Head to Tow: Škoda Takes Top Honours in Towcar of the Year Awards
koda has once again proved its towing credentials after scooping three category wins and the prestigious Towcar of the Year title at the annual Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year awards. The results mean that Škoda has now claimed seven overall wins and 35 category wins dating back to 2002.
Leading the charge to silverware was the Superb, which secured the overall Towcar of the Year 2027 title, along with two key category awards: Caravan weight 1,600kg - 1,700kg and Family Towcars. Using a Superb Estate SE L 2.0 TDI 193PS DSG 4x4 for testing purposes, the judging panel – comprising experienced reviewers, travel journalists and caravan experts – praised the Superb’s remarkable all-round ability and peerless practicality.
Explaining why the Superb took top honours, the Caravan and Motorhome Club judging panel said: “A multiple class winner in the past and previous overall winner, Skoda can add more gongs to its trophy cabinet as this year the Superb took two category wins and the overall title. Here, in 2.0-litre TDI four-wheel drive guise, the Superb romped off with the win as it ticked every single box.”
Highlighting the Superb’s towing prowess, the panel said: “It made light work of towing, remained calm and controlled, had gutsy diesel power, excellent ride quality, four-wheel drive traction, class-leading boot space and it’s engaging enough to drive whilst remaining refined. It's a hugely accomplished towcar.”
Not to be outdone by its stablemate, the Kodiaq also claimed a major category win. Tested in plug-in hybrid form, the SUV comfortably topped the 1,700 - 1,800kg class, with the judging panel impressed with the car’s performance. Crowning the Kodiaq as the best in its sector, the panel commented: “The Kodiaq had decent acceleration – particularly in the 40-60mph acceleration test – while braking outperformed many other entrants. During the most arduous tests, it remained stable and controlled; add in a comfortable interior, excellent visibility and large mirrors, it was an easy decision to make it a class winner.”
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year is the longest-running towcar testing competition in the leisure vehicle industry. This year 42 vehicles were assessed, all of which were paired with caravans ballasted to 85% of the vehicle's kerb weight, or the vehicle's towing limit where that is lower. Technical judges measured acceleration and braking performance using specialist equipment.
Driving judges assessed each combination at UTAC Millbrook across a range of conditions. Testing included gradients, hill starts, downhill braking, high-speed stability, reversing, comfort, visibility and the ability to join fast-moving traffic. As part of the judging process, all shortlisted cars were tested on a special Alpine route that included a 17% hill start and 26% downhill braking test. The testing procedure also included laps of Millbrook’s high-speed bowl, which allowed judges to assess how vehicles responded to efforts to induce instability.
The latest awards are the latest in a long line of towing industry accolades, further cementing the brand’s reputation for building exceptionally capable tow cars. Every model in the brand’s current lineup is available with a factory-fitted tow bar and wiring, while certain models also offer the convenience of an electrically retractable tow hitch.