The Volkswagen Golf may have started life as a small hatchback in the 1970s, but it evolved into a multi-model nameplate that included several variants over time. Many of them are no longer available, but the Golf spawned a wagon, minivan, convertible, and even raised crossover-like versions in the past. The first raised Golf was launched in 1989 as the Country and wasn't successful because crossovers weren't exactly popular back then. But the Russian folks at Kolesa think that the Golf Country would be popular in the modern era, so they put together a version based on the latest Golf Mk8.

The modern VW Golf Country would be a cool mini SUV

The idea behind the rendering is quite simple. The designer took the body of the Golf Mk.8 and transferred it on larger, off-road-ready wheels that also increase the car's ground clearance. Just like regular crossovers or the Alltrack model available a few years ago, the virtual Golf Country also sports black cladding around the wheel arches and along the side skirts.

It also features roof racks and a modified front bumper with sturdy protection against rocks. It looks menacing too, the kind of vehicle that would become popular in today's SUV-centered market.

However, it's unlikely that Volkswagen will actually build such a car. Instead, the Germans will focus on expanding their existing crossover lineup, which already includes small haulers like the T-Roc and the T-Cross.

The original Volkswagen Golf Country was short-lived

Introduced in 1989, the Golf Country was based on the second-generation Golf and was built in cooperation with Steyr in Austria. It came with 8.3 inches of ground clearance, four-wheel drive, a skid plate, and an externally-mounted spare wheel.

It was offered with a pair of 1.8-liter engines, usually available in the range-topping Golf models. Although it became somewhat popular in alpine regions in central Europe, the Golf Country didn't really catch on and production didn't resume when the hatchback was redesigned for 1993. Overall, Volkswagen produced less than 8,000 units in three years.