Volkswagen Golf VIII Variant and Alltrack

Want a VW Golf VIII but concerned about lots of stuff to handle? Look no more because the eighth generation Golf now comes with a longer station wagon version called the Golf VIII Variant and its rugged version, the Golf Alltrack.

The longer and roomier Golf Variant, priced at 24,070 Euros plus additional costs, and the slightly rugged Golf Alltrack, priced at 41.035 Euros plus additional costs, are back on the eighth-generation model and these are the kind of Golfs that were made for people who are demanding more boot space in the back for just about everything but don't want an SUV that spoils their tastes. Volkswagen understands them so they made these for such purposes, whatever the reason.

First and foremost, the Golf Variant looks and feels like the normal eighth-generation Golf from top to bottom. Sure, it bears the same striking design as its hatchback equivalent as well as the minimalist interior that spells bad news for speedo boys behind the wheel but since this is the estate version of the Golf, it's 48mm longer than the hatchback equivalent, meaning on the inside, it's surprisingly more spacious as well and you can fit up to 1,642 litres of boot space with the passenger seats folded down, which is slightly more than the previous Golf VII Variant.

Same goes for the Alltrack which features a slightly increased ground clearance and some added cladding to make it look rugged like the rest of the so-called crossovers roaming around the streets for whatever their purposes had.

At launch, the estate version of the Golf is offered in various flavors such as a 1.0 TSi, 1.0 eTSi, a 1.5 TSi, 1.5 eTSi, a rather questionable 1.5 TGi natural gas engine, and the 2.0 TDi engine, which is the one to avoid like all diesels sold in Europe. Depending on the variant, it can be mated to either a manual or a DSG. The Golf Alltrack, meanwhile, is available only with a 2.0 TDi engine mated to a DSG and front wheel drive only with 4MOTION to follow later. I know I was gonna say avoid this one because we live in a Europe where almost nobody likes diesels anymore but because the Golf Alltrack only has a diesel engine, looks like this is probably the one to avoid, sadly.

On the dynamics side, because it runs on the same stuff learned from its hatchback equivalent, the Golf Variant behaves rather well. Not sporty as such but it's worth enjoyable to drive. Of course, I was gonna say that the Golf Alltrack has dynamics similar to front-wheel drive only crossovers but because of my stupid advice of saying avoid this one because it only has a diesel engine in it, looks like it's nothing but a void for now. Sorry, Alltrack. Speaking of which, both the Variant and the Alltrack, like the hatchback equivalent, features available Travel Assist and the new IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights.

With the eighth-generation Golf now has a roomier estate version, would you like these rather than Volkswagen's crossover offerings? And if the Golf Alltrack gets an honest petrol variant, even with mild hybrid on it, which is unlikely for the time being, would you want one?

Photo: Volkswagen