Towcar of the Year 2022

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CARS RATED INSIDE

Our experts assess entries in six weight classes

KAROQ STAR Škoda’s revamped SUV secures trio of victories

40th staging of the industry’s premier towcar competition

Supplement sponsored

by Bailey of Bristol

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023

KAROQ

STAR The all-singing, all-dancing Skoda Karoq emerged from the shadows to take the overall Towcar of the Year crown

SPONSOR MESSAGE

BEHIND US ALL THE WAY...

Caravan and motorhome manufacturer Bailey is extremely proud of its long association with the Club’s Towcar of the Year competition As the UK’s premier event of its type, this competition not only supplies caravan owners with important information on potential new towcars, but also provides a practical examination of Bailey’s product performance.

In addition to supplying the caravans used in the competition, the Bristol-based manufacturer fields a technical support team, which includes representatives from chassis manufacturer Al-Ko Kober, to work at the event.

During the exhaustive four-day test, the caravans are taken on several hundred circuits of 2 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

the Millbrook Proving Ground, consisting of many laps of the high-speed circular track and demanding hill route. Throughout this period, Bailey ensures that its caravans remain in a road-safe condition and that each unit is correctly matched to the relevant tow vehicle.

Working at Millbrook, Bailey has first-hand experience of the lengths to which the Caravan and Motorhome Club goes to ensure that each car entered in the competition is examined thoroughly and fairly. From the initial scrutineering, through the outfit preparation

stages, assessment of ‘caravanability’ and on to the actual driving/towing itself, every aspect of performance is tested rigorously to arrive at the final result.

Simon Howard, Marketing Director of Bailey of Bristol, said: “We have really enjoyed playing our part in this prestigious event over the past two decades. The collective effort which goes into ensuring every entrant is tested both thoroughly and fairly during the competition makes this the definitive guide for a potential new towcar purchase.” www.camc.com

T

he Škoda Karoq has long been a favourite with families looking for a practical and capable SUV, yet it had never registered significant success in the Club’s Towcar of the Year competition.

However, in the 2023 edition, the recently refreshed model – complete with new styling and technology, and a 2.0-litre diesel engine with four-wheel drive – claimed Class and Category victories as well as the overall title.

This year’s event was notable for the number of electric cars competing, and the EVs performed well against established petrol and diesel offerings. Meanwhile, SUVs lined

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up against estates and pick-ups, and even a traditional MPV was fielded.

As always, awards testing took place at the gruelling Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, with 24 cars assessed in weight ‘Classes’ depending on their towing limits. Each caravan was ballasted to 85% of the towcar’s kerbweight (or in accordance with the car’s maximum braked towing limit if that figure was lower) and put through its paces on a circuit that included an alpine-like hill route, five-lane high-speed bowl and braking/acceleration test.

The entrants were also rated for visibility

when reversing and practicality in our ‘caravanability’ tests.

Prizes were also presented in the following ‘Categories’: Family Towcars, Large Family Towcars, Plug-in Hybrids and Electric Vehicles.

Every one of the cars featured over the following pages has been extensively evaluated. For more information about each model, including technical data, please visit camc.com/towcar.

Note: Due to ongoing supply issues, members are encouraged to check with their local dealer for latest prices and availability of their chosen vehicle prior to visiting.

Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 3

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023

CONTENTS

CLASS 1 CARAVAN WEIGHT UNDER 1,200KG

CLASS 1

Caravan Weight Under 1,200kg – page 4

CLASS 2

Caravan Weight 1,200-1,300kg – page 5

CLASS 3

Caravan Weight 1,300-1,400kg – page 6

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CLASS 4

Caravan Weight 1,400-1,500kg – page 10

CLASS 5

Caravan Weight 1,500-1,700kg – page 12

CLASS 6

Caravan Weight over 1,700kg – page 14

Super-smooth power delivery and effortless torque

”

Class Winner VOLKSWAGEN

ID.5 STYLE 77 KWH PRO PERFORMANCE 204PS

£52,100* MODEL RANGE**: £49,735-£58,260 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,000KG

The brand-new ID.5, the coupe version of Volkswagen’s ID.4 SUV,

impressed the judges with its super-smooth power delivery, effortless torque, composed road manners and good stability on slow and fast roads. Despite the car’s sloping roofline, interior space was good and the ID.5’s boot easily accommodated the caravanability judges’ kit.

The car’s published 327-mile range will be more than good enough for most when driving unhitched, but this will drop significantly when towing.

Meanwhile, the ID.5’s slightly cheap-feeling interior and clunky infotainment system disappointed a little.

SEAT

LEON ESTATE 1.5 TSI EVO FR 150PS MANUAL

£30,970*

MODEL RANGE**: £23,500-£35,445 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,176KG

KEY INFORMATION *Price as assessed including towing equipment and options beneficial to towing. **Standard model price range. ***Based on 85% of cars kerbweight (Clubs recommended towing limit) or manufacturers towing limit – whichever figure is lower.

4 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

Last year’s winner of both this class and the overall Towcar of the Year gong disappointed in the 2023 competition. Despite having well-placed ratios, the gearbox felt clunky and the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine lacked torque in fourth and fifth gears. Nonetheless, the Leon’s large boot, sharp steering and an agile chassis impressed.

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CLASS 2 CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,200-1,300KG

HYUNDAI

KONA HYBRID ULTIMATE 1.6 GDI 141PS 6 SPEED DCT

£29,210*

MODEL RANGE**: £24,315-£29,615 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,233KG

The Hyundai KONA Hybrid has all the qualities required of a decent small towcar – efficient hybrid powertrain, punchy performance, smooth six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and a higher driving position

than a traditional supermini.

It makes for a relatively relaxed experience when driving unhitched, with good fuel economy, but it’s a different story when hitched. The KONA seemed overwhelmed on the steep sections of our test course, with signs of strain on the DCT gearbox and engine – it felt rather frantic at times. The additional electric power from the hybrid system made light work of the hill start, though.

Class Winner ŠKODA

ENYAQ IV 80X SPORTLINE

£48,375*

MODEL RANGE**: £38,480-£51,275 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,200KG

This was one of the most interesting classes this year, boasting mild-hybrid petrol, full-hybrid, diesel and fully electric competitors – and it was the EV that triumphed. The Enyaq iV offers a masterclass in current EV

technology, exhibiting a smooth and ultra-refined character when towing. An additional electric motor on the front axle makes the 80x four-wheel drive, and the extra traction while hitched helped both on twistier roads and the hill start.

At high speeds the Enyaq iV 80x is unflustered, there’s a massive boot and the interior quality is top-notch. The published 318-mile range will drop considerably when towing, though.

VOLKSWAGEN

T-ROC STYLE 2.0-LITRE TDI 150PS 7SPD DSG

£35,325*

MODEL RANGE**: £24,810-£41,750 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,237KG

Following a recent refresh of style and technology, Volkswagen’s popular T-Roc was expected to perform strongly in this class.

Despite having the same mechanical set-up as many of the cars in this year’s competition, the T-Roc felt decidedly sporty,

FORD

FOCUS ACTIVE VIGNALE ESTATE 1.0L ECOBOOST 155PS MHEV

£33,450*

MODEL RANGE**: £25,910-£37,710 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,233KG

Refreshed for 2022, the latest Ford Focus Estate showed it still had plenty of life in it. Judges across the board were bowled over by the breadth of ability, the caravanability judges remarking that the car’s

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with firm suspension and an agile chassis, which makes for a pretty fun-to-drive SUV when unhitched. The 2.0-litre TDI diesel is still a top performer, but that firm suspension made handling when towing on the twistier parts of the test route slightly skittish. Four-wheel drive would be desirable too, as the T-Roc’s wheels spun on the hill start. Interior refinement was disappointing, with high levels of road noise evident.

boot was so large there was room to spare. It was in the driving department where the Focus really shone, though, with the tiny 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine impressing. Punchy performance was on tap throughout the rev range, and the car was a good match for the caravan, showing off tremendous stability at all speeds. The trademark agile chassis and sharp, communicative steering was merely the icing on the cake.

Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 5

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023 CLASS 3 CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,300-1,400KG

Class Winner VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF ESTATE ALLTRACK 2.0-LITRE TDI 4MOTION 200PS 7SPD DSG

£39,425*

MODEL RANGE**: £26,690-£44,535 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,359KG

The Mk8 Golf continues its strong performance in Towcar of the Year. Last time around it was the hatchback in R-Line 2.0-litre TDI form that triumphed in the 1,200-1,300kg class; this year its larger sibling took the spoils in a higher weight class. Judges across the board were impressed by the car’s practical boot, great rear visibility and competent driving manners. The 2.0 TDI, here with 197bhp, is a great engine for towing, with bundles of torque, and the seven-speed DSG automatic box shifts smoothly. The Alltrack gets a 15mm increase in ride height, chunkier bumpers and four-wheel drive as standard which makes for comfortable and relaxed progress. The only gripes revolved around build quality, a slightly clunky infotainment system and a lack of physical heating controls.

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Combined petrol and electric power gave strong acceleration

”

HYUNDAI

TUCSON PREMIUM 1.6 T-GDI 265PS PLUG-IN HYBRID 6 SPD AUTO

£41,680*

MODEL RANGE**: £29,140-£43,880 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,350KG

One of the newest family-sized SUVs in this year’s competition, and it wears its sharp styling and minimalist interior well. This is the plug-in hybrid version, which has a combined 261bhp, four-wheel drive and can travel up to 38 miles on electricity alone. It made for a

6 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

decent towcar, with judges feeling the combined petrol and electric power gave strong acceleration.

Stability was good and, when ‘Sport’ mode was selected, the Tucson felt pretty entertaining to drive; in ‘Eco’ mode the car neatly prioritises EV power, too.

Negative marks were for a hesitant gearbox in ‘Eco’ mode and longer brake pedal travel than expected under heavier braking. Once the batteries were drained of electric, the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol felt a little bereft of punch when hitched.

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“

NISSAN

QASHQAI TEKNA+

The CVT gearbox is surprisingly polished

£36,856*

MODEL RANGE**: £26,045-£40,980 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,329KG

”

A caravanning favourite, the Nissan Qashqai won this class last year, however competition was fierce this time round. When it first arrived in 2007, the Qashqai essentially created the blueprint that all other family SUVs have followed; this latest iteration is still a good, all-round towcar.

We liked the large boot (which took all of our kit with ease) and the interior is finished to a high standard with plenty of soft leathers and plastics. It’s also much quieter and more refined than the previous model and the CVT gearbox with its fake ‘steps’ is surprisingly polished. Other cars in this class this year highlighted some of the Qashqai’s weaker points, namely sluggish motorway acceleration, floaty body control when hitched and firm suspension.

MEET THE TEAM

Selected from the world of motoring and caravanning journalism, our experienced judges put the towcar entries through their paces at the Millbrook Proving Ground. Heres a quick introduction...

Mark Sutcliffe – a regular Towcar judge and former editor of Which Caravan.

James Batchelor – freelance journalist, experienced road tester and presenter; James was previously on Auto Express magazine. Hes also the Clubs towcar reviewer.

Lee Davey – a road tester for numerous motoring titles, Lee raced nationally before switching to caravanning. He has towed in over 30 countries.

Technical judges – Greg Potter and Deborah Black from the Club’s Events Committee measured the cars’ acceleration and braking capabilities using specialised apparatus.

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Chris Rosamond – representing Auto Express, Chris is an experienced national motoring journalist.

Dan Cartwright – a passionate caravan advocate since 1989, Dan founded Caravan Times in 2010 and is its chief car tester.

Caravanability judges – Caroline and Keith Rogers spend hours checking whether each car will accommodate a typical caravanner’s kit, as well as access to such things as spare wheels, towing electrics and technical information.

Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 7

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023

Behind the scenes Towcar of the Year is a tightly run operation – here’s a taster of what goes on during the course of four gruelling days...

Clockwise from right: the cars are delivered; each caravan is ballasted correctly; judges Keith and Caroline Rogers at work; checking noseweights; out on the Millbrook circuit

8 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

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Power points Club Technical Manager Martin Spencer comments on trends in the towing and general car markets We had a really diverse entry list this year – petrol, diesel, mild, full and plug-in hybrids plus fully electric towcars. The fantastic news is that all are viable towcars; the challenge is they all have pros and cons.

The pace of improvement in EVs is impressive. While even the best are still most suited to relatively short-range towing (100-150 miles perhaps), their towing capability is tremendous. Arguably, the biggest issue now is the charging infrastructure when towing, not the capabilities of the best cars

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The electric Hyundai Ionic 5 made its Towcar debut

themselves. Around 14% of new cars sold this year have been EVs – I can foresee an electric overall Towcar of the Year winner before too long...

Hybrids in their various forms can make a good petrol or diesel towcar better still, improving efficiency and/or performance. They’re a compromise, though, adding complexity and

weight, with even the best only offering modest electric-only range. As a transitional choice before the arrival of an EV that you’re confident will fully meet your needs, however, they’re great. It's perhaps not surprising that over a third of new cars sold this year have been hybrids of some form.

In the mainstream car market, petrol cars (44% of new sales) now vastly outsell diesels (under 6% of new sales). Our sector’s not the mainstream, though, and for towing, diesel still offers desirable characteristics in terms of performance and economy. How much longer diesel will continue to be a viable choice for a new car is questionable, however. From 2024 on, the Government plans to force manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of cars with ‘significant zero-emission capability’, until new cars with only conventional petrol or diesel engines are banned from 2030. The demise of diesel is coming, but it’s not (quite) here yet, especially in terms of towing the heaviest caravans or coping with the longest of holiday journeys.

Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 9

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023 CLASS 4 CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,400-1,500KG

“

When hitched the Karoq is composed and well-mannered

”

Class Winner, Family Towcar Winner and overall Towcar of the Year ŠKODA

KAROQ SPORTLINE 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG 4X4 SCR

£39,860* MODEL RANGE**: £26,255-£38,515 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,408KG

The Škoda Karoq wowed our judges, claiming victories not only in this class and the Family Towcar category, but also clinching the overall title of Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023. Škoda has given the Karoq a makeover for 2022 with more modern

styling, and the list of standard equipment has been overhauled (all models get a digital display for the dials, for instance), helping to keep the family SUV remarkably fresh. When hitched the Karoq is composed and well-mannered. The 2.0-litre diesel engine gives useful

mid-range punch to maintain swift progress, and the four-wheel drive system means there’s plenty of traction at all times. Arguably just as importantly, with its big boot, quality cabin and roomy rear space, this car makes for an excellent unhitched daily driver.

FORD

KUGA ST-LINE X ED 2.5 DURATEC 190PS FHEV CVT

£38,936* MODEL RANGE**: £29,755-£40,155 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,446KG

The Ford Kuga FHEV (full hybrid electric vehicle) proved a solid performer. The Kuga now only comes in petrol, full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises – interestingly, the diesel was our Family Towcar winner last year, which shows you how quickly things change in the car business. This is a practical SUV with handy sliding and reclining rear seats, a decent-sized boot and easy-to-use tech. What’s more, it handles neatly.

However, the 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain is a little disappointing – it’s a bit bereft of torque, meaning acceleration is slightly sluggish.

10 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

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MAZDA

CX-5 2.5 194PS GT SPORT AWD AUTO

£39,726* MODEL RANGE**: £29,245-£40,505 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,475KG

For the most part the CX-5 is Mazda at its very best – attractive styling and a comfortable, well-made interior that’s boosted by intuitive tech. The fact that the CX-5 has handling that’s more

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hatchback than high-riding SUV is just the icing on the cake – it really steers and drives with aplomb. Judges also praised the roomy boot and how it coped with steep hill-starts. However, this CX-5 is let down by its engine, which lacked power. The 2.5-litre petrol has sluggish acceleration when hitched – on the test track’s highest and tightest corner, for example, the CX-5 struggled to get around it in second gear.

SUPERB ESTATE SPORTLINE PLUS 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

It really steers and drives with aplomb

£45,220*

MODEL RANGE**: £29,585-£45,855 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,411KG

”

VOLKSWAGEN

TIGUAN ALLSPACE LIFE 2.0 TDI 150PS 6SPD MANUAL

£37,740* MODEL RANGE**: £25,830-£46,220 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,465KG

While commended for being a decent family car that can double as a tow vehicle, the Tiguan Allspace was criticised for its bouncy ride and notchy six-speed manual gearbox, while the lack of four-wheel drive

The Škoda Superb Estate – a previous Towcar of the Year winner – may have missed out on top spot this time round but it’s a very compelling car, with an enormous boot, plenty of room for passengers, simple-to-use tech, a

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comfortable and very well-made interior, and, in this Sportline Plus trim in particular, stylish good looks.

Its credentials are boostedby excellent rear visibility when manoeuvring a caravan, easy access to caravan electrics and the fact it remained level when hitched. What let the Superb down was loss of traction on a hill-start – there was plenty of wheel spin on a 17% incline.

And the Superb is showing its age perhaps when it comes to handling, feeling just a little loose and floaty.

made the hill starts tricky. The 148bhp (150PS) 2.0-litre diesel was slow to accelerate, the car feeling very sluggish from the entry slip onto the high-speed bowl – a neat scenario of a motorway environment. The Tiguan was marked down last year for its boot, which couldn’t accommodate all our judges’ equipment. But the longer-wheelbase, seven-seater Tiguan Allspace tested this year impressed (in five-seat mode).

PREVIOUS WINNERS

A Citroën BX 16 TRS, similar to the first overall Towcar winner, made a visit to Millbrook this year, kindly driven to the event by proud owners Mr and Mrs Bowen.

ŠKODA

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Citroën BX 16 TRS Volvo 360 GLE Ford Sierra XR 4x4 Renault 21 GTS Vauxhall Senator 3.0i CD Vauxhall Cavalier SRi Vauxhall Cavalier 4x4 2.0i Rover 416 GTi 16v Volvo 940 SE Turbo Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4 Citroën Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Renault Laguna RT 2.0 Vauxhall Vectra 2.0i 16v Peugeot 406 GLX Dt 2.1 Citroën Xantia V6 Exclusive Audi A6 Avant 2.5 TDi SEAT Toledo V5

2001 Volkswagen Golf V6 4MOTION 2002 Peugeot 406 2.2 GTX HDi Est 2003 Škoda Superb V6 2.5 TDI Elegance 2004 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 2005 Mazda6 2.0-D Estate TS2 2006 Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XE 2007 Volvo V50 D5 Sport 2008 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Estate 2009 Škoda Superb 2.0 TDI 2010 Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI 2011 Škoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI CR 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG

2014 Škoda Superb Elegance Estate 2.2 TDI DSG 4x4 2015 SEAT Leon ST FR 2.0 TDI 2016 Land Rover Discovery HSE Lux 2017 Volkswagen Passat Estate Alltrack 2.0TDI SCR 4MOTION 2018 Škoda Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4x4 DSG 2019 Volvo XC60 D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design 2020 Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro 2021 Škoda Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG 2022 SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5TSI 150PS

Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 11

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023 CLASS 5 CARAVAN WEIGHT 1,500-1,700KG

Class Winner

“

An 80% recharge takes just 40 minutes

VOLVO

”

XC40 RECHARGE TWIN

£58,250* MODEL RANGE**: £45,750-£60,300 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,500KG

The pure-electric XC40 dazzled us last year… and the Swedish SUV has repeated the trick in this year’s competition. Here in dual-motor, all-wheel drive ‘Twin’ form, the XC40 immediately scores well for being an EV with a high towing weight capability. Factor in sparkling acceleration – 0-60mph took just 7.6 seconds when hitched, while 40-60mph took 3.4 seconds – tidy driving dynamics, a roomy and well-laid out interior and a spacious boot, and you can see why it took the class win. An 80% recharge takes just 40 minutes but, just like any other EV, that claimed 259-mile range will fall substantially when towing.

HYUNDAI

SANTA FE ULTIMATE HYBRID 1.6 T-GDI 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC 4WD

HYUNDAI

IONIQ 5 ULTIMATE 73 KWH RWD

£47,150* MODEL RANGE**: £41,650-£56,150 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,600KG

One of the most talked about electric cars to have launched in the past 12 months made its Towcar of the Year debut. Boasting plenty of

£48,760* interior space, the ultra-cool, sharply-styled Ioniq 5 made for a fine towcar, coping admirably with its caravan. Super smooth and plush driving manners added up to a refined experience. The only niggles were restricted rear visibility (that wedgy styling is to blame) and a handbrake that felt a little weak on the downhill hill-start.

12 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

MODEL RANGE**: £41,445-£49,910 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,650KG

Boasting loads of interior space and plenty of standard equipment, Hyundai’s poshest SUV got off to a flying start. Our caravanability judges noted that access to the spare wheel and tools was a doddle – and luggage

didn’t need to be removed (something that can’t be said for most of the cars in the competition). However, the Santa Fe really fell down in the driving tests with poor acceleration when hitched (despite the hybrid’s extra electric assistance, it took 15.4 seconds to get from 0-60mph) and a gearbox that couldn’t make up its mind at motorway speeds. The ride was particularly hard at low speeds while body control was wallowy at higher velocities.

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KIA

SPORTAGE 1.6 T-GDI ‘GT-LINE S’ HEV AUTO AWD

£42,707* MODEL RANGE**: £27,250-£44,550 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,522KG

With its all round appeal, the Kia Sportage has long been a caravanner’s favourite. This new, fourth-generation Sportage is the classiest of the lot, with daring styling and an interior that’s packed with the latest technology. And it’s still a great

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towcar. It’s easy to get into a good driving position, the front seats are tremendously supportive, there’s decent rear space and the boot is very spacious. It’s not the sportiest of SUVs to drive but it offers good stability at all speeds when hitched.

The ride is a touch firm but the car’s hybrid batteries play their part here.

The car prioritises EV driving when in ‘Eco’ mode and this works well – notably on the hill start as the electric motor 'fills in' the gap between the vehicle rolling and engine pulling.

Astonishingly quick, even when hitched

”

Electric Vehicles Winner POLESTAR 2

LONG RANGE DUAL MOTOR

£56,800* MODEL RANGE**: £43,150-£60,700 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,500KG

Polestar impressed during its first ever appearance at Towcar of the Year. Born out of Volvo, Polestar is a standalone Swedish electric performance brand.

Under the sleek, hatchback body lies the same platform and components as the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge. Its interior

is a delight to sit in, while the Google-based infotainment system is simple to use. With 400bhp, the Polestar 2 is astonishingly quick even when hitched – as evidenced by 7.5 seconds from 0-60mph and 3.3 seconds from 40-60mph – and it’s composed, quiet and razor sharp to drive. The only criticisms were slightly poor rear visibility and the fact that frameless door mirrors meant stick-on towing mirrors had to be used.

SEAT

TARRACO 2.0 TDI FR 200PS 4DRIVE DSG

£43,055* MODEL RANGE**: £30,785-£44,090 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,612KG

Peel away the SEAT bodywork and underneath you’ll find essentially the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.

Like the Volkswagen, the Tarraco is starting to feel its age just a little.

It’s still hugely competent, though, with space for seven in a solidly-built interior – and the combination of the Volkswagen Group’s 197bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel and seven-speed DSG gearbox is just as impressive here as it is in all other applications. For the most part, it’s smooth and refined, but the firm suspension struggled to maintain composure through twisty bends and at motorway speeds.

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Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 13

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023 CLASS 6 CARAVAN WEIGHT OVER 1,700KG

“

It scored high marks in virtually every area

”

Class Winner PORSCHE

CAYENNE E-HYBRID 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC S

£78,713* MODEL RANGE**: £63,700-£150,500 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,951KG

Porsche entered Towcar of the Year for the first time last year with the Cayenne E-Hybrid 8-speed Tiptronic S and promptly paraded off with a Class win – and it has repeated the feat this year. It scored high marks in virtually every area (including interior comfort,

technology, practicality and boot space), with only rear visibility letting the side down a little. In the driving department there are no surprises as it’s practically flawless. The E-Hybrid uses a 335bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 mated to a 100kW (134bhp) electric motor to give stunning performance. Leave the Cayenne in ‘Hybrid’ mode, and the car smoothly flits between petrol and electric power, while the sharp, well-weighted steering means the big Porsche is never unwieldy.

Large Family Towcar Winner

FORD

RANGER WILDTRAK 2.0 213PS 10 SPEED AUTO

£46,210* MODEL RANGE**: £30,640£54,940 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,909KG

Despite the advancing years there’s still much to like about the Ranger. Its 2.0-litre 210bhp (213PS) diesel engine feels powerful enough and the 10-speed gearbox is wellmatched. While it has a workmanlike feel, the Ranger is

VOLKSWAGEN

MULTIVAN STYLE 2.0-LITRE TSI 204PS 7SPD DSG

£59,153* MODEL RANGE**: £43,720£55,510 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,805KG

You might think multi-purpose vehicles – or MPVs – are mightily unfashionable these days.

However, Volkswagen still

14 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2023

nicely refined and feels sure-footed at all times – in fact, when hitched, it has better ride comfort and composure than many premium SUVs. The big Ford felt completely in charge of our large twin-axle caravan, and was as adept at being driven around Millbrook’s hill route as it was at cruising around the high-speed bowl. The only gripes were a slightly ‘spongy’ brake pedal feel and the fact the manual handbrake needed a hefty yank to prevent the outfit from rolling backwards on the hill-start.

believes in these most versatile of vehicles and the Multivan is proof of their worth. It replaces both the Sharan and Caravelle and offers van-like space with a car-like driving experience. Our judges all agreed that, for those who simply need bags of space in a towcar, the Multivan can’t be beaten. On the road and hitched-up, the front-wheel drive Multivan was impressively well-mannered.

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Plug-in Hybrid Winner VOLVO

V90 RECHARGE PLUG-IN HYBRID T6

£63,525* MODEL RANGE**: £44,725-£68,525 CARAVAN WEIGHT***: 1,782KG

Volvo’s largest estate car was shown up by its smaller V60 sibling last year, but there’s much to like about the V90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid. The big Volvo exhibits some traits shared by its predecessors, such as a slightly

floaty, wallowy ride when hitched, but there’s no doubt it is a supremely comfortable towcar, and therefore primed for long journeys. Performance, thanks to the petrol-electric hybrid set-up, is impressive in a straight-line, and the interior is a masterpiece in style, comfort and intuition; the updated Google-based tech is also very welcome. The V90 gets our Plug-in Hybrid category award on account of its impressive 53-mile pure electric range and polished power system.

Improve your skills with the Club Lee Davey outlines the towing courses available to newcomers as well as more experienced caravanners Whether you’ve just bought your first caravan or you’re an experienced tourer looking to improve your towing skills, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has a training course to suit your needs.

Aimed at first-time caravanners, the Practical Caravanning Course shows you how to hitch up and tow safely. Areas covered include easy and confident manoeuvring, curved reversing, loading, routine safety checks and the laws relating to caravanning. The course lasts 10 hours, over 1½ days. At the time of writing, the cost is £194 per person.

Aimed at more experienced caravanners, the shorter Caravan Manoeuvring Course (6½ hours, over a single day) concentrates on straight-line and curved reversing, as well as how to level a caravan. This course costs £164 per person.

I attended an event that included manoeuvring taster sessions from Club course instructors. As the cones were being laid out, Bernie, one of the instructors, asked my wife Helen if she’d like to be a ‘guinea pig’ on the temporary course. My wife had never towed our caravan and had zero experience, but with some useful pointers, she was soon reversing a caravan accurately. Knowledge is power, and although Helen spent less than an hour with the team, it showed how the correct instruction could give you skills that last a lifetime.

www.camc.com

The Club has a training course to suit your needs

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

n A driver’s licence. Since 16 December 2021, everyone with a car licence (category B) also has entitlement to drive heavier vehicle and trailer/caravan combinations (category BE) as well. That means you can tow any car/caravan combination that’s legal for use on UK roads with just a standard car licence.

If you passed your car test before 1997, you already had this right. n A car fitted with a towball and functional electrics. n Insurance cover for your towing vehicle.

You may need to advise your insurer that you intend to tow a caravan. n Towing mirrors.

WHAT DOES THE CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB PROVIDE?

n You don’t need to bring a caravan as one will be provided. The maximum weight of the supplied caravan is 650kg. If you don’t know the allowable towing capacity of your car, the Club’s Technical Advice service can help. n A copy of the Essential Guide to Touring, programme and information sheet about the training centre (advising on local accommodation and caravan sites). Plus, your booking confirmation. n A certificate will be presented when you complete the course.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Further details can be found at camc.com/training.

Towcar of the Year 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club 15

r a t s e Fiv e r u t n Adve

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