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Volkswagen Golf tees up the title...
Published:
23 September 2009
Celebrating 27 years of The Caravan Club Towcar of
the Year Awards.
The Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI has been crowned The Caravan Club
Towcar of the Year 2010.
The VW Golf SE 2.0TDI reigned supreme in its price class and
went on to be voted overall winner by a panel of 10 judges for its
great performance when towing in a variety of situations and its
practicality as a caravanning family car.
Held, as in previous years, at the Millbrook Proving Ground in
Bedfordshire, the Competition attracted 28 entrants; and Volkswagen
emerged victorious.
Class wins in the Competition went to the Kia Soul Shaker 1.6
CRDi; Mazda6 2.2D Estate TS2; Volvo XC60 SE D5 AWD and Land Rover
Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE, as well as the VW Golf. Category awards for
All-Wheel Drive vehicles above and below 1800kg went to Land Rover
for its Discovery and Škoda's Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4 DSG with
automatic transmission.
Volkswagen's Golf is now in its sixth generation and remains
Europe's best-selling car. It's not difficult to see why as soon as
you sit inside. The Golf has always had a reputation for good build
quality and attention to detail, but after 26 million sales over 34
years, the company has produced a car that is the quietest and
safest yet.
The results of the Competition were announced at the annual
Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards ceremony at the Royal
Automobile Club in London on 23rd September.
Special guest, Wing Commander Andy Green OBE - holder of the
World Land Speed record and the first person to break the sound
barrier on land - attended the testing regime at Millbrook and then
presented the coveted Class awards to representatives from the
winning manufacturers at the Awards ceremony.
Andy Green commented, "It was fascinating to witness first-hand
the rigorous testing procedures the vehicles are put through and
the professionalism of the judges."
Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan Club Chairman, commented, "The
Caravan Club extends its sincere congratulations to all the winners
in the Competition, and our thanks go to all the manufacturers who
have supported this event. The Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI is a truly
capable towing vehicle and worthy winner."
Where, When and How…
Testing takes place in August at the Millbrook Proving Ground in
Bedfordshire, probably the best car testing facility in the
country. This year 28 cars were divided into five price categories
and two All-Wheel Drive categories (under 1800kg and over 1800kg);
the theory being that anyone thinking about buying a new car will
first consider their budget.
Manufacturers were invited to submit for testing any cars that
were new launches in the period 1 August 2008 to 30 September 2009,
or existing models that had been substantially modified (eg new
engine, different transmission etc). The Caravan Club also invites
the previous year's overall winner to submit its car for re-testing
- in this year's case, the Škoda Superb 2.0TDI.
The cars delivered are carefully scrutinised to make sure they
conform to the exact specification declared on the entry
documentation. Track tests, using six expert drivers, assess each
car's towing ability as well as acceleration, braking and the
ability to cope with demanding hill starts. Another team of four
'caravanability' judges makes a careful assessment of each
entrant's usability in terms of everyday caravanning. Will it carry
a set of awning poles, for instance, and do you have to get on your
hands and knees to connect the caravan electrics?
All caravans used during testing were supplied by Bailey of
Bristol and loaded to 85% of the relevant car's kerbweight.
Noseweights are set at the car manufacturer's recommended limit, 7%
of the caravan's running weight or the maximum stipulated weight
for the coupling head, whichever is lowest.
More about the winning vehicles…
Under £16,000 Class
Winner: Kia Soul Shaker 1.6 CRDi
The Soul Shaker gives a spirited performance, has a
usable bodyshape and promises low running costs. The 1.6-litre
diesel engine offers reasonable amounts of power and torque for a
car of this size. As a towcar for small caravans or trailer tents,
Kia's hatchback is a worthy winner. Biggish door mirrors and a high
driving position add to the Soul's towing credentials.
£16,000 to £20,000 Class and Overall Caravan Club Towcar of the
Year 2010
Winner: Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI
The Golf has a great quality cabin with excellent fit and finish,
and simple, intuitive switchgear and instrumentation that puts
everything where you expect it to be. Absolutely faultless
stability made this car steadfast on the test track, and when the
punchy engine had whisked its way to 60mph it was still ready to
accelerate, even in sixth gear. Agile handling enables the car to
tackle the most demanding route.
£20,000 to £25,000 Class
Winner: Mazda6 2.2D Estate TS2
With a flexible engine, bags of low-down torque and a
six-speed gearbox that is not only good to use but well mated to
the engine, it's no surprise this is a very worthy class winner.
Towing 1347kg, the good-looking estate car romped up the long 14%
hill in third gear and tackled a 17% stop-and-restart quite easily.
A super car at a great price.
£25,000 to £32,000 Class
Winner: Volvo XC60 SE D5 AWD
This vehicle has an extra powerful version of Volvo's
excellent five-cylinder engine as well as AWD. Gear changes are
smooth and speed builds up rapidly when needed. Terms such as
'confident', 'sure-footed' and 'doesn't feel like it's towing',
were used plentifully by the judges. Volvo has produced another
excellent towcar.
Over £32,000 Class and Over 1800kg All-Wheel Drive
Category
Winner: Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE
If you want a car that will take you and your caravan anywhere in
absolute comfort, you need look no further than the latest
Discovery. Tap on the screen display and you can set the chassis
especially for caravan towing, which results in faultless stability
and a comfortable ride as you sit cosseted in the well-designed and
practical interior.
Under 1800kg All-Wheel Drive Category
Winner: Škoda Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4
DSG
The Superb proved itself a capable towcar by taking the top prize
in the 2009 contest. For 2010 it was back, packing a 260bhp V6
engine and four-wheel drive. The Superb feels as solid as a rock,
and it handles so well you can push it hard through twisty roads
with real confidence. The Elegance version has a well turned out
cabin and luxurious surroundings.
List of Entrants
Under £16,000
Kia Soul Shaker 1.6 CRDi
Renault Kangoo Expression dCi 106
£16,000 to £20,000
Peugeot 3008 Exclusive THP 150
Renault Megane Hatch Dynamique dCi 130
Toyota Verso 2.0 D-4D Man
Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI
£20,000 to £25,000
Mazda6 2.2D Estate TS2
Renault Grand Scenic Dynamique dCi 160 FAP
Seat Exeo 2.0TDI Sport
Škoda Octavia Scout 2.0TDI 140bhp DPF
Škoda Superb Elegance 2.0TDI 140bhp DPF
Škoda Yeti 2.0TDI 140bhp 4x4 Elegance
Toyota Avensis T4 2.2 D-4D Tourer
Vauxhall Insignia SE Nav 2.0 (160) CDTI Hatch
Volkswagen Golf Plus SE 2.0TDI DSG
£25,000 to £32,000
Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 EX Tech
Isuzu Rodeo 3.0 Denver Max LE Sport
Škoda Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4 DSG
Subaru Forester 2.0D XSn
Toyota RAV4 SR 2.2 D-4D Auto
Volvo XC60 SE D5 AWD
Volvo XC60 2.4D DRIVe SE LUX
Over £32,000
Jaguar XF 3.0 Diesel S Portfolio
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE
Lexus RX450h SE-L
Mercedes-Benz C250 BlueEfficiency Estate Sport
Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI BlueEfficiency Sport
Volvo XC70 D5 SE LUX Premium
All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Under 1800kg
Škoda Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4 DSG
Škoda Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI 140bhp DPF
Škoda Yeti 2.0TDI 140bhp 4x4 Elegance
Subaru Forester 2.0D XSn
Toyota RAV4 SR 2.2 D-4D Auto
All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Over 1800kg
Isuzu Rodeo 3.0 Denver Max LE Sport
Lexus RX450h SE-L
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE
Volvo XC70 D5 SE LUX Premium
Volvo XC60 SE D5 AWD
List of Winners
Under £16,000
Kia Soul Shaker 1.6 CRDi
£16,000 to £20,000
Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI
£20,000 to £25,000
Mazda6 2.2D Estate TS2
£25,000 to £32,000
Volvo XC60 SE D5 AWD
Over £32,000
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE
All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Under 1800kg
Škoda Superb Elegance 3.6 V6 4x4 DSG
All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Over 1800kg
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE
Overall Winner
Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0TDI
For further media information:-
Nikki Nichol
The Caravan Club
01342 336 797 / 07771 834 443
email: press@caravanclub.co.uk
or nikki.nichol@caravanclub.co.uk
Maxine Soghmanian
The Caravan Club
01342 336 768
email: press@caravanclub.co.uk
or maxine.soghmanian@caravanclub.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Driving Judges:- Barry Williams, The Caravan Club Magazine; Lesley
Harris, Auto Express; Sue Baker, motoring journalist; Danny Cobbs,
motoring journalist; Victoria Bentley, Caravan Magazine; Mark
Sutcliffe, caravan journalist.
Caravanability Judges:- John Bramham, Tom Collin, Mick Farr,
Douglas King.
Thanks:- The Caravan Club would like to thank
Bailey of Bristol for supplying all the caravans used in the
Competition, and for providing staff on site throughout the event.
Simon Howard and Colin Coke ensured the caravans were correctly
ballasted, noseweights kept in trim and in general good working
order. Glenn Jenkinson and Tom Kelly from Al-Ko ensured brakes were
adjusted, wheels kept tight and all undergear properly fettled.