The best car for hauling caravans and trailers have been honoured at the Tow Car Awards 2018 with titles going to some surprise newcomers as well as old favourites.

Norwich Evening News: Skoda Octavia Hatch 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L DSG up to 1,400kg class winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Skoda Octavia Hatch 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L DSG up to 1,400kg class winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

The Tow Car Awards 2018 have named the top 10 best cars for towing currently available, ranging from the Volkswagen Polo to the Land Rover Discovery, with BMW taking the overall winner title for the first time this year.

This is the 12th year that experts from Practical Caravan and What Car? magazines and The Camping and Caravanning Club have put the latest cars through a gruelling set of tests, including hill starts, emergency lane changes, acceleration and braking, and high speed stability, on the private test tracks at the Horiba Mira Proving Ground in Warwickshire.

Each car was matched to a caravan from a fleet supplied by the UK's biggest caravan manufacturer, the Swift Group, or a trailer, ballasted to the recommended maximum of 85pc of its kerb weight – or less if the manufacturer's towing limit is lower.

Cars are also assessed for value for money, ride comfort, running costs, refinement and passenger space, as well as the practicality for carrying a typical load of camping or holiday gear.

Norwich Evening News: Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L Executive 1,400 to 1,549kg class winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L Executive 1,400 to 1,549kg class winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

With 44 cars entered this year, it means that www.thetowcarawards.com now has reviews of the towing credentials of more than 500 cars tested since the first competition in 2007.

The 2018 winners include some regulars like the Skoda Octavia (up to 1,400kg weight class), Skoda Superb (1,400 to 1,549kg weight class) and the Land Rover Discovery (more than 1,900kg weight class) which all delivered an unbeatable performance in their weight classes.

And there were some newcomers, too, such as the Volkswagen Polo (best ultralight tow car) which made a fine and stable tow car, the Kia Stinger (best petrol tow car) which proved you don't need a large estate or SUV to go caravanning, and the car chosen as the top tow car in the 1,700 to 1,899kg weight class – as well as this year's overall winner – the BMW 520d Touring.

David Motton, tow car editor of Practical Caravan magazine, described the overall champion as 'a clear winner', after beating some tough competition in its weight class, such as the Jaguar F-Pace and Volvo XC40 SUVs.

Norwich Evening News: Peugeot 5008 2.0 BlueHDi EAT8 S&S GT 1,550 to 1,699kg. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Peugeot 5008 2.0 BlueHDi EAT8 S&S GT 1,550 to 1,699kg. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

'Clearly, this is a towing competition, first and foremost, and when it comes to pulling a caravan confidently, and securely, the BMW 5 Series has few peers. There wasn't a single one of our towing tests in which the BMW showed any weakness,' he added.

Other successful cars this year include the Peugeot 5008 (1,550 to 1,699kg weight class), a practical seven-seater with impressive towing stability at speed and in the emergency lane-change manoeuvre, the new Volvo XC40 (best family SUV) that proved it had the power and stability to make a suitable match for a broad range of caravans and trailers, plus the Hyundai i30 Tourer (fuel economy award) which was the most economical and also one of the most stable tow cars tested.

Robert Louden, director general of The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: 'We really value the Tow Car Awards because they demonstrate you can enjoy caravan holidays towing with such a wide range of cars, from the value for-money of a Skoda to something as compact as a Volkswagen Polo, or the premium luxury of the overall winner for 2018, the BMW 5 Series – either as a new or used-car purchase.

'Congratulations to all this year's winners, and many thanks to all the judges and officials who worked so hard to deliver these important results,' he added.

Norwich Evening News: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 Td6 HSE more than 1,900kg class winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Land Rover Discovery 3.0 Td6 HSE more than 1,900kg class winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

CLASS WINNERS

Overall winner and 1,700 to 1,899kg class winner – BMW 520d Touring xDrive M Sport.

Norwich Evening News: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 115PS SEL DSG best ultralight tow car. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 115PS SEL DSG best ultralight tow car. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

Up to 1,400kg – Skoda Octavia Hatch 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L DSG.

1,400 to 1,549kg – Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L Executive.

1,550 to 1,699kg – Peugeot 5008 2.0 BlueHDi EAT8 S&S GT.

More than 1,900kg – Land Rover Discovery 3.0 Td6 HSE.

Norwich Evening News: Kia Stinger 2.0 T-GDI GT-Line best petrol car winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Kia Stinger 2.0 T-GDI GT-Line best petrol car winner. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

Best ultralight tow car – Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 115PS SEL DSG.

Best petrol tow car – Kia Stinger 2.0 T-GDI GT-Line.

Best family SUV –Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro.

Fuel economy award – Hyundai i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi 110PS Premium.

Norwich Evening News: Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro best family SUV. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro best family SUV. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)

Norwich Evening News: Hyundai i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi 110PS Premium fuel economy award. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018Hyundai i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi 110PS Premium fuel economy award. Picture: Tow Car Awards 2018 (Image: Tow Car Awards 2018)