2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Gallery

Volkswagen's recipe for the 2017 Golf Alltrack is pretty straightforward. Take the Golf SportWagen, wrap up the outside in some beefier cladding, jack up the suspension a little, and slap on some bigger wheels as standard. Throw in an AWD system as standard and, paired with the 1.8-liter turbo engine, you've got a capable little off-road machine.

Well, as long as your off-roading expectations are in-line with what the Golf Alltrack is actually capable of, naturally. Courtesy of the bigger wheels and longer suspension you're gaining a conservative 1.4-inches, and though a new off-road mode adds hill descent control among other things, this isn't going to take you where a proper SUV might. Still, for the sort of mud, loose gravel, or everyday conditions few AWD cars ever go beyond, the Golf Alltrack is more than up to the job.

Rivals include the beloved-by-many Subaru Outback and, ironically, Volkswagen's own Golf SportWagen. That, for the 2017 model year, gains an all-wheel drive option, though while it's cheaper than the Alltrack, it rides lower and doesn't get the fancy exterior styling treatment.