The Volkswagen Amarok takes on the elements and wins

What a difference a day makes, right? One moment I'm taking the Amarok – or Big Blue, as it's come to be known – through the sunshine and the next, the country has been plunged into a snowstorm. That said, there could be worse vehicles to be driving when the roads get slippery.

But let's rewind. A few days before the 'Beast from the East' arrived, I'd chosen to take the Amarok for a quick dip in a nearby creek. Why, you may ask? Well, in truth I'd not really tried the truck out in anything nearing challenging conditions – save for a brief stint on a snowy road in the Brecon Beacons – and had been using it mainly on the road for commuting. With a capable four-wheel-drive system, differential lock and that big, strong V6 diesel powering the whole affair, this seemed like a waste of its considerable prowess on the rough stuff.