TOW CAR AWARDS - The ŠKODA Octavia has taken victory in the ‘Up to 1400kg’ category

• Octavia Hatch 2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business wins ‘Up to 1400kg’ class in annual Tow Car Awards
• Expert judging panel from The Camping and Caravanning Club, What Car? and Practical Caravan magazines
• Third win in a row for the Octavia

The ŠKODA Octavia has taken victory in the ‘Up to 1400kg’ category at the Tow Car of the Year Awards, as judged by a panel of experts. It is the third year in a row that an Octavia has taken home a trophy in the Tow Car Awards, following overall victory in 2013.

The ŠKODA Octavia which won is the 2.0-litre TDI 150PS SE Business model. With an on-the-road price of £20,535, the 2.0-litre TDI SE Business model returns a combined economy of 70.6mpg with CO₂ emissions of just 106g/km, meaning it comes in for 19 per cent in Benefit in Kind taxation. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, Amundsen touchscreen satellite navigation with DAB digital radio and Bluetooth telephone connectivity and rear parking sensors.

Judging for the Tow Car Awards is rigorous. Judges included editorial staff from Practical Caravan and What Car? magazines, along with technical experts from The Camping and Caravanning Club. Each car goes through a series of towing tests, including acceleration, braking, hill starts and an emergency lane-change test.

Cars aren’t just rated for their towing ability; the What Car? team score each car for regular driving, safety, running costs and value for money. The Camping and Caravanning Club’s technical team check practical details such as boot space, how easily extension mirrors can be fitted, and whether the spare wheel provision is suitable for towing. The aim is to find cars which are great to tow with, but which are also good value and easy to live with every day.

Speaking on behalf of the panel, David Motton, Tow Car Editor, Practical Caravan, said "The Skoda holds on to its crown as our favourite tow car weighing less than 1400kg, and does so in some style. As you'd expect of a former overall winner, it tows beautifully. It's also immensely roomy, with more than enough space for tall adults to travel comfortably in the back."

Alasdair Stewart, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK, commented: "The Octavia is an exceptionally practical family car with broad appeal. This latest award shows that it continues to offer an ideal combination of credentials for towing."