First Drive: Volkswagen Golf Alltrack 2.0 TDI 184PS 6Spd DSG 4WD

What's this, then?

The Alltrack is a Golf estate with an extra 20mm of ground clearance, some special bumpers and a unique off-road mode. Like the bewilderingly named Seat Leon X-Perience we drove recently, it's backed up by the latest Haldex-based all-wheel drive system, which shuffles power around all four wheels as it sees fit.

What's the point?

VW says the Alltrack "brings together the on- and off-road worlds, both technically and visually". Basically it's a Golf with a modicum more go-anywhere ability.

Right. So can it actually go off-road?

It can. Selecting off-road mode from the drive menu may do funny things to the gearbox and throttle mapping (generating any acceleration whatsoever demands a very decisive prod of the throttle), but it nonetheless turns the Alltrack into a deceptively capable off-road machine.

There's even hill descent control, which brakes the Alltrack to a near-standstill before grabbing at individual wheels to safely see you to the bottom of whatever cliff it is you need to be at the bottom of. The Leon can't do that, but whether it needs to is another matter entirely...

How about on-road?

See our review of every Golf ever. The 20mm increase in ride-height hasn't turned the Alltrack into a wallowy mess - in fact, the ride is supple and body movements well damped over even the roughest of surfaces. You've three engines to choose from, all diesels, with between 108bhp and 181bhp, à la GTD. We tried the latter, which is only available with a DSG. Hushed at speed, refined, no silly synthesised engine note - it does the job, and it does it well.

Do you think I should buy one?

There's something weirdly appealing about the Alltrack. It's a thoroughly pleasant thing to mooch around in, and a good deal more capable than most of its estate-slash-SUV competitors. But it's pricey, with even the cheapest weighing in at £26,790.

For what is essentially a Golf wagon with a bit more ground clearance, whose off-road abilities you likely will never come close to needing, that's a lot.