Tow Car of the Year 2015 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR

So, out of the six worthy category winners, which model is taking away the top prize of Towcar of the Year 2015? Well, after a lot of deliberation and discussion, the judges crowned the SEAT Leon ST.

And it’s no wonder, because this car is pretty much a perfect family wagon. SEAT has managed to combine the style, practicality and value for money for which it’s become known into an estate that also delivers a sparkling driving experience – even when hitched to a caravan. The cabin is really comfortable, with the supportive seats providing plenty of adjustment, so achieving your optimum driving position couldn’t be easier.

The clean and simply laid-out dashboard feels uncluttered and modern, while the user-friendly infotainment system is a breeze to operate. Good-quality materials have been used throughout, and it all feels well put together. 

Passengers can’t fail to be impressed with leg and headroom in the rear, either, as it seats three adults comfortably. The Leon ST comes with a good range of kit, too: seven airbags, Bluetooth, LED tail-lights, climate control and SEAT’s Driver Profile are all included.

Also, there’s a host of options to make your estate even more tow-friendly. A detachable tow bar can be fitted for £701, while a useful protective flexible load liner costs a mere £69. Or you could treat yourself to a 27-litre electric coolbox that plugs into the handy 12V socket located in the boot; this will set you back £145.

It’s not only towing options you’ll find in the brochure, though. Add the Tech Pack – which costs £1,075 – and you’ll get LED headlamps, sat-nav and DAB radio. Heated seats cost £355, and an electric panoramic sunroof with a tilt-and-slide facility is £1,050.

Yet the Leon won’t cost the earth to run, either. SEAT offers a three-year/30,000-mile service package for just under £20 a month on all new STs. Low CO2 emissions of 112g/km for the ST 2.0 TDI FR mean you’ll pay only £30 a year in road tax, and they translate into a Benefit in Kind value of 18 per cent – so company car drivers will shell out between £855 and £1,711 annually.