Land Rover does it again
The UK-made Land Rover Discovery has been named the best towcar 2010 in the annual Towcar Awards, a coalition between experts from Practical Caravan, The Camping and Caravanning Club and What Car?.
“It’s not supposed to be easy choosing the best from 40-odd cars. This year, however, the discussion was a short one. The Land Rover Discovery 4 is an exceptional car for towing. The old model was one of our favourite towcars, but the new Discovery improves upon it in just about every area. You’ll be just as happy with the Discovery when you are not towing. It’s the best car in this year’s tests by some margin, and a more than worthy overall champion,” commented Nigel Donnelly, editor of Practical Caravan.
Practical Caravan, in association with The Camping and Caravanning Club and What Car?, hitched up 41 cars with caravans in their quest to find the best towing cars for 2010 to help holidaymakers make the right choice this year.
Skoda were awarded two accolades. The Green Award went to the Skoda Octavia Estate 1.6 Greenline with judges praising the excellent fuel economy of 64.2mpg and low carbon dioxide emissions of 114g/km that rewards the user with low road tax bills. Judges were also impressed with its all-round package including head and legroom and spacious boot. Skoda’s second award went to the Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 170 SE for the 1575-1724kg towing category for its tremendous space for passengers and luggage as well as being an impressive stable towcar.
Volkswagen picked up the trophy for the up to 1424kg towing category for the VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 Match 5dr for its performance, stability and comfort. The Astra 2.0 CDTi (160 PS) SRi 5dr was awarded the 1425-1574kg towing category award with judges being impressed with its good looks, drivability and towing capabilities. In the 1725–1899kg category the Mazda CX-7 2.2 Diesel zoomed off with the top award. The panel of judges commented that it towed extremely well and made other 4x4s in the segment look overpriced and under equipped.
Other awards included the Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Style 7st picking up the best value 4x4 award. Editor Nigel Donnelly commented “You know the Santa Fe is a good towcar after just a few miles, but it’s easy to miss just how good until you consider the price. Costing just over £22,000 (less if you haggle), the big Hyundai is one of the best value cars in this year’s tests”.
Best MPV award went to Kia for the Sedona 2.2 CRDi 3 auto which offers great value for families who want and need the versatility of a multi purpose vehicle with 7-seats but not the big budgets historically required.
Matthew Eastlake, The Club’s Marketing & Communications Director, added: “This annual testing programme is led by three of the most experienced and qualified organisations in their respective fields, supported by the leading manufacturers.
“The aim is to provide campers and caravanners with the very best and latest information about leading vehicles suitable for towing.
“We believe that this helps our members to take informed decisions about high value purchases and hopefully they are able to enjoy safe, comfortable and enjoyable motoring as a result.”
Brits own approximately half a million caravans, many of these will be preparing for their summer holidays as soon as the schools finish in July. Caravanners are sometimes given an unfair time when they emerge from their driveways with their home from home as they join the roads, getting blamed for traffic chaos, accidents etc when they are only actually involved in 0.05% of recorded accidents*.
Record numbers of holidays makers are said to be planning on taking a UK ‘staycation’ this year in a bid to avoid high exchange rates, concerns over the environment and airport problems. Caravan ownership is also set to increase.
“With over £1billion annually spent on towing cars, there is a real thirst for unbiased buying advice. Consumers want to buy a great towing car that works for their holiday – when they are towing a tonne and a half of wood, metal and plastic. It also has to work in real life, on the daily commute, weekly shop and school run too as well as making sense financially. The Land Rover Discovery does all this and more.” said Practical Caravan editor Nigel Donnelly.
