What's this then?

Volkswagen is completing its triumvirate of 4x4 estate models with this, the Golf Alltrack. Based on the Golf Estate and sharing most of its oily components with the Skoda Octavia Scout and the SEAT Leon X-Perience, the Alltrack uses a Haldex-coupled 4Motion four-wheel drive system. That should give it the ability to find decent traction when the going gets tough, and the extra ride height (20mm extra ground clearance) and rugged-looking bash panels means it should scamper and clamber over all but the toughest off-road obstacles.

Who's going to buy one of these then?

Dunno, farmers? No, seriously, the Alltrack (like the Scout and X-Perience) are designed less for those who fancy a bit of 4x4-style posing (the sort of person who drives a Land Rover Defender around town and never takes it off road) and more those who actually need a practical, affordable car that can tackle rural roads and back routes when the weather turns against us. Because the Alltrack is actually mostly front-wheel drive, until the computers sense that things are getting slippery, it can be much more fuel efficient than bigger, heavier, purpose-built off-roaders.

In fact, the 1.6 TDI version can crack the 58mpg barrier and emits just 127g/km of CO₂, so it should be pretty efficient to run. You can also have 150hp or 184hp 2.0-litre diesels or there's a 1.8-litre petrol turbo that probably no-one here will buy.

But will it off-road?

Probably, yes. We've driven the Octavia Scout through some pretty filthy conditions and that coped exceptionally well, so there's no reason to think the Golf Alltrack won't manage the same terrain.

When can I have one?

Early next year.