There will be those that sniff at a front-wheel drive vehicle that wears such rugged body armour but Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune owners probably don't take themselves too seriously. Handsome, economical and very practical, take the Dune with a shovelful of salt and you'll probably warm to it.

From a logical perspective, the Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune model is faultless. Customers like the raised ride height, ample space and butch looks of a 4x4 but rarely if ever use the all-wheel drive to venture off road and tend not to care for the sorry fuel consumption and emissions that the drivetrain losses of four-wheel drive bring about. Surely the recipe for beefy styling but a pragmatic front-wheel drive layout would be a winner? That's what Volkswagen is hoping, its Golf Plus Dune following the same theme set by the smaller Polo Dune supermini-sized model that's been around for some time.

The barrier will be the credibility issue that some have laid before the Polo Dune model. Certainly, the charge that the Dune models are imposters that are all mouth and no trousers is, on the face of it, tough to refute. Still, better a wannabe than a wastrel. At least the former demonstrates ambition.

The 1.9-litre engine that powers the Golf Plus Dune is neither the first nor last word in refinement. It develops 104bhp, which means that performance isn't searing. In fact, the engine is probably the weakest point of this vehicle. Torque, as you'd expect from a turbodiesel, is plump enough at 249Nm but the power delivery is peaky, the engine having the elastic bog and surge characteristics of an old fashioned turbodiesel unit. Stay on top of the relatively pleasant gearchange and you'll manage 0-60mph in 11.8 seconds and eke a top speed of 121mph out of the car which is by no means slow but ragging this engine hard isn't enjoyable. Better to surge from gear to gear, shortshifting and enjoying the rather busy swell of torque.

One benefit of basing the Golf Plus on the Golf Mk V chassis is that it has an excellent start to life, the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control being leagues ahead of most of the opposition. It's not quite as sharp as a standard Golf thanks to a ride height that goes up by 20mm, the revised springs and dampers focused on ironing out ruts and city potholes rather than the ability to carve a pure trajectory around a 70mph corner.

"I'd rather have a Golf Plus Dune than most sub £20k small 4x4s.."

The Golf Plus shape works really well with the Dune styling accessories. Whereas the Polo looks a bit odd all beefed up, the Golf Plus Dune wears its macho apparel with far less self consciousness. In fact, I'd go as far as to say this is how the Golf Plus should always have looked. No longer is it the rather apologetic looking thing that struggled to make a case for itself. The Dune treatment gives it some much needed identity. Aside from the raised ride height, there are matt black wheel arch extensions and similar textured plastic framing the front air dam and the rear valance. Silver roof rails and black side rubbing strips are also standard, as are the front fog lights that sit in a deep front air dam.

Only three colours are offered, Ice Silver and Steel Grey metallics and a pearl effect Blue Graphite. The Golf Plus body is a little taller than a normal Golf, the windscreen rising at a sharper angle and the rear end slightly reprofiled. Grafting another 95mm of headroom into the Golf hasn't created a super-versatile mini-MPV but it does offer another option for Golf buyers who thought they were pushed for space. Total loading capacity rises to 505 litres.

The Golf Plus Dune range isn't to hard to get your head around. There are no confusing trim levels, equipment variations or different engine and body combinations to factor in. One engine, one body style, one trim level is the extent of the deal, and one price of £18,690 on the road. Volkswagen has made it tricky to compare directly with the standard Golf Plus range by altering the list of standard equipment, so it's hard to say exactly what the Dune gear is costing you, but given that a Golf Plus 1.9TDI SE retails at £17,045, it's not an inconsiderable sum.

Unique interior trim is some recompense as is a leather-trimmed steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake. Climatic semi automatic air conditioning is fitted alongside automatic driving lights and rain sensing wipers, electric windows all round, a trip computer, and an eight-speaker CD stereo. Like all Golf Plus variants, there are six airbags, ABS brakes and ESP stability control. The 17-inch BBS alloy wheels alone would cost most of the difference.

Fuel economy of this 1.9-litre engine is predictably good, the combined economy figure of 50.4mpg being comparatively resistant to a heavy right boot. Even driven quite hard, you'll easily see more than 30mpg. The emission figure of 148g/km isn't bad either for a vehicle of this size and weight.

Depreciation is likely to be modest as family-friendly vehicles that are economical and well built always do well and those carrying a Volkswagen badge on the nose especially so. Likewise insurance is affordable, the Golf Plus Dune hardly being the weapon of choice for the Max Power brigade. Figure on paying Group 7 or 8 premiums and you'll have some idea of how it fits in against rivals.

There's no doubt that vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf Plus Dune divide opinion. Some just can't get past the fact that it's styled like a 4x4 but has front-wheel drive and little to no off-road ability. Others won't care and will enjoy the styling and be comfortable with the fact that all-wheel drive would, for them, be an unnecessary complication and expense. Neither camp is willing to accept the other's point of view and the sneerers and the shruggers are destined never to see eye to eye.

With a 2.0-litre TDI engine and the DSG sequential gearbox, the Golf Plus Dune would be a very satisfying piece of kit but the rather outdated powerplant and five-speed 'box rather count against it. The target market probably isn't overly interested in the oily bits though. I think the Dune is a smart piece of marketing and deserves to do well. Casual cynicism is easy but I'd rather have a Golf Plus Dune than most sub £20k small 4x4s.