The Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021 & The Caravan and Motorhome Club Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021
08/12/2020
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021
A Superb Victory for Skoda… ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG takes the 2021 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year crown.
The 38th edition of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021 went virtual!
Information about new vehicles on the market is really important to the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s one-million members, along with others who tow as part of their hobbies or work.
Manufacturers submitted 40 cars which were evaluated and assessed by an independent panel of expert and knowledgeable judges who carried out full technical specification and vehicle towing capability reviews. “Caravanability” was carried out on each vehicle by evaluating boot load spaces (with the rear seats up and down), roof load limits, along with nose weight limits. The judges carefully researched the towing information presented in the vehicle handbooks and on manufacturers’ websites to check whether the vehicle is equipped with a full sized spare wheel as standard or if a space saver or puncture repair tin was provided instead.
Club members were also invited to share their thoughts and experiences about the vehicle entrants.
The 40 entrants were put into caravan weight categories – rather than being listed by price – to make it easier for buyers to know which cars could tow their caravans. Cars were entered into classes using their 85% kerbweight figure or by their towing limit, whichever was the lower. The competition had seven weight classes, two Family Towcar categories as well as Pick-Up and Alternatively Fuelled categories.
The entrants were then matched with caravans from Bailey of Bristol’s 2021 range with virtual loads, both in the car and the caravan, ensuring the vehicle’s other weight limits were not exceeded.
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “Caravan holidays have never been more popular and it’s important to the Club to make sure we provide relevant information to our members - and all those interested in touring and towing - on the vehicles that are available to them. The Club, with it’s 110+ years of experience, has worked with respected industry colleagues and journalists, all of whom are themselves caravanners, to bring together this invaluable set of data and information. The Club also offers a free technical advice helpline and training courses for those interested in starting out with the pastime.”
For more information visit: camc.com/towcar and make sure you visit a local dealer and book a test drive!
More about the category winners (full list of entrants at end of the release):
Caravan Weight Under 1100kg : Renault All-New Captur
Perfect for growing families (or grandparents) thanks to its class-leading total of three Isofix attachments and the added flexibility of a sliding rear seat. Its one litre engine has been married to a five speed manual gearbox, which should offer wider ratios and less gear-changing when towing on A roads.
Caravan Weight 1100–1200kg : SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI manual 150
A solid all-rounder. Estates are ideal for dog owners. Appealing design
Caravan Weight 1200–1300kg : ŠKODA Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
Outstanding MPG and all the practicality of an estate - an excellent choice. Latest version of an old favourite. Hard to fault if you prefer a traditional estate over an SUV.
Overall Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021 & Caravan Weight 1300–1400kg: ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
A regular in the Towcar Top 3, and this year’s Superb appears to be no exception. You can’t go wrong with one of these. If you want a large estate, the Superb has to be on your shortlist.
Caravan Weight 1400–1500kg : Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line Nav
A solid, no-nonsense performer that belies its sporty looks with outstanding caravanability qualities, such as its ability to take a 100kg load on the roof. Powerful, punchy engine, and it comes with an established nationwide support network for reassuring peace of mind.
Caravan Weight 1500–1700kg & Alternatively Fuelled : Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design
Delicious kerbweight, delicious economy, and pulls like a train. Capable of towing a large caravan, but with hybrid tech to enhance economy, especially when not towing.
Caravan Weight Over 1700kg & Family Towcar : Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design
One of the best combinations of astonishing power delivery, practicality, and a fair price tag for what you’re getting.
Large Family Towcar : Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG
Something of a leftfield choice perhaps, but a 'problem solver' of a car. If you need lots of space, versatility of seats vs payload carrying or hefty towing capability, there are plenty of choices around. If you need all three in a single car at the same time, the Caravelle should be on your shortlist.
Pick-Up : Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic
The best of both worlds: Refined driving experience and cabin, yet rugged enough to handle all manner of caravanning paraphernalia in the load bed. Multi-link rear suspension equates to a winning combination of towing stability and passenger comfort.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021
The Caravan and Motorhome Club has compiled the Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021 which is packed full of information about the latest and most innovative caravans. An independent, expert and knowledgeable panel carried out full technical specification, design, use of space and usability reviews of 74 new-to-market caravans. Brought to you by the trusted experts, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has compiled this guide, based on the important considerations when buying a caravan, to help provide the information you’ll need to help with your next caravan purchase. Make sure you visit your local caravan dealer and you’ll soon be heading off on your next adventure.
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “The Caravan and Motorhome Club is delighted to be able to present the 2021 Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide. The expert panel were rallied from the far corners of the UK to sift through huge volumes of data from websites, brochures, handbooks and entry forms from the comfort of their home office. Seventy-four new-season caravans were assessed on their bed sizes, kitchen equipment, layout, heating, security, payload and much more – trust me no stone was left unturned! This carefully considered guide will provide buyers with the particulars in making an informed decision when buying a new 2021 caravan, whether you are looking at a small, lightweight caravan to the larger 8-foot wide caravan or a 2-berth van for a couple to the larger family caravans. Be sure not to leave these choices off your buying shortlist.”
The Caravan and Motorhome Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021
Entry List and Star Rating
- Any Small Caravan (750kg - 1150kg MTPLM)
Bailey Phoenix+ 420 5.00 Stars
Bailey Discovery D4-2 4.50 Stars
Bailey Discovery D4-3 4.50 Stars
Swift Basecamp 2 4.50 Stars
Xplore 304 4.50 Stars
Xplore 422 4.50 Stars
Eriba Touring Familia 320 4.00 Stars
Eriba Touring Familia 310 60th Edition 3.50 Stars
Freedom Jetstream Twin Sport 3.50 Stars
Freecross Luxor 370 DD 3.50 Stars
Freecross Premium 330 DL 3.50 Stars
- Any Pop Top Caravan over 1150kg
Eriba Feeling 425 4.50 Stars
Eriba Touring Triton 430 60th Edition 4.00 Stars
Eriba Touring Troll 530 60th Edition 4.00 Stars
Eriba Touring Troll 530 Rockabilly 4.00 Stars
Eriba Touring Troll 530 Ocean Drive 4.00 Stars
Eriba Touring Troll 542 60th Edition 4.00 Stars
- Any Two-berth Caravans
Bailey Unicorn Black Edition Merida 5.00 Stars
Coachman VIP 460 5.00 Stars
Adria Altea 492DT Aire 4.50 Stars
Barefoot Caravans Barefoot Classic 4.50 Stars
Compass Casita 454 4.50 Stars
Elddis Avante 454 4.50 Stars
Swift Basecamp 2 4.50 Stars
Xplore 422 4.50 Stars
- Up to Four-berth Caravans
Adria Alpina Colorado 5.00 Stars
Coachman Laser 575 Xcel 5.00 Stars
Compass Camino 650 5.00 Stars
Elddis Crusader Borealis 5.00 Stars
Swift Challenger 580 5.00 Stars
Bailey Phoenix+ 440 4.50 Stars
Buccaneer Bermuda 4.50 Stars
Xplore 554 4.50 Stars
Eriba Nova Trend 590 4.00 Stars
- Up to Six-berth Caravans
Buccaneer Aruba 5.00 Stars
Coachman Acadia 860 Xcel 5.00 Stars
Xplore 586 5.00 Stars
Adria Adora 623DT Sava 4.50 Stars
Bailey Phoenix+ 650 4.50 Stars
Compass Casita 586 4.50 Stars
Elddis Avante 586 4.50 Stars
Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB 4.50 Stars
- Family Caravans
Bailey Alicanto Grande Estoril 5.00 Stars
Adria Altea Tyne 4.50 Stars
Coachman Acadia 830 Xcel 4.50 Stars
Buccaneer Barracuda 4.00 Stars
Compass Capiro 550 4.00 Stars
Elddis Avante 860 4.00 Stars
Eriba Nova Trend 530 4.00 Stars
Swift Challenger X 835 4.00 Stars
- Large Family Caravans
Adria Altea 622DK Avon 5.00 Stars
Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Turin 4.50 Stars
Buccaneer Aruba 4.50 Stars
Coachman Acadia 830 Xcel 4.50 Stars
Compass Casita 868 4.00 Stars
Elddis Avante 868 4.00 Stars
Eriba Nova Trend 555 4.00 Stars
Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB 4.00 Stars
- Any Caravan 8ft or more wide
Adria Alpina 623UC Mississippi 5.00 Stars
Bailey Alicanto Grande Faro 5.00 Stars
Buccaneer Cruiser 5.00 Stars
Swift Elegance Grande 845 5.00 Stars
Coachman Laser Xcel 875 4.50 Stars
Compass Casita 860 4.50 Stars
Elddis Avante 840 4.50 Stars
- Any Caravan with Dedicated Bed(s)
Adria Adora 623DT Isonzo 5.00 Stars
Buccaneer Commodore 5.00 Stars
Compass Capiro 574 5.00 Stars
Elddis Affinity 554 5.00 Stars
Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi 4.50 Stars
Coachman Laser Xcel 845 4.50 Stars
Eriba Nova Light 465 4.50 Stars
Swift Elegance 560 4.50 Stars
Xplore 554 4.50 Stars
Lomas continues, “The information from the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021, combined with the details in the Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide, provides invaluable help for caravanners to make an informed decision on their next car/caravan outfit*.”
For more information about the entrants in the Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021 visit camc.com/caravandesign.
For more information on the Caravan and Motorhome Club, please visit www.camc.com
Ends
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021
Entry List
Caravan Weight Under 1100kg
Ford Puma ST-Line X
Jaguar I Pace HSE
Renault All-New Captur
SEAT Arona SE Technology 1.0 TSI DSG 115
Caravan Weight 1100–1200kg
Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 N-Connecta Manual
SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI manual 150
Vauxhall Astra Hatchback Business Edition Nav
Caravan Weight 1200–1300kg
Mazda CX-30 Skyactiv-X 180ps AWD GT Sport Auto
ŠKODA Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
ŠKODA Karoq SE L 2.0 TDI 150PS 6 man
Dacia Duster Comfort Blue dCi 115 4x4
Caravan Weight 1300–1400kg
MG HS
Nissan X-Trail 1.3 DIG-T DCT 160PS 2WD Tekna
SEAT Ateca XPERIENCE Lux 2.0 TDI DSG 4DRIVE 150
SsangYong Korando Pioneer 1.6 Diesel Automatic 2WD
ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
Caravan Weight 1400–1500kg
MG HS Plug-in
Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line Nav
Caravan Weight 1500–1700kg
Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2.0 240PS AWD R-Sport
Isuzu D-MAX Utah
Kia All-New Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’
Kia All-New Sorento 1.6 T-GDi HEV ‘4’
Land Rover Range Rover Velar D180 R-Dynamic SE
Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D 184ps AWD GT Sport Auto
SEAT Tarraco XCELLENCE Lux 2.0 TSI DSG 4DRIVE 190
ŠKODA Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG 4X4
Volvo XC40 B5 (petrol) AWD R-Design
Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design
Volvo V60 B4 (diesel) AWD Cross Country
Volvo V90 B5 (diesel) AWD R-Design
Caravan Weight Over 1700kg
Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 300PS AWD Sport
Land Rover Defender 110 D240 SE
Land Rover Discovery SD4 Landmark
Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV P400e HSE
Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic
SsangYong Musso Rebel Auto
SsangYong Rexton ELX
Volkswagen Touareg Black Edition 3.0-litre V6 TDI 4MOTION 286PS 8spd auto
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG
Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design
Family Towcar
Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 300PS AWD Sport
Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2.0 240PS AWD R-Sport
Kia All-New Sorento 1.6 T-GDi HEV ‘4’
Kia All-New Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’
Land Rover Range Rover Velar D180 R-Dynamic SE
Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV P400e HSE
Land Rover Defender 110 D240 SE
Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D 184ps AWD GT Sport Auto
MG HS Plug-in
SEAT Tarraco XCELLENCE Lux 2.0 TSI DSG 4DRIVE 190
ŠKODA Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG 4X4
Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line Nav
Volkswagen Touareg Black Edition 3.0-litre V6 TDI 4MOTION 286PS 8spd auto
Volvo V60 B4 (diesel) AWD Cross Country
Volvo V90 B5 (diesel) AWD R-Design
Volvo XC40 B5 (petrol) AWD R-Design
Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design
Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design
Large Family Towcar
Land Rover Discovery SD4 Landmark
SsangYong Rexton ELX
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG
Pick-Up
Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic
SsangYong Musso Rebel Auto
Isuzu D-MAX Utah
Alternatively Fuelled
Ford Puma 1.0 mhev
Jaguar I Pace HSE
Kia All-New Sorento 1.6 T-GDi HEV ‘4’
Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV P400e HSE
MG HS Plug-in
Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design
Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design
The panel of experts:
Dan Cartwright - Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Judge
Dan has been a passionate caravan advocate since 1989, when as an eight year old child he spent a wonderful week in a 1950's Willerby Wisp. Dan founded CaravanTimes in 2010 and has been there ever since. Dan is also a self confessed petrol head and has been chief car tester and motorbike journalist at CaravanTimes since it started.
Andrew Ditton - Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Judge and Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide assessor
A Club member since 1987, Andrew has been towing his own caravan since he was 17 years old. Since then, he has towed a variety of outfits many thousands of miles. As former Tow Car Tester for Caravan Magazine, he brings a wealth of practical hands-on experience to the judging panel.
Lesley Harris - Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Judge
Having spent 23 years being part of the road test team for one of Britain’s biggest car magazines – Lesley became a driving judge for the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year competition in 2007. Since then Lesley has happily continued to be a driving judge and also now writes the monthly test reviews for the Club magazine.
Mark Sutcliffe - Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Judge and Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide assessor
Mark Sutcliffe is an experienced motoring, travel and touring journalist with extensive experience of towing in the UK and overseas. A regular member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year judging team for over a decade, he is a former editor of ‘Which Caravan’ and a regular contributor to the Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine.
Martin Spencer - Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Judge
A degree-qualified engineer, Martin’s been Club Technical Manager for 22 years overseeing practical advice for members while undertaking extensive industry engagement, government consultations and work on national/international standards development. His knowledge is underpinned by caravanning since the age of seven around most of the UK and Western Europe, and most recently motorhoming in Australia.
Sammy Faircloth - Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide assessor
Sammy Faircloth comes from a family of devoted caravan enthusiasts and loves nothing more than touring with her family in the UK and abroad. For the last six years she has written for the Caravan and Motorhome Club magazine and more recently joined the judging panel. Her passion is her caravan and the great outdoors!
Julie Wootton - Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide assessor
Julie caravanned with her parents as a young child, and with her husband Mike has been a Club member for over 20 years. She regularly attends rallies and enjoys staying on sites and CLs across the network. Julie is a keen Centre member serving on Committees in the past and has been a member of the Events Committee since 2015.
