SECTOR: Lower medium   PRICE: £26,790–£30,595   FUEL: 56.5–58.9mpg   CO2: 124–132g/km

It’s an inevitable addition, given similar products in the SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia Estate line-ups, but the Golf Alltrack offers a little extra choice for the ubiquitous hatchback’s range. Behind rugged protective body cladding, it stands 20mm higher and features permanent four-wheel drive to tackle light off-roading when required.

Based on the standard Golf estate, the Alltrack follows the equipment levels of the Golf GT, so Volkswagen’s Discover navigation system is standard fit, along with dual-zone climate control and LED running lights. Boot space is unchanged despite the four-wheel drive system; it holds 605 litres, rising to 1,620 litres when the rear seats are folded.

There’s a choice between three diesel engines, the most powerful being the 182bhp 2.0-litre diesel, coupled to a DSG automatic transmission. Economy is claimed at 56.5 mpg and CO2 emissions at 132g/km. A more frugal 148bhp version of the same engine is also available, but only with a six-speed manual gearbox. Volkswagen claims economy of 57.6 mpg and 127g/km of CO2.

The third choice, the 1.6-litre TDI mated to a six-speed manual transmission, an iteration of the engine used in the Golf BlueMotion, becomes the entry-level engine and costs £26,790. It is also the most prudent of the range – 124g/km of CO2 and 58.9 mpg.

All these engines are familiar to the Golf family, with none of them feeling particularly different to drive than a standard Golf estate, which is no bad thing. The increased ground clearance and electronic differential lock gives the Alltrack a moderately useful off-roadability, but it should never be mistaken for a hardcore mud-plugger. It does, however, have a towing capacity of up to 2,000kg.

If you're after a spacious estate that will do dirt tracks, muddy yards and the odd damp grass slope with more aplomb than your average front-wheel drive wagon, this is well worth a look, and certainly for fleets that require something more rugged than average, but not a full-on 4×4. Mind you, be sure that the standard Golf Estate won't do the same job, since it's quite a bit cheaper.