Best buy under £25k
Classy saloon scores on performance and solidity, and takes title from its Golf sister model
There’s a new champion in the under £25k category of the Tow Car of the Year awards. The Volkswagen Jetta trounced the opposition, leaving our panel of expert judges in no doubt about its towing credentials.
Acceleration is a key consideration when towing, and the saloon proved to be an excellent choice. When hitched to a four-berth Bailey Orion 440-4 caravan, the Jetta’s combination of a punchy 2.0-litre diesel and dual-clutch DSG transmission provided strong performance.
Towing at speeds above 50mph can be a hair-raising experience, but not in the VW.
It takes high speeds in its stride, delivering a smooth and relaxed ride. The hill route caused our class leader no problems, either.
As with its Golf stablemate – which won the £20,000-£25,000 class last year – the Jetta cruises effortlessly round corners and hairpins, with plenty of grip and tight body control. The traditional handbrake holds car and caravan securely on steep inclines, and the hill-hold function – which stops you from rolling backwards when pulling away – makes terrifying hill starts a thing of the past. And when you unhitch your caravan, the tidy handling and precise steering mean plenty of driving fun, too. But there’s more to a good tow car than dynamic ability, and the Jetta doesn’t disappoint. The comfortable seats are widely adjustable, and the cabin is smart and cleanly laid-out.
Rear passengers benefit from generous head and legroom and the 510-litre boot should hold all the kit you’re likely to need. Plus, the rear seatbacks split and fold to give more space. And although the saloon bodystyle isn’t the most practical around, our judges didn’t think this was enough to prevent the Jetta from taking top spot.
Under £25k finalists
1. Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0 TDI (140) DSG
2. Volkswagen Passat SE BlueMotion Tech. 2.0 TDI (140)
3. Volkwagen Touran SE 2.0 TDI (140)
4. Skoda Superb Estate SE Plus 1.6 TDI CR (105)
5. Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost Titanium
6. Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Titanium
7. Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 1 2WD
8. Renault Scenic D’mique TomTom dCi (130) Stop&Start
9. Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer 1.7 CDTI SE ecoFLEX (125)
10. Peugeot 508 Allure HDi (163)
11. Citroen DS4 DStyle 2.0 HDi (160)
12. Hyundai i40 Tourer 1.7 CRDi Style (136)
13. Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ5
