IF you need to pull a trailer, horsebox or caravan, then these are the new cars you should seriously consider, writes William Scholes.
Experts from The Camping and Caravanning Club and What Car? and Practical Caravan magazines tested 37 cars to arrive at an overall winner - the new Volkswagen Passat estate - as well as winners in different weight categories.
This year, there was also a green award plus best petrol and ultralight categories.
The Tow Car of the Year testing regime includes high speed stability, hill starts on a 1 in 6 gradient, plus emergency stops and lane changing manoeuvres.
This all takes place in the safety of the MIRA Proving Ground in Warwickshire, with each car correctly matched to a caravan - with any stability aids removed or disabled - supplied by the Swift Group, or a lightweight trailer, weighted up to the recommended limit of 85 per cent of its kerbweight or, if lower, the manufacturer's maximum towing limit.
In addition, they are also assessed for other factors such as running costs, practicality and solo performance.
Having previously won the top honours in 2007 and 2011, the Passat is the first car to win the Tow Car title three times.
The judges champion was a Passat Estate SE Business with a 2.0-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology engine, 148bhp power output and DSG transmission.
It also won the 1,400 to 1,549kg weight class, while a Passat Estate GT with a 2.0 BiTDI engine, 237bhp power output and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system won its heavier 1,700 to 1,899kg weight class.
"Volkswagen's new Passat has achieved something remarkable," said David Motton, tow car editor of Practical Caravan magazine.
"It's all the tow car most of us need, with outstanding towing ability as well as being comfortable, refined, spacious and economical for everyday driving.
"It does just about everything well and is a worthy winner of the Tow Car Awards 2015."
Other notable winners this year include the Citroen C4 Cactus as 'Best Ultralight Tow Car' and the Skoda Octavia, a previous overall winner in 2013, champion of the lightest weight class for three years running.
The Mazda CX-5 won its weight class for the second time and the Land Rover Discovery won the heaviest weight class for the eighth time in the nine years.
::Full details of how each car performed, plus results from previous years, are available at www.thetowcarawards.com
Tow car of the year 2015 winners
Overall winner: Volkswagen Passat estate 2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG
Up to 1,400kg: Skoda Octavia hatchback 2.0 TDI CR 150PS SE Business
1,400-1,549kg: Volkswagen Passat estate 2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG
1,550-1,699kg: Mazda CX-5 2.2D 175PS AWD Sport Nav
1,700-1,899kg: Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 BiTDI SCR BMT 240PS 4Motion GT DSG
1,900kg-plus: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 SE Tech
Green Award: Volvo V40 Cross Country D4 Lux Nav Geartronic
Best Petrol Tow Car: Ford Mondeo 1.5T EcoBoost 160PS Titanium 5dr
Best Ultralight Tow Car: Citroen C4 Cactus BlueHDi 100 Feel
