• List price from £28,475
• 2,000kg towing capacity
• Choice of two diesel engines

Prices and specification for the all new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack have been confirmed, prior to the model’s showroom debut on 28 May.

Starting at £28,475, the Passat Alltrack comes with a 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

A more powerful 168bhp version of the same engine is also available – specified as standard with Audi’s twin-clutch DSG gearbox; it is priced from £31,025.

The Alltrack is Volkswagen’s cross-country biased estate car; and while it is unlikely to give a Land Rover Discovery sleepless nights, the raised ride height, 4MOTION four-wheel drive and bodywork protection do give some useful off-road ability.

At 2,000kg, the Alltrack’s towing capacity is some 200kg more than the regular Passat, although over 1,500kg less than the largest 4×4s. However, its cavernous boot means it easily matches the likes of the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne in terms of practicality and it’s all wrapped up in a subtle, easy to park package.

Despite the off-road leanings, the Alltrack is just as highly specified as the rest of the Passat range. Standard equipment includes Alcantara upholstery, dual-zone electronic climate control, touchscreen satellite navigation, DAB radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, cruise control, all-around parking sensors and 18-inch ‘Canyon’ alloy wheels.

Advanced safety technology features on the extensive options list, with Side Scan Lane Change Assist (which alerts the driver to vehicles in their blind spot), ACC Adaptive Chassis Control, Park Assist and Distance Control with Emergency City Braking all available at extra cost. A rear-view camera and electrically deployed tow-bar can also be specified.

By Daljinder Nagra

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