Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021 & The Caravan and Motorhome Club Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021
A Superb Victory for Skoda… ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG takes the 2021 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year crown.
The 38th edition of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021 went virtual!
Information about new vehicles on the market is really important to the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s one-million members, along with others who tow as part of their hobbies or work.
Manufacturers submitted 40 cars which were evaluated and assessed by an independent panel of expert and knowledgeable judges who carried out full technical specification and vehicle towing capability reviews. “Caravanability” was carried out on each vehicle by evaluating boot load spaces (with the rear seats up and down), roof load limits, along with nose weight limits. The judges carefully researched the towing information presented in the vehicle handbooks and on manufacturers’ websites to check whether the vehicle is equipped with a full sized spare wheel as standard or if a space saver or puncture repair tin was provided instead.
Club members were also invited to share their thoughts and experiences about the vehicle entrants.
The 40 entrants were put into caravan weight categories – rather than being listed by price – to make it easier for buyers to know which cars could tow their caravans. Cars were entered into classes using their 85% kerbweight figure or by their towing limit, whichever was the lower. The competition had seven weight classes, two Family Towcar categories as well as Pick-Up and Alternatively Fuelled categories.
The entrants were then matched with caravans from Bailey of Bristol’s 2021 range with virtual loads, both in the car and the caravan, ensuring the vehicle’s other weight limits were not exceeded.
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “Caravan holidays have never been more popular and it’s important to the Club to make sure we provide relevant information to our members – and all those interested in touring and towing – on the vehicles that are available to them. The Club, with it’s 110+ years of experience, has worked with respected industry colleagues and journalists, all of whom are themselves caravanners, to bring together this invaluable set of data and information. The Club also offers a free technical advice helpline and training courses for those interested in starting out with the pastime.”
More about the category winners :
Caravan Weight Under 1100kg : Renault All-New Captur
Perfect for growing families (or grandparents) thanks to its class-leading total of three Isofix attachments and the added flexibility of a sliding rear seat. Its one litre engine has been married to a five speed manual gearbox, which should offer wider ratios and less gear-changing when towing on A roads.
Caravan Weight 1100–1200kg : SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5 TSI manual 150
A solid all-rounder. Estates are ideal for dog owners. Appealing design
Caravan Weight 1200–1300kg : ŠKODA Octavia Estate SE L First Edition 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
Outstanding MPG and all the practicality of an estate – an excellent choice. Latest version of an old favourite. Hard to fault if you prefer a traditional estate over an SUV.
Overall Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021 & Caravan Weight 1300–1400kg: ŠKODA Superb Estate SE L Executive 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
A regular in the Towcar Top 3, and this year’s Superb appears to be no exception. You can’t go wrong with one of these. If you want a large estate, the Superb has to be on your shortlist.
Caravan Weight 1400–1500kg : Vauxhall Insignia SRi VX-Line Nav
A solid, no-nonsense performer that belies its sporty looks with outstanding caravanability qualities, such as its ability to take a 100kg load on the roof. Powerful, punchy engine, and it comes with an established nationwide support network for reassuring peace of mind.
Caravan Weight 1500–1700kg & Alternatively Fuelled : Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD R-Design
Delicious kerbweight, delicious economy, and pulls like a train. Capable of towing a large caravan, but with hybrid tech to enhance economy, especially when not towing.
Caravan Weight Over 1700kg & Family Towcar : Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD R-Design
One of the best combinations of astonishing power delivery, practicality, and a fair price tag for what you’re getting.
Large Family Towcar : Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Caravelle 6.1 SE Long Wheelbase 2.0 TDI 199PS 7spd DSG
Something of a leftfield choice perhaps, but a ‘problem solver’ of a car. If you need lots of space, versatility of seats vs payload carrying or hefty towing capability, there are plenty of choices around. If you need all three in a single car at the same time, the Caravelle should be on your shortlist.
Pick-Up : Nissan Navara dCi190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic
The best of both worlds: Refined driving experience and cabin, yet rugged enough to handle all manner of caravanning paraphernalia in the load bed. Multi-link rear suspension equates to a winning combination of towing stability and passenger comfort.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021
The Caravan and Motorhome Club has compiled the Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021 which is packed full of information about the latest and most innovative caravans. An independent, expert and knowledgeable panel carried out full technical specification, design, use of space and usability reviews of 74 new-to-market caravans. Brought to you by the trusted experts, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has compiled this guide, based on the important considerations when buying a caravan, to help provide the information you’ll need to help with your next caravan purchase. Make sure you visit your local caravan dealer and you’ll soon be heading off on your next adventure.
Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “The Caravan and Motorhome Club is delighted to be able to present the 2021 Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide. The expert panel were rallied from the far corners of the UK to sift through huge volumes of data from websites, brochures, handbooks and entry forms from the comfort of their home office. Seventy-four new-season caravans were assessed on their bed sizes, kitchen equipment, layout, heating, security, payload and much more – trust me no stone was left unturned! This carefully considered guide will provide buyers with the particulars in making an informed decision when buying a new 2021 caravan, whether you are looking at a small, lightweight caravan to the larger 8-foot wide caravan or a 2-berth van for a couple to the larger family caravans. Be sure not to leave these choices off your buying shortlist.”
The Caravan and Motorhome Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide 2021
Entry List and Star Rating
- Any Small Caravan (750kg – 1150kg MTPLM) Stars
Bailey Phoenix+ 420 5.00
Bailey Discovery D4-2 4.50
Bailey Discovery D4-3 4.50
Swift Basecamp 2 4.50
Xplore 304 4.50
Xplore 422 4.50
Eriba Touring Familia 320 4.00
Eriba Touring Familia 310 60th Edition 3.50
Freedom Jetstream Twin Sport 3.50
Freecross Luxor 370 DD 3.50
Freecross Premium 330 DL 3.50
- Any Pop Top Caravan over 1150kg Stars
Eriba Feeling 425 4.50
Eriba Touring Triton 430 60th Edition 4.00
Eriba Touring Troll 530 60th Edition 4.00
Eriba Touring Troll 530 Rockabilly 4.00
Eriba Touring Troll 530 Ocean Drive 4.00
Eriba Touring Troll 542 60th Edition 4.00
- Any Two-berth Caravans Stars
Bailey Unicorn Black Edition Merida 5.00
Coachman VIP 460 5.00
Adria Altea 492DT Aire 4.50
Barefoot Caravans Barefoot Classic 4.50
Compass Casita 454 4.50
Elddis Avante 454 4.50
Swift Basecamp 2 4.50
Xplore 422 4.50
- Up to Four-berth Caravans Stars
Adria Alpina Colorado 5.00
Coachman Laser 575 Xcel 5.00
Compass Camino 650 5.00
Elddis Crusader Borealis 5.00
Swift Challenger 580 5.00
Bailey Phoenix+ 440 4.50
Buccaneer Bermuda 4.50
Xplore 554 4.50
Eriba Nova Trend 590 4.00
- Up to Six-berth Caravans Stars
Buccaneer Aruba 5.00
Coachman Acadia 860 Xcel 5.00
Xplore 586 5.00
Adria Adora 623DT Sava 4.50
Bailey Phoenix+ 650 4.50
Compass Casita 586 4.50
Elddis Avante 586 4.50
Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB 4.50
- Family Caravans Stars
Bailey Alicanto Grande Estoril 5.00
Adria Altea Tyne 4.50
Coachman Acadia 830 Xcel 4.50
Buccaneer Barracuda 4.00
Compass Capiro 550 4.00
Elddis Avante 860 4.00
Eriba Nova Trend 530 4.00
Swift Challenger X 835 4.00
- Large Family Caravans Stars
Adria Altea 622DK Avon 5.00
Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Turin 4.50
Buccaneer Aruba 4.50
Coachman Acadia 830 Xcel 4.50
Compass Casita 868 4.00
Elddis Avante 868 4.00
Eriba Nova Trend 555 4.00
Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB 4.00
- Any Caravan 8ft or more wide Stars
Adria Alpina 623UC Mississippi 5.00
Bailey Alicanto Grande Faro 5.00
Buccaneer Cruiser 5.00
Swift Elegance Grande 845 5.00
Coachman Laser Xcel 875 4.50
Compass Casita 860 4.50
Elddis Avante 840 4.50
- Any Caravan with Dedicated Bed(s) Stars
Adria Adora 623DT Isonzo 5.00
Buccaneer Commodore 5.00
Compass Capiro 574 5.00
Elddis Affinity 554 5.00
Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi 4.50
Coachman Laser Xcel 845 4.50
Eriba Nova Light 465 4.50
Swift Elegance 560 4.50
Xplore 554 4.50
Lomas continues, “The information from the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2021, combined with the details in the Caravan Design Awards Buyers Guide, provides invaluable help for caravanners to make an informed decision on their next car/caravan outfit*.”
