Bailey of Bristol proudly supports The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year, and I’ve chosen four models with different characteristics from the extensive list of previous winners. I’ll be looking at a family-sized estate car, a behemoth with a towing limit to match, a nearly new electric car, and a myth-busting vehicle that proves a 1200cc engine can easily tow a caravan.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year page contains winners from previous years, with the vehicles listed below heralding from 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2024. All of the cars have been scrutinised by industry professionals, including towing ability, weights carried, luggage space, etc. It’s worth noting that the performance figures shown are measured while towing a suitably matched caravan, not while being driven solo.

Volkswagen’s TDI and DSG combinations have always fared well at Towcar competitions thanks to torquey engines and slick gearbox ratios that are great for towing. Add these ingredients to a well-specified Skoda platform, and you have a recipe for success. Reaching for my bag of car review cliches, the Superb is a great all-rounder, whether it’s delivering the kids to school, commuting to work, or caravanning at the weekend. What’s more, a 2014 Skoda Superb offers excellent value for money.

Performance

• Power: 168bhp @ 4200rpm
• Torque: 258lb/ft @ 1750-2500rpm
• 40 – 60mph acceleration (towing a caravan): 9.0 seconds

Weights

• Kerb weight: 1581kg
• Caravan weight (85% of kerb weight): 1344kg
• Noseweight: 80kg

Maximum towing limit (from Towcar.info): 1800-2000kg

Price when new: £30,614

I found this car on the Autotrader website:

2014(64) Skoda Superb 2.0TDi Elegance DSG 4WD. 73,000 miles with service history. £8495

Although I drove the 308 nine years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. The 1.2 badge gave me a sinking feeling before I started the engine – but how wrong I was. It may not be designed to tow a twin-axle Bailey Alicanto but hitch a 1000kg Bailey Discovery, and you’ll be amazed at how strong the engine feels and how stable it is at motorway speeds. Sections of Millbrook’s Alpine Route can punish cars with lesser power outputs, but this car excelled in all areas—a real myth-buster.

Performance

• Power: 130bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque: 140bhp @ 1500rpm
• 40 – 60mph acceleration (towing a caravan): 11.85 seconds

Weights

• Kerb weight: 1190kg
• Gross vehicle: 1840kg
• Caravan weight (85% of kerb weight): 1012kg
• Noseweight: 71kg

Maximum towing limit (from Towcar.info): 1200kg

Price when new: £19,388

I found this car on the Autotrader website: 2015 (15) Peugeot 308SW 1.2 PureTech Allure. 68,000 miles. £7695

Volkswagen’s Touareg aims to steal the tow car crown from Land Rover’s Discovery thanks to a platform that offers surefooted stability when towing the largest of caravans. When new, the price tag and options list are best described as chunky, although a well-maintained example offers outstanding value for money in the used marketplace. What’s more, you’ll rarely get stuck in the rally field.

Performance

• Power: 258bhp @ 3800-4000rpm
• Torque: 428lb/ft @ 1750-2500rpm
• 40 – 60mph acceleration (while towing a caravan): 7 seconds

Weights

• Kerb weight: 2185kg
• Gross vehicle weight: 2880kg
• Caravan weight (85% of kerb weight): 1857kg
• Noseweight: 100kg

Maximum towing limit (from Towcar.info): 3500kg

Price when new: £48,405

I found this car on the Autotrader website:

2016 (65) Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI V6 BlueMotion Tech R-Line Tiptronic. 85,000 miles with full service history. £15,895

Nissan’s Ariya impressed the judging panel with its exceptional towing manners and turbine-like power delivery. Sure, EV range can’t quite compete with the range from a diesel or petrol vehicle, but viewed from the perspective of where electric vehicles are at present, it’s reassuring to know that pure electric cars tow with ease. EVs tend to weigh more than the equivalent diesel or petrol vehicle; hence, the caravan towed reflected the towing limit, not the 85% towing guideline. Also, the secondhand Ariya listed may offer an £18,000 saving compared to a new model, but it still exceeds £40,000. However, it makes a fantastic tow car for folks looking at an electric vehicle due to tax allowances and/or company car schemes.

Performance

• Power: 301bhp
• Torque: 221lb/ft
• 40 – 60mph acceleration (towing a caravan): 4.5 seconds

Weights for towing

• Kerb weight: 2297kg
• Gross vehicle: 2665kg
• Caravan: 1500kg
• Noseweight: 75kg

Maximum towing limit: 1500kg

Price when new: £61,540

I found this car on the Autotrader website:

2023 (23) Nissan ARIYA 87kWh Evolve e-4ORCE. 9500 miles with full service history. £43,295