Caravan and motorhome club towcar of the Year Awards 2021
SEAT has scooped the top honour at the 39th Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year competition but there were also big wins for the all-electric Skoda Enyaq iV 80, Volvo V60 Recharge and SsangYong Musso Rhino. The judging took place at Millbrook Proving Ground’s demanding and unique track where 32 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% kerb weight 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, electric and plug-in hybrid categories.
Judges tested whether a car’s boot could swallow the bulky accessories normally needed on a caravan trip. They also measured the towball height, both solo and hitched up, and checked the towing information provided in the manufacturer’s handbook. The cars were then hitched up to caravans, ballasted to 85% of their kerbweight, or towing limit if lower. Using specialised apparatus the technical judges then measured the cars’ acceleration and braking capabilities.
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “With the rise in popularity of the staycation, it’s more important than ever that the Club continues to provide qualified and unbiased information for its one million members, to help them to find the right towcar for their needs.”
The complete winners’ line-up:
● Caravan Weight Under 1,100kg and Electric Vehicles: Skoda Enyaq iV 80 Lounge 82kWh
● Caravan Weight 1,100 – 1,200kg and Overall Winner: SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI 148bhp
● Caravan Weight 1,200 – 1,300kg: Volkswagen Golf R-Line 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
● Caravan Weight 1,300–1,400kg: Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ X-tronic
● Caravan Weight 1,400–1,500kg: Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line 2.0 TDI DSG Automatic
● Caravan Weight 1,500–1,700kg: Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin AWD
● Caravan Weight Over 1,700kg: Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
● Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles: Volvo V60 Recharge T6 AWD
● Family Towcar: Ford Kuga ST-Line X 2.0 EcoBlue MHEV
● Large Family Towcar: Ford S-Max ST-Line 2.5 Hybrid
● Pick-up: SsangYong Musso Rhino LWB Auto