2015 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI 150 review

Volkswagen reveals the second generation of its high-riding Passat Alltrack estate. We drive it for the first time on German roads. The second-generation Volkswagen Passat Alltrack, unveiled at the Geneva motor show back in March. The high-riding four-wheel-drive estate is planned to head into UK showrooms in October at an entry-level price of £30,885.Based on the sharply styled eighth-generation Passat Estate, the new Passat Alltrack is set apart from its sibling by a series of subtle exterior styling changes similar to those adopted by its predecessor.Most apparent are the unique front bumper, which receives a silver plastic scuff plate and black plastic valance panel, and the integrated foglights on higher-end versions.Further changes include the addition of Alltrack badges on the grille and front wings, silver and black mirror housings, integrated roof rails, black cladding within the wheelarches and along the sills and a new rear bumper with a black plastic valance panel housing trapezoidal-shaped chromed tailpipes.The Passat Alltrack is also fitted with superior underbody protection and, with new springs and dampers, boasts a ride height of 174mm – 28mm more than that of the standard Passat Estate. Wheels are 17in as standard, although 18in rims, as fitted to our test car, or even larger 19s are optional.  The Passat Alltrack will be offered with two diesel engines in the UK. These are the 148bhp (as tested here) and 187bhp versions of Volkswagen's 2.0 TDI engine. The former comes with a six-speed manual gearbox only, the latter a six-speed auto. As with the first-generation Passat Alltrack, this second-generation model features an electro-mechanical multi-plate clutch 4Motion four-wheel drive system as standard. 

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