Following the sort of success of the Passat Alltrack, Volkswagen is transferring this concept to another smaller vehicle class with the unveiling of a new Golf Alltrack for 2015.

Volkswagen launches 2015 Golf Alltrack with AWD and light-duty off-road driving ability.

The idea is simple combining the practicality of an estate car with off-road driving ability and a more rugged look. Clearly something for those who don’t want an SUV but want a higher clearance, four-wheel drive and better off-road driving ability.

The Golf Alltrack is based on the Golf Estate, featuring 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, 20mm higher ground clearance, wheel arch mouldings, flared side sills and newly designed bumpers.

The Golf Alltrack will be offered with a single TSI petrol and three diesel engines. The petrol unit is a 178bhp 1.8-litre TSI, while the diesel range includes a 109bhp 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre with either 148bhp or 182bhp.

The TSI and top diesel unit are linked to a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox as standard.

The 178bhp petrol unit takes the Golf Alltrack from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 135mph, delivering an average fuel economy of 41.5mpg.

The most economical is the entry-level diesel consuming just 60.1mpg with CO2 emissions of 124 g/km. 0-62 mph comes in 12.1 seconds and the top speed is 116mph.

Other under the skin changes include off-road suspension and offroad driving profile, which activates a hill descent function, along with modified accelerator pedal characteristic and off-road configuration of the ABS system.

The Golf Alltrack is also suitable for towing a smaller boat or a bigger trailer as it designed to handle trailer loads of up to 2,000kg.

The Golf Alltrack is scheduled to go on sale in the UK by summer 2015 with prices to be confirmed closer to market launch.