Handy, inexpensive and enjoyable; it’s no shock caravan holidays are booming. Hitching a cellular vacation residence to the household automobile and heading for wherever you fancy is a actuality for extra folks within the UK than ever. However in a quickly altering motoring panorama, it is exhausting to know which fashions are the perfect tow automobiles to purchase.
Fortunately the Caravan and Motorhome Membership (CMC) Towcar Awards are right here to assist. You might discover one thing totally different in regards to the awards this 12 months, although. The judges definitely did when confronted by a roster of awards contenders that included 9 pure EVs.
The widespread considering was once that electrical automobiles and caravanning don’t combine, with the same old angst expressed over vary and charger anxiousness magnified due to elevated energy consumption and a scarcity of appropriate chargepoints when towing. However perceptions are altering, and as Nick Lomas, Director Basic of the CMC, identified, this 12 months’s competitors demonstrates simply how significantly automobile makers are taking the world of towing with an electrified car.
“Leisure-vehicle holidays are in nice demand and the Membership prides itself on being the trusted specialists for tourers,” he stated. “It’s vital that we’re capable of present skilled, certified and unbiased data to assist all those that plan to tow.” We couldn’t agree extra, as a result of Auto Specific has a seat on the panel of Membership driving judges, so we’re a part of the staff that places automobiles and caravan mixtures via their paces on the Millbrook proving floor.
The exams cowl hill begins, dealing with, manoeuvrability, acceleration, braking and stability, plus efficiency and distinctive ‘caravanability’ assessments for practicality – all within the pursuit of naming a Tow automobile of the 12 months champion.
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Platinum Version
Total Tow automobile of the 12 months and Class winner: Caravan Weight Over 1,700kg
- Kerbweight: 2,500kg
- Noseweight: 140kg
- Caravan weight (as examined): 2,125kg
- Max towing capability (braked): 3,500kg
- Value (as examined): £78,710
The Porsche Cayenne has all the time been a powerful tow automobile, and it’s come very near clinching the Membership’s extremely vaunted Tow automobile of The 12 months award in earlier years.
The most recent plug-in E-Hybrid combines a petroleum V6 with a battery and motor for 456bhp, giving drivers 0-62mph in 5 seconds, a 157mph high velocity, plus the choice of driving as much as 22 miles in electric-only mode and ‘actual world’ mpg within the mid-30s. That’s not fairly diesel effectivity, but it surely’s cleaner for metropolis driving, and in case you’re responsible for firm automobile tax, you’ll save a packet on Profit-in-Form.
The battery and motor add 300kg to the all-up weight, however from a towing perspective that arguably makes the Cayenne an much more secure platform. Porsche’s chassis-control system builds on this to offer exemplary experience and dealing with in all circumstances, even when outfitted with a big caravan and pushed at velocity (though the two,125kg Bailey van used on Membership exams is a way wanting the Cayenne’s 3,500kg restrict).
As a towing package deal or household all-rounder, it truly is troublesome to fault the Cayenne, aside maybe from its value, which may simply escalate additional in case you’re tempted by choices. The automobile has all the time been costly, however one factor that’s modified is the emergence of a spread of electrical rivals which have moved the pricing goalposts. When a Nissan SUV prices the perfect a part of £62k, pushing the boat out for the Porsche will get a bit of simpler – particularly in case you’re occupied with getting a reimbursement at resale time.
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However actually all it’s essential to do to need the Porsche is drive it, as a result of the standard of design, engineering and execution shines via in each facet of its efficiency. It’s the last word tow automobile, for positive.
What the judges stated: The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid scores high marks in nearly each space, and was significantly famous for its agile dealing with and the way it retains its caravan secure at high and low speeds. A superbly made inside, spacious again seats and top-notch tech are the icing on the cake, whereas the caravanability judges like how the boot takes all of their check gear, in addition to the automobile’s cumbersome charging-cable luggage.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz 204PS 77kWh Professional Type
Class winner: Caravan Weight As much as 1,100kg
- Kerbweight: 2,502kg
- Noseweight: 100kg
- Caravan weight (as examined): 1,000kg
- Max towing capability (braked): 1,000kg
- Value (as examined): £64,885
You can’t argue that the ID. Buzz gained’t look the half on a campsite, with its retro-inspired type an apparent throwback to basic – and nonetheless wildly standard – VW vans of yesteryear.
It’s clearly going to be successful with style-conscious patrons, and after we examined the ID. Buzz by itself at Auto Specific we declared it “arguably essentially the most convincing electrical automobile from the corporate but”, so there’s extra to its efficiency than meets the attention.
The value tag would be the greatest impediment for a lot of potential patrons, as a result of the ID. Buzz isn’t low cost – regardless of the truth that it shares an MEB platform with the likes of the VW ID.3 hatchback. Many devoted caravanners may also be disenchanted with the very restricted towing capability for a car of this measurement, too, however the upside is that the ID. Buzz makes significantly gentle work of no matter you hitch as much as it inside the allowed parameters.
The 201bhp rear-mounted motor affords seamless, easy acceleration, whereas the car’s appreciable mass is ready low down, because of the underfloor 77kWh battery, aiding general stability.
On high of that, the ID. Buzz’s boxy, van-derived strains with twin sliding rear passenger doorways and big tailgate, plus comfortable twin captain’s chairs up entrance, make it a perfectly sensible MPV.
What the judges stated: The ID. Buzz was praised for its smoothness, visibility, massive inside house and common feel-good issue. This retro electrical bus, hitched to a small caravan, will probably be an excellent car at festivals and household campsites. The claimed 251-mile electrical vary will probably be good for many when unhitched, too. VW’s fashionable interpretation of the basic Kind 2 bus has been a very long time coming, but it surely has definitely been well worth the wait.
Skoda Enyaq Coupé iV 82kWh vRS
Class winner: Caravan Weight 1,100kg-1,300kg
- Kerbweight: 2,307kg
- Noseweight: 75kg
- Caravan weight (as examined): 1,200kg
- Max towing capability (braked): 1,200kg
- Value (as examined): £55,865
Skoda’s Coupé model of its Enyaq SUV is at its greatest in inexpensive, much less highly effective variants than this ‘sporty’ vRS mannequin, and we’ve stated the automobile is extra snug when pushed at a relaxed tempo. That is the best strategy to towing, too, and mockingly that’s when the ability of the vRS’s 294bhp twin motors comes into its personal.
As with many EVs, the utmost allowable towing weight for the Enyaq Coupé seems restricted, no less than in comparison with petrol and diesel rivals. That can clearly hamper the automobile’s possibilities for anybody with an even bigger towing requirement – which usually will embrace many individuals considering spending a sizeable chunk of money on a mid-size SUV equivalent to this. However for anybody with a comparatively light-weight caravan behavior and a sizeable funds, the vRS is an undoubtedly interesting alternative.
The Skoda’s commonplace four-wheel drive is a gorgeous configuration for starters, and the automobile’s mixture of a excessive kerbweight and low centre of gravity means it feels beautifully secure on the street, even when hitched. The quoted vary of as much as 309 miles (unhitched) means the automobile ought to be as much as assembly the towing necessities of many drivers, too.
If the numbers stack up, anybody selecting the Skoda will likely benefit from the improved cabin atmosphere in contrast with VW’s rival ID.5 SUV, which is just about the identical automobile beneath the pores and skin, but manages to really feel cheaper and fewer luxurious than the value-focused Skoda. You don’t lose a lot boot house choosing the extra fashionable Coupé, both, with only a 15-litre penalty quoted.
What the judges stated: Skoda’s all-electric Enyaq has gained numerous Caravan and Motorhome Membership Towcar awards lately, and the model continues to increase its providing. The Coupé vRS contains a totally different design from the common SUV mannequin; it’s extra fashionable and aerodynamic. This being a vRS, it has additional efficiency – 294bhp from twin electrical motors. Excellent high quality and cozy sports activities seats up entrance sealed the win.
Skoda Octavia Property 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG SE L
Class winner: Caravan Weight 1,300kg-1,500kg
- Kerbweight: 1,577kg
- Noseweight: 80kg
- Caravan weight (as examined): 1,340kg
- Max towing capability (braked): 1,600kg
- Value (as examined): £35,535
Skoda’s Octavia Property repeatedly wins plaudits from our testers, who say it’s troublesome to fault as an all-round, do-it-all household automobile.
The most recent Caravan and Motorhome Membership exams show, but once more, that towing is among the Octavia’s strengths, too, particularly on this punchy 2.0-litre turbodiesel type. Certainly, coupled with the VW Group’s now ubiquitous DSG computerized gearbox, this consequence reinforces the standard enchantment of the diesel-auto configuration beloved of caravanners for years, and the win ought to present consolation to traditionalists not but prepared for a transition to EVs.
The 148bhp Property in SE L trim is comparatively costly for an Octavia, but it surely appears to be like more and more good worth while you begin evaluating costs with EV rivals. The most recent model has certainly one of Skoda’s greatest interiors but, with a chic sophistication that many would contemplate ‘premium’, and it actually wouldn’t look misplaced with an Audi badge on the steering wheel.
Whereas two-wheel drive and a decrease kerbweight than battery-powered rivals imply the Octavia affords much less traction in sure circumstances, equivalent to difficult hill begins, in different respects the efficiency when hitched is exemplary. Diesel economic system means drivers will probably be glad even with a heavy tow. The load capability is difficult to beat, too, including to its compelling nature as household transport.
What the judges stated: The Skoda’s 2.0-litre diesel engine and the seven-speed dual-clutch computerized DSG gearbox present loads of torque, acceleration and smoothness. The experience is nice and the inside is a snug place to be. The Octavia picked up additional factors for its wonderful rear visibility in the course of the curved reversing check, and the massive boot’s skill to take enormous quantities of bags and tools will increase the automobile’s enchantment for the typical household.
Polestar 2 Lengthy Vary Single Motor
Class winner: Caravan Weight 1,500kg- 1,700kg
- Kerbweight: 2,069kg
- Noseweight: 90kg
- Caravan weight (as examined): 1,500kg
- Max towing capability (braked): 1,500kg
- Value (as examined): £46,050
One of the largest deterrents for anybody shopping for an EV to tow is how driving vary is affected by the additional frontage of a caravan. EVs don’t usually fall quick in relation to the ability required to beat further aerodynamic drag, but it surely takes a variety of power – which is the place the 400-mile quoted vary for this variant of the Polestar 2 hatch might make all of the distinction.
In contrast with many present SUVs, the Polestar appears a compromised alternative in different methods, and in relation to visibility, it’s true that the smooth five-door can’t match the views supplied by high-riding rivals. However many seasoned caravanners have been fortunately driving hatchbacks for years, and arguably extra importantly for them is that the Membership check staff discovered the Polestar’s massive boot simply swallowed the check load, and with room to spare. The Polestar carried out extraordinarily properly in dynamic exams, too, making gentle work of the difficult hill check routes and providing spectacular stability each in quicker cornering and when altering lanes on the high-speed bowl. That’s all of the extra spectacular contemplating that the Polestar’s towing weight is greater than that of many EV rivals, too.
Elsewhere, the Polestar’s many constructive attributes ought to be acquainted to Auto Specific readers. That features being enjoyable to drive, though one trade-off is damping that some might discover a bit of too agency. The Polestar comes into its personal at a cruise on the motorway, although, the place issues appear to quiet down and you may actually begin to benefit from the high-quality inside and supremely snug seats.
What the judges stated: The Polestar 2 returns with main enhancements. Whereas the outside appears to be like largely the identical, aside from a brand new, blanked-off grille, the beforehand front-wheel-drive automobile is now pushed by the rear wheels, whereas bigger 69kWh and 82kWh batteries present the ability. The Lengthy Vary 82kWh model’s claimed vary of greater than 400 miles is spectacular. A classy and properly made inside gained factors, as did the graceful electrical motor’s 295bhp.
Click on on to web page two for the remainder of our round-up of the perfect tow automobiles on sale proper now…
