Here it is, the 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, finally making its debut in U.S.-market spec. The all-wheel-drive version of VW’s Golf SportWagen has been seen in European-market form, but now it’s ready for North American consumption.
The Alltrack follows the formula laid down by?and ridden to great success by?the Subaru Outback and now employed by the Audi A4 Allroad Quattro: Add four-wheel drive to a slightly lifted station wagon, garnish with SUV-like body cladding, and serve. For the Alltrack, that means taking VW’s Golf SportWagen and fitting the brand’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system, which defaults to front-wheel drive in the interest of fuel economy but can send up to 50 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels via a Haldex-5 coupling when slippage is detected. Additionally, the system uses electronic differential locks to apportion torque across the front and rear axles. The torque the system is distributing?199 lb-ft of it?comes from the same 170-hp 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder that powers the regular SportWagen. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic is the only transmission offered at launch, although a six-speed manual will join the lineup later. The Alltrack’s drive-mode selector adds an Off-Road mode, which activates hill-descent control and also reprograms the traction-control system. In Off-Road mode, the display screen shows steering-wheel angle, a compass, and altitude.

The Alltrack’s own altitude is 0.8-in...