Choosing the best towcar
No matter what you want to tow, you'll be able to find the right car among the Caravan Club's recommended Towcars of the Year

The 43 entrants were split into seven price classes and two weight categories, and they were judged not just on their abilities as towcars – with a test route that included tight and twisty ‘country lanes’, hill stops and starts, and reversing tests – but also on what the judges termed their ‘caravanability’. That included everything from how easy it is to hook it up to whatever you’re towing, and how much room there is inside for luggage.


Our experts rate the car’s sharp handling and its good looks, but it’s not all good news: the interior isn’t great, and the refinement leaves quite a bit to be desired, while the running costs aren’t quite as keen as the initial purchase price. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


The Captur has long been one of our favourite small SUVs, and our experts are big fans of its spacious interior and good drive. Buyers will also appreciate the many opportunities to personalise their car and the low running costs. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


In all honesty, our experts aren’t quite as impressed with the Jetta – although they too recognise how much space there is on board for people and passengers – as there are a few too many areas in which it’s a little disappointing. The quality of the interior, for example, doesn’t match that of other VWs, while it’s not as good to drive as other, more modern VWs. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


Our experts have also long been fans of the family-friendly Octavia, and especially its huge – and easy-to-use – boot. The basic Octavia is a fine drive, but the beauty of this four-wheel drive version is that not only does it bring welcome extra traction, it also gets a more sophisticated suspension that gives an even more comfortable ride. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


As an aside, it’s worth mentioning that Volkswagen also took home the ‘Judges Award for Innovation’, for its excellent ‘Trailer Assist’ feature, which allows you to reverse the car and trailer using only the door mirror controls and the accelerator pedal. Our experts, too, are big fans of VW’s biggest estate car, with its subtly elegant good looks clothing a genuinely spacious interior that’s beautifully assembled from high-quality materials. The way it drives is equally family-friendly, with a focus on comfort and refinement, as well as offering a fine range of engines and surprisingly low running costs. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


Our experts warn that the R-Line model that Caravan Club testers drove has lower, sportier suspension that gives a firmer ride – indeed, overall, the Touareg isn’t the best car to drive in its class – but there’s no question that it’s up with the very best when it comes to space and practicality; and, it’s also a bit cheaper to buy than many similarly sized SUVs with more premium badges. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


The Land Rover Discovery completed this test with ease, landing a class win, a category win and the overall Towcar of the Year Award. The judges said it had ‘rock-solid stability’, great all-round visibility and a colossal amount of luggage space. With a generous 150kg noseweight limit, self-levelling and height-adjustable suspension and a full-size spare wheel, the Discovery is well deserving of this title. The judges also appreciated the car’s superb performance on the hill start, and the fact that it is available with a handy TowAssist guidance system. As far as our experts are concerned, the Discovery is one of the best big 4x4s, with all the practicality and versatility that any family could ever need. It’s also comfortable and luxurious on the road, as well as being pretty unstoppable off-road. Granted, it’s not cheap, but it’s worth the money; and, if it were a little stronger on reliability and safety, it might even be perfect. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds


Volkswagen also took the Judges’ Award for Innovation for its fantastic ‘Trailer Assist’ system, which allows the driver to reverse the car and trailer into position by simply adjusting the door mirror control and operating the throttle. Expert review | Owner reviews | Find one in our classifieds