0-120g/km (tax bands A-C): Volkswagen CC

If you thought a sleek four-door coupe wouldn’t make a great tow car, think again – as the VW CC mixes desirability with fine caravanning credentials.

Our judges loved the low-slung looks, and while the sloping roof compromised rear visibility, that was forgiven once at the wheel.

We hitched the VW to the largest Bailey Orion model – the 530-6 – and it impressed with its smooth acceleration and superb stability, even at 70mph (although 60mph is the legal limit when towing a caravan on motorways).

Our hill route’s offset cambers and undulating tarmac test a car’s agility, but the CC hauled the big caravan with ease. The gutsy 2.0-litre TDI engine and six-speed manual box’s well spaced ratios make it relaxed and fun to drive.

Inside are comfortable and supportive seats, plus a well laid-out dash with solid VW build quality. And while the boot isn’t the biggest, it’s a useful 452 litres, and the rear seats fold.

Driver and front passenger are spoiled for head and legroom, but taller people in the rear will get a bit squeezed by the sloping roof. Still, you get xenon lights, heated seats, Bluetooth and touchscreen sat-nav. And although you won’t hit the claimed 61.4mpg economy while towing, eco tech like stop-start will keep fuel bills in check.

Our finalists

Volkswagen CC 2.0 TDI (140) BM Tech GT: £28,232Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi n-tech+: £23,617Peugeot 508 HDi 140 Allure: £24,660Volvo V40 D4 SE Lux Nav: £27,142