--- title: "Audi Five-Cylinder-Swapped VW Golf Alltrack is Just Better" date: "2022-05-15" modified: "2022-05-15" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/audi-five-cylinder-swapped-vw-golf-alltrack-is-just-better" categories: - "Audi News" - "Builds" - "Culture" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Audi" - "compact" - "Wagon" --- # Audi Five-Cylinder-Swapped VW Golf Alltrack is Just Better ![]() I'll admit, as a dad of two kids, the Volkswagen [Golf Alltrack]() is deeply attractive to me. It looks good, has all the space I need, drives just like a Mk7 Golf (which is a compliment, the Mk7 Golf is great), and has a nice interior. The only real downside is its ho-hum powertrain. A 1.8-liter turbo-four with 170 horsepower doesn't exactly get the blood pumping. But that can be fixed by bringing it to Innovative Motorsports for an [Audi RS3]() engine swap. Innovative Motorsports specializes in swapping the Audi RS3's (or Audi TT RS') "DAZA" 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine into any and all MQB-chassis cars. For those of you that don't speak Volkswagen, MQB is a front-wheel drive, transverse-engine platform that underpins any small Volkswagen or Audi, from the VW Jetta, up to the Audi Q3. This recent video shows off a finished Golf Alltrack build, with the DAZA turbo five-pot, and it's kick-ass. ![]() In addition to swapping in the Audi RS3's engine, along with its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, their Stage 1 "OEM+" DAZA package includes the RS3 rear diff, RS3 Haldex, a custom downpipe, and Innovative Motorsport's own exhaust. They also offer optional tuning, which can bring power up to about 500 wheel-horsepower. If you want it even spicier, they also offer Stage 2 (700+ horsepower) and Stage 3 (1,000+ horsepower) packages. But this owner went for the Stage 1 package. The owner of the specific Alltrack in this video already had some mods done to his car, including Öhlins coilovers and a big brake kit. But Innovative Motorsports swapped the big brake kit for a set of RS3 brakes, which not only work better but are easier to get parts for, and set the Öhlins up correctly. They even reupholstered the interior, giving it GTI-like tartan pattern seat inserts, and a Golf R steering wheel with upgraded paddle shifters. It's even tuned so that everything works properly, with no lights on the dash. All-in, this is pretty kick-ass Alltrack build. The Golf Alltrack is a great family car but it's not exactly exciting to drive. With a 500 horsepower-plus RS3 powertrain, and all the great five-cylinder noises that come with it, the Alltrack becomes a genuine performance family wagon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iww87YyqVHQ ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()