Volkswagen's new Golf R Estate a true automotive all-rounder

With its turbocharged engine, four-wheel drive, room for five and its cavernous load space, the Golf R Estate could be considered the automotive equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.

Announced on Tuesday on the eve of the LA Auto Show, the R Estate includes all of the incredible fun and performance that the hatchback offers, but in station wagon form.

So, under the subtly sloping hood is a 2-liter four-cylinder twin turbocharged engine that puts out 296bhp and a 0-62mph (100kph) time of 5.1 seconds. And that power is channeled to all four wheels for better handling, road holding and all-weather driving.

However, unlike the standard Golf, the estate offers 605 liters (262 liters more) load space and with the rear seats dropped that more than doubles to 1,620 liters.

The car has a number of driving set-up modes. So, when it's not being used to haul flat-pack furniture or to take the kids to school, it can be dropped into 'Race' mode -- which firms up suspension, weights the steering and alters gearshift speeds -- for some proper fun.

Inside, the seats are of the racing variety for extra support and are embroidered with the 'R' logo and finished in Alcantara. The dashboard gets ambient blue lighting for a sportier feel.

Although unveiled Tuesday, the Golf R Estate isn't expected to go on sale until summer 2015.