Road test of the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack 2.0 TDI 4MOTION 150PS

Volkswagen’s new more macho version of the Golf offers drivers a great deal of extra grip and grunt.
Closing the gap between the on and off-road worlds, the Golf Alltrack has had a visual and technical makeover for motorists who face tackling the rough stuff.
This is a car for drivers who regularly stray off the straight and narrow, but prefer the style of an estate car rather than the macho chunkiness of a 4x4.
Fitted with an all-wheel drive system and 20mm higher ground clearance than the standard estate, the Alltrack is instantly recognisable by its flared wheelarches, protective side sills and newly-designed bumpers.
Added grip comes courtesy of an electronic differential lock which is integrated in the electronic stability control system.
The “offroad” mode – triggered at the touch of a button – activates a hill descent function, tweaks the accelerator pedal characteristics and modifies the anti-lock braking system for optimum braking off-road.
As well as being well-equipped to drive off-road, the Golf Alltrack is also well suited to towing and designed to handle trailer loads of up to 2,000kg.
Grunt on the test car came from one of the three punchy engines on offer, all of which deliver more than 100 horsepower.
The test car was powered by the 2.0-litre turbodiesel that blends 150 horsepower and the prospect of 50mpg consumption in real world driving.
On the road the car is quiet, smooth and refined, with an unexpectedly soft ride, when you might expect a car with macho styling and serious towing ability to deliver a sharper, less sophisticated experience. 
This is a top-of-the-range model with its interior based on that of the Golf Estate GT and it comes rammed to the rafters with equipment.
Some of the technology, from anti-lock brakes to the mass of airbags, is unseen. Some of it is seriously smart, such as the radar-controlled distance monitoring system and city emergency braking system.
And some of it is plain luxurious. So you settle into seats with height and lumbar adjustment and an under-seat drawer. The button-covered steering wheel is height and reach adjustable and the power-assisted steering automatically adjusts its weight according to speed.
You also get twin-zone electronic air conditioning, all-around electric windows and remote electrically-adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors with puddle lights.
The satellite navigation system too is equally smart with a speed limit display, three route options (fast, short, eco), online access to a range of information such as traffic, fuel pricing, parking space availability, weather and news feeds and it is all hooked up to an eight-speaker hi-fi system.
The price for this all-around ability is not cheap, with the Alltrack starting at about £27,000, but it is a distinctive, eye-catching and capable addition to the Golf range.