Spotted: 2016 Passat Alltrack Roaming Streets of Phoenix

by Aaron Cole

Updated: December 30th, 2020 Published: October 30th, 2015

spotted 2016 passat alltrack roaming streets of phoenix

I love you, unicorn.

A TTAC reader spotted this 2016 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack roaming the streets of Phoenix the other day and dutifully reported “What the hell is that?”

This Passat wagon, which is sold overseas, may be the only one in the States. It’s wearing manufacturer tags and likely just had its way with VW’s massive testing circuit in Phoenix.

The Passat Alltrack isn’t really related to our model, instead built on the European MQB platform that ours still isn’t. And the Alltrack has a trio of diesel mills that’ll never make their way to the States anyway. They can even be had with a manual transmission on the German Volkswagen configurator site that I didn’t just spend way too much time on.

The all-wheel drive wagon is, at best, never going to come here. It starts at around $30,000 in Germany.

Nonetheless, the near-unicorn (diesel, brown, wagon) was spotted on the streets in Phoenix — sunroof open and all.

Bless you, Don.

#Alltrack #Passat #Phoenix #Volkswagen

Aaron Cole

More by Aaron Cole

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 39 comments

SmallCarsRock on Oct 31, 2015

As mentioned by "derekson", that's not the Alltrack version. Also, in regards to unicorn status, and commenters lamenting that, "we'll never see this in the U.S.", unless dieselgate has changed VW's plans, the U.S. is at least getting the Golf Sportwagen version of the Alltrack. It will of course be 4Motion. However will have the TSI engine vs. the TDI, which was the plan even before the current TDI mess. It remains to be seen if it will be available in brown.

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- Drzhivago138 on Oct 31, 2015
  
  3. That's why he calls it a near-unicorn.
  
  Like
- SmallCarsRock on Oct 31, 2015
  
  @Drzhivago138 Agreed. Edited for clarity. The main point is that it's not an Alltrack. I'm actually very interested in the GSW Alltrack. I just hope that the VW crisis plan doesn't see it being cut from a NA introduction.
  
  Like
Corey Lewis on Nov 02, 2015

Places you definitely need AWD: The dry creek bed which is Phoenix. Actually though the 2.5 days I was there, it rained three times, ha.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

SCE to AUX I think the 2.2 was a pretty durable engine.
Rochester We'll probably be trading in our 2018 Touring Edition Forester for the next model, and are waiting to see what the Hybrid is all about. Would be nice if they disclose whether or not it will be a plug-in Hybrid.
CEastwood I have a friend who drives an early aughts Forrester who refuses to get rid of it no matter all it's problems . I believe it's the head gasket eater edition . He takes great pains regularly putting in some additive that is supposed prevent head gasket problems only to be told by his mechanic on the latest timing belt change that the heads are staring to seep . Mechanics must love making money off those cars and their flawed engine design . Below is another satisfied customer of what has to be one of the least reliable Japanese cars .https://www.theautopian.com/i-regret-buying-a-new-subaru/
Wjtinfwb 157k is not insignificant, even for a Honda. A lot would depend on the maintenance records and the environment the car was operated in. Up to date maintenance and updated wear items like brakes, shocks, belts, etc. done recently? Where did those 157k miles accumulate? West Texas on open, smooth roads that are relatively easy on the chassis or Michigan, with bomb crater potholes, snow and salt that take their toll on the underpinnings. That Honda 4 will run forever with decent maintenance but the underneath bits deteriorate on a Honda just like they do on a Chevy.
Namesakeone Yes, for two reasons: The idea of a robot making decisions based on algorithms does not seem to be in anyone's best interest, and the thought of trucking companies salivating over using a computer to replace the salary of a human driver means a lot more people in the unemployment lines.