ANONYMITY ANTIDOTE

In a sea of lookalike crossovers, the 2017 VW Golf SportWagen 4Motion delivers plenty of utility, but it’s also fun to drive

After decades of acceptance, sedans and coupes are succumbing to utility vehicles, which have become preponderant in our driveways, parking lots and hearts. That’s why a small-but-growing segment of buyers are looking for something different.

Enter the 2017 Golf SportWagen, an antidote to the crush of crossover utility vehicles. Its compact dimensions aren’t much different from those of many diminutive utility vehicles. And like them, it offers 30.4 cubic feet of cargo; 66.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. And similarly, it’s powered by a fuel-efficient-butpeppy 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm.

The SportWagen is offered with frontwheel drive and a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. If you get it in the 4Motion all-wheel-drive trim, you can choose between a six-speed manual and dual-clutch automatic.

Like other Golfs, the SportWagen employs a fully independent suspension. Its handling is an impressive blend of ride compliance and agile handling, with quick steering, a responsive gearbox and enough power to keep a smile on your face.

After testing a SportWagen 4Motion, it’s obvious that what one might think is this model’s raison d’etre — tackling icy interstates — is just part of its prowess.

The SportWagen operates in front-wheel drive under most conditions. But when needed, the rear wheels engage. Once winter retreats, you’ll find this sweetheart precisely and confidently remarkable with a firm-but-not-jarring ride.

The interior is well-assembled, with supportive front bucket seats and generous leg room. The rear seats are firm and comfortably high. The cabin is hushed at highway speeds and its expansive glass ensures a good view out.

An easy-to-use 6.5-inch infotainment screen controls all sorts of smartphone and entertainment connectivity. The car also assists you in staying in your lane on the interstate, applies the brakes if it thinks you’re going to crash, warns you of vehicles in your blind spot, and helps you park.

Even better, it performs as well as any trucklet, but does so without blending into a sea of sameness.