VW Passat Alltrack Dropped From The UK As Buyers Flock To SUVs

The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack is the latest in a long string of models to have been dropped from the United Kingdom.

Part of the B8 generation of the German family car, the jacked-up estate is no longer found on the official website, where the only versions of the Passat still on sale are the Saloon and (traditional) Estate upon which the Alltrack is based.

The information was confirmed to Autocar by a spokesperson and it is apparently blamed on the poor sales of this body style, which has lost ground to traditional SUVs. According to the report, consumers say they prefer SUVs over estates – even jacked up models, not only because of the fashion aspect, but also due to their elevated driving position, airier cabins and the ability to “load children and objects into the car without bending down”.

We also got in touch with VW’s UK arm, with a press spokesperson telling Carscoops the following:

“Volkswagen UK constantly reviews its product offering in order to best reflect what UK customers want. In recent years the market has seen a sharp increase in the popularity of SUVs, and Volkswagen has, during this period, successfully introduced a raft of such models: the T-Cross, the T-Roc, T-Roc Cabriolet, latest Tiguan, the Tiguan Allspace, and the new Touareg. And there’s more to come: for example, the forthcoming ID.4 will be the brand’s first all-electric SUV.”

“Many customers who might previously have opted for the Passat Alltrack are now looking at these SUVs instead. With this shift in customer tastes, Volkswagen UK has reviewed its range offering accordingly.”

It is understood that only a small number of Passat Alltracks remain on sale in dealer lots across the country.

Meanwhile, the model can still be found in other European markets, including Germany, where pricing starts at €49,904.36 ($59,123) for the 268 HP (272 PS / 200 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) 2.0-liter TSI gasoline-powered version of the car, which comes with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive.

Those who would still rather get a jacked-up estate than a crossover or an SUV have other models to choose from in the UK, where Volvo still offers the Cross Country versions of the V60 and V90, from £41,160 ($53,965) and £47,860 ($62,749) respectively. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain is also on sale, with an MSRP of £65,945 ($86,460), as well as the Allroad variants of the Audi A4 and A6, from £42,440 ($55,643) and £56,925 ($74,634) respectively.