IF you want all the benefits of a sturdy four-wheel drive but without the thirstiness of an SUV, the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack could be right up your street.
Although it is the same length as the bestselling Passat Estate, it has raised ride height and 4motion all-wheel drive, which boosts traction and gives it much greater off-road capability.

Just one trim level is currently available, with a choice of two drivetrains – a 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS with a six-speed manual gearbox and a 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS with a six-speed DSG transmission.

Standard equipment includes Alcantara upholstery, electronic climate control, touchscreen satellite navigation, a DAB radio, MDI iPod connectivity, Bluetooth telephone preparation, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a tyre pressure monitoring system and 18-inch Canyon alloy wheels.

A Driver Alert System that monitors your responses to raise awareness of tiredness is also standard, as is ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme).

Options include seats with a massage function (how could you resist?), integrated child seats, High Beam Assist, which automatically controls dipping of the headlights, and Side Scan Lane Change Assist, which monitors the vehicle’s blind spot.

There is also Lane Assist, ACC Adaptive Chassis Control, Automatic Distance Control with City Emergency Braking function, Park Assist (second generation), an interior ambient lighting pack, a rear-view camera and an electrically-deployed towbar.

It has a towing capacity of 2,000kg, which is 200kg more than an equivalent Passat Estate.

Inside, front comfort seats with lumbar adjust-ment are standard. Leather upholstery is optional, and can be specified with 12-way electrical adjust-ment, memory settings and climate seats, which can cool or warm depending on the conditions – although I expect the ‘warm’ option would be used the most.

Rear seats can now be lowered from the boot as well as the rear seat area.

This is particularly useful when loading stuff into the boot, as the seat can be dropped easily.

And if you’re the type to pack absolutely everything in the car (including the kitchen sink), it’s useful to know that when the entire boot space is utilised – plus the 80-litre spare wheel recess – capacity increases to 1,731 litres.

The Alltrack may seem expensive but it’s a great drive and extremely well-equipped.

Fact file
Car:
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack
On the road: £28,580
0-62mph: 10.3 seconds
Top speed: 123mph
Fuel: 49.6mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 150g/km