2018 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack; Cars.com photo by Evan Sears
Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in December 2016 about the 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. To see what’s new for 2018, click here, or check out the 2017 model here to compare the two model years.
New for 2017, the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack treads on the rugged, is-it-a-wagon-or-is-it-an-SUV territory of Subaru’s Crosstrek and Outback. With crossover styling cues and standard all-wheel drive, the Golf Alltrack aims to furnish buyers with an SUV-like feel and wagon practicality. The five-seater even boasts some off-road prowess — but where it really excels is the constant uphill battle of ferrying car-seat-age kids around safely.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two
Related: More Car Seat Checks
Solid
- Latch, grade A: The two sets of lower Latch anchors positioned underneath pop-off plastic covers are easy to access.
- Forward-facing convertible, grade A: This seat was easy to install, aided by a trio of clearly marked tether anchors. The outboard ones sit about halfway down the seatback; the inboard is underneath a pop-off plastic cover in the floor.
- Booster, grade A: After raising the head restraint, our booster seat fit well and sat flat on the seat cushion. Also, the seat belt buckles are on stable bases, making it easier for youngsters to strap themselves in.
So-So
- Infant, grade B: This seat installed easily and fit well with our 5-foot-6-inch test passenger; we moved the front seat forward just a tiny bit. Taller passengers will need more room.
- Rear-facing convertible, grade B: This seat installed easily and fit well, but taller passengers will need more room.
Skip It
Grading Scale
Solid indicates an A grade for optimum ease of use and fit. So-So indicates B or C grades for one to two ease-of-use or fit issues. Skip It indicates D or F grades.
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
