THE Volkswagen Golf has always been a great car. And thanks to a policy of continual improvement for nearly 40 years, the latest model is the best yet.

For most of us I reckon the hatchback offers just about all the car you could ever need.

But if the hatchback's boot just isn't big enough then you need is a Golf that offers "loads more" - quite literally.

Handily, that just happens to be the Golf Estate's design brief.

Interestingly, whereas the new hatch is a clean sheet of paper design this estate variant is a mixture of old and new. It's largely based on the previous MkV estate but with a cabin and front end from the MkVI.

Does that make it an inferior product? Not really. The MKV had a short life - not because it was poor but because it was so costly to build. Volkswagen aimed high and produced a car that stood head-and-shoulders above its peers for quality. But the sophisticated suspension and classy bodywork proved more expensive to manufacture than VW bosses hoped so the MkVI was given the hurry up.

It's always a tough job styling an estate, and I imagine it must be doubly-so when you have to graft the rear end of the previous wagon onto the front of the new Golf.

Volkswagen's stylists have done their best. The Golf looks cool and contemporary seen from the front, and the profile disguises the hefty rear overhang well. Seen from behind, though, the estate is eerily similar to its predecessor.

It's not merely a fashion wagon, though. There's room in the back for three adults and masses of luggage space in the boot. The liberal 505-litres cargo area extends to 1,495-litres with the rear seats folded flat.

The Golf Estate has been designed with lots of practical touches. In the boot there are two hidden compartments, both running the full width of the load bay, a 12 volt accessory socket and chromed lashing points for heavy items. Handy little cubbies on either side are useful for a small can of oil or WD40.

The rear seat base doesn't slide backwards and forwards - a feature often seen on people carriers in this class - but the Golf's generous legroom means you'll rarely miss this feature.

The centre console houses connections for an iPod or a generic MP3 player - but there's precious little extra space for anything else.

The console does house a pull out double drinks holder and directional air vents for rear seat passengers.

The right hand side rear door bin has an ashtray (unusual these days) and space for a packet of sweets. The front door pockets are larger and the front seat backs have magazine pockets.

There's a handy glasses case in the roof headlining just ahead of the interior map reading light switches, too.

Everyone admired the Golf's new fascia. The instrument pack is a traditional twin clock affair with clear fonts and subtle blue back-lighting. The speedo runs to 160mph (somewhat optimistic) and the rev counter red lines at 5,000 rpm. Beneath these instruments are two small gauges for fuel and temperature and there's an LCD readout for the fuel computer between them.

Classy textured grain 'soft feel' plastics run from the door caps through the dashboard. Black carbon fibre inserts and the audio system's 'wet look' black plastics, similar to an expensive hi-fi, lend the interior an air of smooth sophistication.

But I was non-plussed by the knobs that control the heating. They turn very freely and it's sometimes hard to know how far you have gone around the dial. Are you heating the windscreen or toasting your toes? A touch more resistance would have solved this problem.

The driving position is spot on for long distance driving. A two-way adjustable steering wheel makes finding a comfortable position quick and easy. The seats are more softly sprung than is traditional for VW - and all the more relaxing as a result.

The standard specification is good: four electric windows, power steering, cruise control and a trip computer are all present and correct. I was surprised to find no audio controls on the steering wheel, though.

Volkswagen expects the 1.6 turbodiesel to be a popular choice with private buyers. A common rail four-cylinder unit, the 1.6 is certainly frugal - I had no problem hitting nearly 50 mpg even slogging my way through busy town traffic - but I missed the hefty slug of mid-range torque that makes the VW 2.0 TDi so pleasant to drive.

Although the 1.6 produces 105 bhp (about the same as the old 1.9 TD pumpe duse engine) you need a fairly heavy right foot if you want to get a move on.

The 2.0 TD is available if you can't live without the extra performance - or need more torque for lugging a full boot of luggage around - and petrol-heads have the option of choosing a 1.4 with excellent economy and 122 bhp.

Since the first generation Golf Estate went on sale in 1993 VW has sold more than 1.2 million making it a key model in the Golf portfolio.

The latest model has the best looks yet, a roomy cabin manufactured from high class materials and rock-solid secondhand values. Not a car for the extrovert, the Golf just gets on with things in its own measured way - and makes a good case for itself as a medium-sized load lugger.

However, it faces tough opposition in the forthcoming new Focus Estate (unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this very week) which has sportier looks and is likely to be a better drive.

SPEC CHECK: Engine: 1.6-litre turbodiesel Max power: 105 bhp @ 4,400 rpm Max torque: 185 lb/ft @ 1,500 rpm Max speed: 118 mph 0-62 mph: 11.9 seconds CO2 (g/km): 125 (113 for the BlueMotion version) Fuel consumption on test: 57 mpg o/all Road tax: £35 Equipment: Electric windows, power steering, alloy wheels on Hankook Ventus Prime 205/55 tyres, body coloured door handles and mirrors, roof rails, MP3 player inputs, CD/radio unit, cruise control, air conditioning.