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October 15, 2021
For Those Who Find Ordinary Wagons Uninspiring: A Test Drive of the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack TDI 4MOTION | Volkswagen
Safe on Snowy Roads with Winter Tires
The all-wheel-drive system, named 4MOTION, analyzes parameters such as the driver's throttle input, wheel speed, and steering angle to calculate ideal torque distribution, instantly adjusting the torque split between the front and rear wheels.
Its ground clearance is not as high as that of typical SUVs, so it's best to avoid truly rough terrain. However, it offers excellent traction on snowy roads, such as those found around ski resorts. With winter tires, you can drive with confidence on snow-covered roads. This capability has been proven in previous Passat 4MOTION models.
This time, the Alltrack features a full LCD panel called the "Digital Cockpit Pro" on the instrument cluster. When the navigation mode is selected, the map expands to fill almost the entire 10-inch screen.
A 10-inch LCD screen is also mounted in the center of the dashboard for operating the infotainment system. Uniquely, there are intuitive climate control buttons, such as "Warm Feet." Voice control is likely to follow, though Volkswagen is cautious about its introduction.
The price for the Passat Alltrack TDI 4MOTION starts at 5,529,000 yen. Competitors include the Volvo V60 Cross Country with its mild-hybrid 2-liter gasoline engine (5,790,000 yen) and the Audi A4 allroad quattro with its 2-liter gasoline engine (6,340,000 yen).
The Subaru Outback, a pioneer in this category, underwent a full model change in the US in 2019 and was recently announced in Japan, with prices starting at 4,147,000 yen (X-BREAK EX) and 4,290,000 yen (Limited EX). Further up the class is the Mercedes-Benz E220d 4MATIC All-Terrain (9,380,000 yen), though the price difference is substantial.
