Despite the weight penalty, all-wheel drive also benefits acceleration. The SportWagen 4MOTION managed a run from zero to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds, 0.8 second ahead of its front-wheel-drive counterpart. It made it through the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds, which is 0.4 second quicker than its FWD stablemate but at the same 89 mph trap speed. Credit the 4MOTION system’s quick-acting coupler for increasing traction and the dual-clutch transmission’s launch-control function for making the best use of the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder’s 170 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. While front-wheel-drive SportWagens get a traditional torque-converter automatic, the 4MOTION models use the quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic also found in the hotter GTI and Golf R hatchbacks.