Road Test: Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI SE 5dr

Here's a Golf with some extra rump. We've had the Mk6 hatch for well over a year now, but this estate version only arrived in November. And that's exactly what it is: an estate. Not a sports tourer or a station wagon or an avant. Just a plain old estate.

And it does what an estate should do, by ignoring the sort of flouncy styling that would cut into the bootspace and somewhat defeat the point. It is undeniably boxy. It plays it straight. But the flipside comes with a huge dollop of practicality wrapped in the lovely Golfiness that we like so much.

Time for some statistical ping pong. With 1,495 litres of potential bootspace the Golf measures up pretty well against rivals like the Megane tourer. The VW has 14 litres more bootspace with the seats up, 72 less with the seats down. But unless you're squirting expanding foam in there, you probably won't notice the difference.

Most importantly, it's still a Golf. Rides like one, looks like one (until you walk around the back) and goes like one. The only notable difference is the optional panoramic sunroof (£905), which just helps it feel even more spacious.

There's a satisfying lack of pretention about this car. It doesn't come with any lifestyle bumf or phony claims of sportiness. You want a Golf with some more space for your dog? Fine, said VW. Then it went away and built one.