Towcar of the Month: Passat Estate Alltrack 2.0TDi 4Motion 150

No-one’s got more towing X-Factor than the Volkswagen Group. All of its mainstream brands, from Audi to VW, make excellent towcars in our experience: stable, powerful and, most often, practical too.

It seems that the Passat Estate Alltrack is no exception, as it grabbed the title of Towcar of the Year at the Caravan & Motorhome Club 2017 Awards.

The new-look Passat has some very sharp lines. It’s sleek, elegant and rather posh-looking in both saloon and estate guise. Its beauty is more than skin-deep though, as it also boasts a classy and comfortable cabin with excellent ergonomics.

The Passat is very easy to drive, both hitched up and solo. Our model was manual, and the gearbox was silky smooth with good ratios for towing. Similarly, the power, though a relatively modest 150bhp, was delivered in a linear and reassuring way.

During the hill-start test, I managed to get into second gear on a 17% (one in six) incline with a tonne-and-a-half of caravan behind. No excess revving, no wheelspin, no fuss, just oodles of AWD grip. Fantastic.

The Alltrack 4WD laughs in the face of hairpins and hill starts and tweaks the nose of adverse camber!

All Round Visibility

I’d say this is the classiest ‘mid-range’ towcar we tested by some distance. The ride is typically firm, but the seats and steering wheel are lovely, and the refined plastics give Merc and BMW a run for their money. It’s genuinely a nice place to be.

Visibility is excellent all round, and, should you get into a sticky situation, you’ll find the brakes offer effective bite, feel and retardation, inspiring yet more confidence.

Space Aplenty

With the Alltrack being an estate car, there's loads of space in the rear. That’s 639 litres with the seats up (A VW Golf hatch has 380 litres), while there are a whopping 1780 litres with the seats folded down That makes it perfect for pet lovers and those who like to take the kitchen sink away on tour.

Of course, if you load up the ‘boot’, you’d have to empty it all out to get to the spare wheel.

4WD or not 4WD?

Are there any downsides?

Well, the model we tested costs £33,605! The base model comes in at £31,215, but ours had an optional rearview camera, Dynamic Chassis Control and Trailer Assist, totalling around £1500. The factory-fit towbar costs £885, too.

The mainstream automotive media suggests that the 4WD isn't necessary, just upping the cost and reducing the fuel efficiency. Of course, for towing things are a bit different, and that extra traction, stability and weight is always welcome.

If you like the cut of the Passat’s gib, but can't stretch to thirty grand, consider the nippy 1.6-diesel model. It comes in at just over £20,000 if you hunt down the very best deal.

Verdict

This accomplished Passat is pure class in every department: styling, comfort, performance, handling and, yes, towing.

It offers an assured drive both on the twisty stuff and at speed. With all-wheel drive, it laughs in the face of hairpins and hill starts and tweaks the nose of adverse camber! Seriously, this is one of the most ‘planted’ towcars you’re ever likely to drive, so much so, that you’ll need to keep an eye on the speedo as you bowl along.

NB: All testing was done on private test tracks.

Vital information

• Price £33,605 (as tested)
• Tax Band D
• CO2 130g/km
• Insurance group 19E
• Kerbweight 1670kg
• 85% match 1420kg
• Noseweight 90kg
• Engine 4-cylinder Diesel
• Capacity 1968cc,
• Torque 251lb/ft @1750
• Gears 6-speed manual
• Towing acceleration 30-60mph 13.5sec 40-60mph 10.45sec

Press ratings

Honest John.co.uk 4 stars

AutoExpress 4 stars

AutoCar 4 stars

Carbuyer.co.uk 4 stars

What Car? 3 stars

Top Gear 3.5 stars

Witter Towbar Prices

• Fixed Flange with 13-pin electrics £465.90
• Detachable swan neck with 13-pin electrics £575.10
• Fixed swan neck with 13-pin electrics £465.90

witter-towbars.co.uk

The £31,700 VW Passat Alltrack is expected to have the following trade-in and retail prices at dealers during its first five years, assuming the condition is ‘good’.