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James Batchelor puts our Towcar of the Year champion – this time in mild-hybrid 1.5-litre guise – through its paces
Volkswagen’s Passat waltzed off with the overall title in the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year Awards 2026. The judges, including myself, thought it represented the best all-round package for caravanners – let’s take a look at why it’s such a strong contender
Comfort – 95%
The Passat has been a common sight on British roads for more than 50 years, and is recognised as being a dependable, spacious and sensible family car. This latest generation really ramps up the model’s famously rational character as it only comes as an estate.
It shares much of its DNA with the current Škoda Superb. Just like that car, it’s bigger than its predecessor, plus it’s more efficient, and packed with the latest technology.
In a market that is dominated by SUVs, not least by models from the same stable, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Passat is pleasingly old-school. It’s a low-to-the-ground estate car that, as a consequence, is more enjoyable to drive than a high-riding SUV. It’s a bit of a looker too, with VW favouring a sleeker, more swoopy design than in previous models.
Impressively, this more dynamic design hasn’t come at the expense of interior space. Boot room is 40 litres larger than before, now at a massive 690 litres (510 litres in the plug-in hybrid models), while folding down those rear seats reveals a van-like 1,920 litres (1,760 in the plug-in hybrids). The pure-petrol models have a movable boot floor for added flexibility, and the Passat is littered with handy storage places. It has even pinched some of the Superb’s natty practical details such as the umbrella in the driver’s door.
In recent years some of Volkswagen’s offerings have lacked a feel of quality, but the Passat is a real return to form. The interior is plush and robust and, importantly, it’s thoughtfully laid-out. The Passat is one of a handful of VWs that features a return to proper buttons on the steering wheel, while the touchscreen infotainment system is the company’s finest yet, offering simple, easy-to-navigate menus and a crisp display.
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Driving – 93%
Interestingly, Volkswagen has ditched diesel for this generation of Passat. It’s a curious move, especially considering that its Superb sister comes with a range of 2.0-litre TDI engines, and how the fuel source is in keeping with the Passat’s practical character.
But this is not a reason to dismiss the Passat, as the range of petrol and plug-in hybrid engines – only available with DSG automatic gearboxes – offers flexibility and, importantly, the potential for low-running costs.
The base engine is a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol, while sitting above this is a 201bhp 2.0-litre petrol – although recently the latter was removed from sale. There are also two plug-in hybrids, both using a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 19.7kWh battery pack offering a pure-electric range of nearly 80 miles. Power outputs are 201bhp and 272bhp.
My test car was the entry-level petrol. It’s an engine that’s used in a variety of Volkswagen Group models, and it’s a strong performer despite its relatively small size. There’s 148bhp on tap, and the mild-hybrid system smooths out engine start-up and adds a small amount of boost when pulling away.
The Passat has never really been concerned with offering a sporty driving experience, leaving that to rivals like the Mazda 6. Instead, the Passat has traditionally focused on delivering a stable, predictable and refined driving experience. Ride comfort is good, although higher-spec models come with Dynamic Chassis Control that features adaptive dampers to soften or stiffen the ride when needed.
Don’t think this focus on being a sensible cruiser and family car comes at the expense of enjoyment, though. This generation of Passat is the best I’ve driven, with tight body control, accurate steering, and a surprisingly agile chassis.
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Towing – 90%
The Passat pictured in this test is the 1.5-litre mild-hybrid, but the car that scooped the overall Towcar of the Year 2026 award was the 2.0-litre petrol. During competition appraisals, the judges were seriously impressed at the Passat’s agile handling and general sense of sure-footedness – something that SUVs just can’t compete with.
This agility didn’t make a fully-ballasted caravan nervous – the entire outfit felt very nimble and manoeuvrable. Even during high-speed tests it exhibited a remarkable feeling of stability and composure.
These traits will be the same regardless of which engine you choose. I strongly suspect the 1.5 will be perfect for smaller caravans, while weightier ones will be easily managed, although the engine might occasionally sound strained. The plug-in hybrids will be a better solution should you require more power and torque, but only if those batteries are regularly topped up. Should you need a Passat with more power but one that doesn’t have to rely on a plug-in hybrid system, hunting out a 2.0-litre on the used market could be a good move.
Verdict – 93%
It goes to show that in a world of SUVs a traditional estate car with a low centre of gravity is still a superbly capable towcar. The Passat ticks all the boxes, plus throws in a dose of driving enjoyment. Add in a huge boot, quality interior, and impressive on-road refinement, and it’s easy to see why it’s a champion.
