Best Buy: £25,000 to £32,000

This could be a record year for Skoda. The Czech manufacturer collected no fewer than five honours at the Auto Express New Car Awards back in August (Issue 1,126), including Best Estate Car for the Superb. And here’s another accolade to add to its trophy cabinet.

This was the most closely fought category, but the Superb Estate 2.0 TDI was the unanimous winner for the judging team. Towing a six-berth Bailey Olympus 546, the firm’s flagship was in its element. In fact, the Superb’s 170bhp diesel powerplant is so refined and smooth that it’s easy to forget you’re towing anything at all, never mind a 7.8-metre-long caravan! 

Thanks to its linear power delivery, the responsive engine is always ready to go, and the precise six-speed manual gearbox means that maintaining momentum is never a problem. And when you are not towing, the strong overall performance makes the big estate a great choice for touring families. 

A combination of its massive load-carrying ability, limousine-like rear legroom and generous specification means you won’t be short of space or kit on long-distance journeys. 

Comfortable seats, brilliant refinement and the logically laid-out and high-quality dashboard ensure that you arrive at your destination cosseted and unstressed. But what strengthens the Superb’s position as a winner here is the fact that, even in top-of-the-range trim, it only just nudges into our £25,000-£32,000 category once you’ve added the cost of fitting a towbar. Opt for a model with a lower specification, and the Skoda is good enough to give last year’s overall champ, the VW Golf, a run for its money...

£25k to £32k: Our Finalists - 

• Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI CR Elegance

• Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X

• Ford Mondeo 2.0 EcoBoost Titanium X Sport Estate

• Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX

• Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium

• Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-3

• Nissan Pathfinder 2.5 dCi Tekna

• Mazda CX-7 2.2D

• Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D Juro SST

• Skoda Superb Estate 1.8 TSI DSG Elegance

• Subaru Legacy 2.5i SE Lineartronic

• Subaru Outback 2.0D SE NavPlus

• Volvo XC60 D3 DRIVe SE