surely to god there cannot be 5,000 tradies a month buying 4WD pickups. The thought of facing a million Paris-Hilton-sunglass-wearing-soccer-mum’s in honking great SUVs, makes most of us want to reach for a large noggin of single malt.

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ABOVE: 2021 VW Passat Alltrack 162TFSI (white car) and Premium (blue car)

The tasteful cabin

Alltrack’s passengers are cocooned in a club-like atmosphere. The seats are only semi-powered, and they’re covered in a sporty looking fabric (Premium gets leather and full powered adjustment). This is the car the chairman takes when he scuba dives, plays tennis, or nips down to Bunnings for a pint of nails and some chequered paint.

It is chockers full nifty gizmos too. The sun visor can extend so that nasty arvo sun won’t get behind the Raybans. Your Iphone will sync with the audio system to stream calls, tunes, messages and helpful hints, using CarPlay/Android Auto. There is no wireless charger, and there are only USB-C outlets so best pack a matching cable thingie.

Those in the back seats aren’t forgotten either. They can select their own climate temperature, and charge their phones on the rear USB-C. The seatbacks fold down to take extra long hockey bats, or some of those horse chairs that jockeys use.

There are more miracles of modern science within the centre tablet. Use it like a phone, to explore its well thought out menus. Below are 2 further climate zone controls. The centre console holds the miracles of auto brake hold, electric park brake, drive modes, automated parking, and other tasty goodies.

Surfaces are tactile without the obsessive need for the overt luxury of timber from a near extinct tree found only on the south side of Mount Olympus. Nor does it have leather tanned gently on the thighs of a nubile wench. It doesn’t need that, Passat Alltrack doesn’t have to come over all boasty-pants, it just gets on with it.

On the road, Passat Altrack is perfection.

Smart entry and start, gets the driver in and on the move, without the jingle of keys.

There is more wizardry behind the dash than took men to the moon, and it soon becomes apparent once the wheels are turning. Drive modes can reflect your mood, with one left over for camping in the wilds. Highway trips are a joy with near-autonomous “iQ Drive” doing the steering. It will watch out for traffic and slow down or speed up.

IQ Drive:

  • Emergency Assist
  • Front Assist with pedestrian monitoring
  • Manoeuvre braking, front & rear
  • Park Assist, parking bay and parallel parking assistance
  • Parking distance sensors,
  • front and rear with acoustic warning
  • Proactive Occupant protection
  • Rear Traffic Assist
  • Side Assist, lane changing assistant
  • Speed limiter (programmable)
  • ravel Assist with Adaptive Lane Guidance

The engine doesn’t grab you right away. Instead, it charms you with its sunny personality. In fact, it has many personalities, ably assisted by 7 of Volkswagens best DSG shifts. It would be churlish not to mention the star of the show, which is the 4Motion system.

I say star, but what I really mean, is orchestra. All 4 wheels follow the driver’s baton in a harmony that never needs explanation. No matter how hard the score, there is never an off note.

Passat doesn’t need big hugs after every corner, and it doesn’t sit sulking soporifically, at the first sight of mud. Highways are tackled with the aplomb of Pavlova, but turning into a field for a better view of the sea, is a decision driver can consider as easily as parking at the Cross for an Una’s Snitty.

The drive experience is ethereal. Passat dances with the lightness of Astaire, and the steering is both sharp, and light.

You’ll be bound to have people wanting to ride in the back. The back doors are enormous, and there is enough legroom to stash a small elephant.

The ride is regal and wafty, but gets all bolshy when the sport mode swings in to action. Rather surprisingly, she picks up her skirts when she needs to, and with the loafer planted on the Axminster, there is a pleasing 60’s sports car rasp from around back.

The Bond-esque list of gadgets would do Q proud and is far too long to get into just now. Here, HAVE A BROCHURE SIR. (and, don’t you get putting coffee on it either)

Conclusion: Passat Alltrack Specifications MY2021 Passat Alltrack Specifications MY2021-

What an absolute pearler. Passat Alltrack has the reassurance of nanny’s gentle hand, and the comfort of your favourite armchair. It is bang up to date without being in your face, mod-con-wise.

It is worth many shekels, and could be pressed into a little light off-tarmac work.

Price: $46,900

Engine: 2.0L turbo Petrol (95ron)

Power: 162kw/350Nm

CO2: 186g/k

Trans: 7-sp DSG

Econ: 8.1L/100k (comb)

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