VW Golf Alltrack (options) and Golf SportWagen discontinued

Production of the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack and Golf SportWagen for the United States and beyond for other countries will cease at the end of the year. The automaker says continued demand for SUVs from American consumers has influenced the decision. As of the first half of 2019, SUVs account for 47 % sales in the industry and more than 50 % sales for VW. In the VW portfolio, Atlas and Tiguan remain the strongest model brands. With the highest annual growth among major automotive brands in the first six months of 2019, according to the company.

New market strategy

VW is now directing its forces towards heavy trucks. The company will release three more new SUVs over the next two years. The five-seater Atlas Cross Sport will already be available this year. There are already electric models. CROZZ models will debut early next year. By 2021, a smaller model will appear under the Tiguan sub-brand. Company executives say VW's latest EV platform will give new vehicles the flexibility they need. It will also help you better adapt to the changing market.

“SUVs have definitely taken over as family vehicles from station wagons and minivans. Our generation knew them from childhood,” explained Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen of America, Inc. “But as we look to the future, both of our SUV lineups with extra options and upcoming ID identification will be the flagships of the range. The family of electric vehicles will provide an opportunity to combine style and space. Our clients see them differently for themselves. The car in the near future will become a kind of identity card. The BUZZ concept demonstrates the flexibility of our EV platform. It also gives us the opportunity to revive previously popular body styles, so anything is possible. And the favorite models will return to the range.”

VW Golf Alltrack. Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

2019 VW Golf Alltrack

Volkswagen will continue production of the Alltrack at its plant in Puebla, Mexico until December. For 2019, the Golf Alltrack will feature 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and leatherette seating surfaces. The standard all-wheel drive 1.8-liter TSI Alltrack engine is rated at 168 hp. and 199 nm of torque. Two transmission options are also offered: either a 6-speed DSG automatic or a 6-speed manual. For light off-roading, the Alltrack offers a whopping 6.9 inches of ground clearance.

Security features include:

• forward collision warning;
• autonomous emergency braking;
• pedestrian monitoring (Front Assist);
• blind spot monitor;
• rear traffic warning.

Additional features are plentiful and include 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control, among a host of other more familiar options.

Price starts at 26,895 $ for the Alltrack S with a 6-speed manual. For comparison, an Alltrack S with an automatic starts at $ 27,995.

2019 VW Golf SportWagen Photo: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

2019 VW Golf SportWagen

The 2019 Golf SportWagen comes with 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and cloth seats. Additional features include 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, fog lights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control. The front-wheel drive SportWagens are equipped with a 1.4-liter TSI engine with 147 hp. and 184 nm of torque.

In comparison, all-wheel drive models use the 1.8-liter Alltrack engine. At the front of the gearbox, the 1.4-litre engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic. The 1.8-liter car is available with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an Alltrack six-speed DSG automatic.