Winners of Towcar of the Year Awards 2021

Winners of Towcar of the Year Awards 2021

Class winners for Towcar of the Year Awards 2020

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ŠKODA takes the crown as best Towcar of the Year 2021

The ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG has won this year’s overall trophy and also triumphed in the Caravan Weight 1300kg - 1400kg category in the 38th Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year competition.

 

ŠKODA Superb Estate

✔ 5-door Estate

✔ ŠKODA auto retractable towbar

✔ Front-wheel drive

✔ Caravan weight: 1382kg

✔ From £26,135

FIND OUT MORE >>

Renault All-New Captur

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Caravan Weight under 1100kg


Judges' comments:

"Most suitable for young family given 3 ISOFIX. 5 speed box will help make most of 1 litre engine towing on A roads"

See Renault All-New Captur statistics

5 door SUV, SIARR-Westfalia fixed swan neck towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Petrol (46.3mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 3
  • Size of engine in cc: 999cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 5, manual
  • Power: Front wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 100@5000
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 118@2750

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1265
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 1751
  • Caravan (kg): 1075
  • Noseweight (kg): 75

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £18,880 - £31,495
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £21,720 includes £425 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £515
  • Insurance group: 8
  • CO2 g /km: 46.3
  • Towable with B licence: Yes
  • ISOFIX mountings: 3 Isofix points - two in the back and one in the front.

SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI manual 150

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Caravan Weight 1100 - 1200kg

 

Judges' comments:

"A solid all-rounder. Estates are ideal for dog owners."

See 2021 SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI manual 150 statistics

5 door estate, A50-X retractable towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Petrol (44.1-48.7 WLTP)
  • No of cylinders: In-line 4 cylinder
  • Size of engine in cc: 1498cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 6, manual
  • Power: Front wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 148@5000-6000 rpm
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 184@1500-3500 rpm

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1374
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 1960
  • Caravan (kg): 1168
  • Noseweight (kg): 80

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £16,675 - £37,445
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £26,555 includes £700 charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £515
  • Insurance group: 21E
  • CO2 g /km: 133
  • Towable with B licence: Yes with braked towing limit of 1500kg
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 Isofix points on the outer rear seats

ŠKODA Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Caravan Weight 1200 - 1300kg



Judges' comments:

"Outstanding MPG and all the practicality of an estate - an excellent choice"

See ŠKODA Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG statistics

5 door Estate, ŠKODA auto retractable towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Diesel (64.2)
  • No of cylinders: 4 inline
  • Size of engine in cc: 1968cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: Automatic DSG
  • Power: Front wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 148@3000-4200
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 266@1600-2750

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1487
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2070
  • Caravan (kg): 1264
  • Noseweight (kg): 80

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £21,945 - £29,135
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £31,090 includes £955 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £840
  • Insurance group: 19E
  • CO2 g /km: 140
  • Towable with B licence: Yes
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 connectors on the child seat which snap into two ISOFIX slots, situated between the seat cushion and the backrest, that are firmly attached to the vehicle body.

ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

winners icon towcar

Overall winner:
Towcar of the Year 2021
(Caravan Weight 1300kg - 1400kg)

 

Judges' comments:

"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."

See ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG statistics

5 door estate, ŠKODA auto retractable towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Diesel (64.2)
  • No of cylinders: 4 inline
  • Size of engine in cc: 1968cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: Automatic DSG
  • Power: Front wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 148@3000-4200
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 266@1700-2750

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1626
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2232
  • Caravan (kg): 1382
  • Noseweight (kg): 90

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £26,135 - £42,100
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £35,265 includes £820 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £840
  • Insurance group: 22E
  • CO2 g /km: 163
  • Towable with B licence: B licence possible (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 1268kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 3 Isofix points

Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Caravan Weight 1500 - 1700kg
Best Alternative Fuel


Judges' comments:

"Delicious kerbweight, delicious economy, and pulls like a train. What’s not to like?"

See Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design statistics

5 door SUV, Volvo retractable towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Petrol-electric hybrid (117.7-134.5 mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 3 In-line
  • Size of engine in cc: 1477cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: Automatic Direct-shift
  • Power: Front wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 177@5800 (and 81bhp electric motor)
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 195@1500-3000 (and 118lb/ft electric motor)

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1812
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2290
  • Caravan (kg): 1540
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £25,420 - £42,430
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £42,730 includes £1,125 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £590 (vehicle cost exceeds £40,000)
  • Insurance group: 32E
  • CO2 g /km: 47-55
  • Towable with B licence: B licence possible (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 1210kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 poss 3 at the rear with option front

Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Caravan Weight over 1700kg
Best Family Towcar

 

Judges' comments:

"One of the best combinations of astonishing power delivery, practicality, and a fair price tag for what you’re getting"

See Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design statistics

5 door estate, Volvo retractable towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Petrol-electric hybrid (134.5-156.9mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 4 inline
  • Size of engine in cc: 1969cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: Automatic Torque-converter
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 249@5500 (and 86bhp electric motor)
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 295@2200-4800 (and 177lb ft electric motor)

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2075
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2550
  • Caravan (kg): 1764
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £34,420 - £51,530
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £46,355 includes £1,125 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £590 (vehicle exceeds £40,000)
  • Insurance group: 42E
  • CO2 g /km: 1-46
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 950kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 points

Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Best Pick-Up

 

Judges' comments:

The best of both worlds: Refined driving experience and cabin, yet rugged enough to handle all manner of caravanning paraphernalia in the load bed."

See Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic statistics

4 door pick up, Nissan-fitted fixed towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Diesel (38.2 mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 4 / in-line
  • Size of engine in cc: 2299cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: automatic
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 187@3750
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 332@3750

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2135
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 3250
  • Caravan (kg): 1815
  • Noseweight (kg): 140

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £26,820 - £39,170
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £39,747 includes £577 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £795
  • Insurance group: 41E
  • CO2 g /km: 194
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 250kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 Isofix points

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Best Large Family Towcar



Judges' comments:

"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"

See Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG statistics

5 door MPV, Volkswagen detachable towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Diesel (33.9 - WLTP mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 1968cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: Automatic DSG
  • Power: Front wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 196@3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 331@1400-2400

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2419
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 3080
  • Caravan (kg): 2056
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £50,361 - £60,468
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £56,337.00 includes £1,680 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £780
  • Insurance group: 31E
  • CO2 g /km: 219
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 420kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 4 points

If you’re looking to buy a new towcar yourself, make sure you check out our handy towcar buyer’s guide. Offering advice on everything from licences to what caravans you’ll be able to tow, our guide will ensure you’re well-equipped with all the information you need before making a purchase. Those looking for caravans may also benefit from our car and caravan matching service – a handy tool for all the tourers out there.

See our past Towcar of the Year winners

ŠKODA Karoq Sportline, Towcar, Towcar of the Year, 2023, Vehicle, Car
SEAT Leon
Skoda driving through industrial area
Blue Volvo parked on grass
Blue Volvo parked on a racing track
Winner of TCOTY 2018 ŠKODA Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4x4 DSG 190PS
Red VW parked in front of two caravans
Grey Land Rover towing a caravan with trees in background