The All-New Peugeot 3008 has arrived in the UK with a mass queue of cars as dealers take cars away.

• PEUGEOT’s All-New 3008 SUV arrives on UK roads 
• Dealers attending the PEUGEOT Dealer conference at Arena MK drove away the new model in convoy
• Latest generation of PEUGEOT’s unique i-Cockpit^® available across the All-New 3008 SUV range

PEUGEOT’s All-New 3008 SUV officially hit UK roads as the first 200 models arrived at the PEUGEOT Dealer conference at Arena MK, Milton Keynes.

Dealers at PEUGEOT’s conference drove away the All-New 3008 SUV model in convoy following the close of the event, with the visual spectacle neatly captured by drone footage.

The All-New 3008 SUV received rave reviews following its European launch during the latter half of 2016, and has already established the brand as a key competitor in the compact SUV segment.

Primed and ready for the UK, the All-New 3008 SUV demonstrates the latest in its unique i-Cockpit^® interior design, recognised by the automotive industry as one of the most advanced technological packages currently available after it scooped the ‘Technology Award’ at the 2017 What Car? Car of the Year Awards ceremony held earlier this month.

The new i-Cockpit^® design places key instrumentation in the driver’s eyeline for a safer and more engaging driving experience, as well as adding to the overall ambience of an already premium interior.

What Car? and Thatcham Research also commended the All- New PEUGEOT 3008 SUV with its Safety Award, owing to its standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB), speed limit recognition and blind spot warning system.

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Skoda takes the top prize amongst others, as they continue to dominate.

• New Superb named best in 1,400-1,549kg class, and Overall Winner
• Superb triumphed over 41 shortlisted vehicles
• Test regime included emergency lane changes and incline tests
• Superb praised for its exceptional value, handling and refinement 

ŠKODA has hitched up and driven off with yet another key industry award. The multi-award-winning Superb has been named Overall Winner at the Tow Car Awards 2016 by a panel of experts from The Camping and Caravanning Club, Practical Caravan, and What Car? 

The ŠKODA Superb Hatch 2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business was declared best in class in the ‘1400-1549kg’ weight class and recorded scores high enough for it to clinch the top title. As part of judging process, all 41 shortlisted cars were put through a gruelling test regime that included emergency lane changes, low speed slalom runs, incline tests and emergency brake tests.

All cars were tested solo to judge ride quality, handling and refinement, and were also assessed for running costs, value, standard safety equipment and resale value.

Commenting on the Superb’s remarkable performance, David Motton, Tow Car Editor of Practical Caravanmagazine, said: “The ŠKODA Superb is spacious, great value, and brilliant to tow with. We'd happily pull a tourer or trailer from one end of the country to the other with the Superb, such is its stability, performance and comfort. A worthy overall winner for 2016.”

ŠKODA is no stranger to the Tow Car Awards. The current Octavia was named Overall Winner in 2013, and won its class (up to 1,400kg) in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The Superb range has a braked towing capacity of up to 2,200kg and is available with a wide range of towing options and accessories. These include an integrated tow bar that can be released via a lever in the boot and folded away after use. The Superb also has one of the biggest and most practical boots in the sector, with the Hatch delivering 625 litres of space with the rear seats in position and the Estate offering 660 litres of luggage room.  

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Kia takes the green award for the ultra frugal 1.6 litre CRDi 2 model.

• cee’d Sportswagon described as “Impressively economical”
• Fuel economy better than any other contender
• £19,895 1.6 CRDi ‘2’ model tested

Practical Caravan has endorsed what many keen load-lugging drivers already know – the Kia cee’d Sportswagon 1.6 CRDI is the “greenest” tow car on the market!

Capturing the  Green Tow Car Award in the magazine’s annual, exhaustive testing competition, the £19,895 ‘2’ version was described by David Motton, Tow Car Editor as being “impressively economical to buy and run as well as being a respectable tow car.”

He went on: “If you want to tow a caravan without spending a fortune on fuel, look no further. Towing a tourer weighing 85 per cent of its kerbweight the cee’d Sportswagon returned a commendable 31.6mpg – beating every other car we shortlisted.

“At the legal limit the Kia is a stable tow car and in an emergency lane-change the cee’d Sportswagon performed well, always pulling the caravan straight again, even when it stepped out of line,” he added.

Simon Hetherington, Commercial Director of Kia Motor (UK) Limited said: ”This honour endorses everything our customers tell us – and the cee’d Sportswagon is very popular amongst the caravanning community. They love the blend of economy, refinement and of course the industry-leading seven year warranty.

“We are delighted to win this award because it sums up the dedication our engineers have committed to developing affordable, responsible motoring in today’s budget-conscious marketplace whilst not sacrificing dynamic ability or desirable creature comforts,” he said.

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Honda take the up to 1400kg title with the awesome HR-V.

The Honda HR-V has triumphed at the 2016 Tow Car Awards, with the 1.6 i-DTEC SE manual taking the class winner in the ‘up to 1400kgs’ weight class. 

Organised and judged by experts from Practical Caravan, What Car? and The Camping and Caravanning Club, a total of 41 cars were entered into the 10^th Tow Car Awards and over 440 cars have been tested since the awards were launched in 2006. 

The latest incarnation of Honda’s popular crossover launched last summer after a long hiatus and is already proving popular with Honda’s retail network which is unable to keep up with demand.  Originally launched in 1999, the first generation of the HR-V was an early pioneer of the small crossover segment.

Priced at £22,440, the 1.6 i-DTEC SE manual has a kerbweight of 1399kg, a maximum towing weight of 1400kg and a towball limit of 70kg.  It also comes with city brake active system as standard, electric windows and mirrors, Honda’s Magic Seats® and front and rear parking sensors.

David Motton, Tow Car Editor of Practical Caravan magazine, commented: “Towing at a steady 60mph, the HR-V is as comfortable and composed as you could wish for. It kept its cool in our violent lane-change test, too. We kept increasing the speed of the test, and the Honda kept on going just where the driver pointed it. With 221lb ft of torque, there's enough pulling power for respectable performance when towing, going from 30-60mph in 16.8 seconds with a caravan in tow. It's a very impressive tow car for little more than £22,000.  The verdict: great stability and a practical, ingenious cabin.”

Phil Webb, Head of Cars at Honda UK, commented: “The powerful diesel engine in the relatively small HR-V makes it perfect for towing, providing owners with very good driveability whilst retaining strong fuel economy.  Couple the increased height compared to a hatchback, making for fantastic visibility, with the slightly more comfort orientated suspension settings, for a more relaxed drive, and customers have a winning combination.”

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Suzuki takes the Ultralight title with the Vitara S Sports utility Vehicle.

Suzuki is very pleased to announce that Vitara S has been voted the winner of the Ultralight category at the Tow Car Awards 2016. Suzuki introduced the 1.4-litre Boosterjet model in January which provides a more sporting and dynamic character to the Vitara line up and it was this latest model that really impressed the judges.  

Commenting on the award, David Motton, Tow Car Editor of Practical Caravan magazine said;

“We were thoroughly impressed with the Vitara diesel we tested last year, and this year's petrol powered Vitara S is light enough to be considered an ultralight tow car. For a car which barely weighs more than 1.2 tonnes, stability at speed was excellent. The Suzuki pulled its trailer to 60mph and well beyond without any waywardness.

The S is powered by a turbocharged petrol engine which performs well, pulling the trailer from 30-60mph in 14.4 seconds. Turbocharging helps give more mid-range pull than you get from most petrols, making for an engine that's surprisingly well suited to towing lightweight trailers and micro-caravans. So, your £20k buys lots of kit, impressive stability and four-wheel drive.

That makes the Vitara a worthy winner of this year's 'Best Ultralight Tow Car' award”.

Dale Wyatt, Sales and Marketing Director, Suzuki GB PLC added; “This is another fantastic  accolade for us at Suzuki; our compact and lightweight SUV is proving to be really popular on the roads now with around 11,000 sold since launch last year.

Vitara is available from £13,999 for the 1.6-litre SZ4 model with manual transmission; the SZ5 model is available with either a 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6 diesel engine and offers ALLGRIP four wheel drive as an option. The 1.4-litre turbo-charged S model tested in the competition offers ALLGRIP as standard equipment.

Vitara is rated one of Europe‘s safest cars according to independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP, and received the maximum 5-star rating. Vitara was also the first compact SUV to earn five stars in the more rigorous 2015 Euro NCAP testing programme which reinforces its exemplary safety.

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - SEAT takes the best MPV title at this years awards with the Alhambra.

• SEAT Alhambra named Best MPV in 2016 Tow Car Awards
• Judges praise the Alhambra for its practicality, power, stability and capacity to tow large family caravans
• Award bestowed on 2.0 TDI 184 PS SE Lux model with DSG dual-clutch transmission, part of the latest-generation Alhambra range introduced this spring
• 2.0 TDI 184 PS ideally suited to towing, mustering a maximum 380 Nm of torque from just 1,750 rpm
• New SE Lux specification tailored for modern family needs, with features such as power tailgate and rear side door operation, automatic wipers and headlights with High Beam Assist, satellite navigation with 3D mapping, rear seatback tables, underfloor storage, chrome roof rails and 12-way power-adjustable front seats all part of the standard specification
• Annual Tow Car Awards organised and presented by Practical Caravan, What Car? and the Camping and Caravanning Club magazine

The new SEAT Alhambra has pulled off another honour, being named Best MPV in the 2016 Tow Car Awards. It’s a first title for the latest generation of the seven-seat Alhambra, introduced this spring, sustaining its impressive reputation for being the best all-round proposition on the market – a status reflected in more than a dozen independent award titles in recent years.

Speaking for the judges, David Motton, Tow Car Editor of Practical Caravan magazine, declared: The SEAT Alhambra is a very good MPV and a very capable tow car. With its combination of a high kerb weight, powerful engine and an extremely flexible cabin, it is a worthy winner.

“As a tow car, stability is its stand-out feature. It’s reassuring at 60mph and untroubled at 70mph. Data we gathered from the AL-KO Active Trailer Control system backed up the impression of our drivers, this really is a very secure town car.”

The model tested for the award was the £35,190 2.0 TDI 184PS SE Lux with DSG dual-clutch transmission, a version which delivers a perfect all-round package of performance, comfort, safety and quality.

It has a top towing capacity of 2.2 tonnes, while its latest-generation TDI engine musters 380 Nm of torque, all the way from 1,750 to 3,000 rpm, giving strong and smooth performance and working with the hassle-free DSG gearbox to deliver the kind of relaxing drive that’s perfect for a long-distance trip, even when fully laden. Superb efficiency is reflected in official combined cycle fuel consumption of 53.3 mpg, with carbon dioxide emissions a modest 139 g/km, even though the powertrain has muscle enough to shift the Alhambra from rest to 62 mph in less than nine seconds.

The journey between caravan-hitch to caravan-pitch is made safe, comfortable and convenient in the high specification SE Lux, which includes family holiday-friendly features such as power-operated rear side doors and tailgate, chrome-finished roof rails, underfloor storage, rear seatback tables and a panoramic roof with opening front section. Satellite navigation with dynamic route guidance is included in the Media System Plus infotainment package, together with Bluetooth, DAB and integrated voice control. Up front the leather-upholstered sports-style seats are 12-way power-adjustable and the triple-zone climate control. Automatic headlight and windscreen wiper operation, reversing camera, triple-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror are featured, together with an impressive array of active and passive safety systems, including High Beam Assist, and SEAT’s Multi-Collision Braking and Tiredness Recognition systems.

Steve Catlin, SEAT UK’s Head of Sales Operations, said: “The Tow Car Award is a great accolade for the latest Alhambra and recognition for the way we’ve continued developing it to give customers the best possible all-round package. Not only does it have all the strength and stability required for effortless towing, it’s also ideally equipped to cater for families on the move and designed with the sporting flair that defines our brand.”

The Tow Car Awards, now in their tenth year, are organised and presented by Practical Caravan, What Car? and the Camping and Caravanning Club magazine.

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Jaguar takes it's fourth win in five years for the XF sports saloon.

• The Jaguar XF claims unanimous class victory at the Tow Car Awards 2016
• Judges praise the premium saloon’s ‘superb stability’ during rigorous series of tests
• XF continues the model’s impressive showing at the Tow Car Awards with fourth award in five years
• ‘We’ve enjoyed towing with the previous XF, but the new model is even better’
• Strong performance from the XF’s highly advanced 180hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine

The Jaguar XF has added yet another UK industry award to its impressive roll of honour in less than a year since it was launched after winning best-in-class (1550-1699kg) at the Tow Car Awards 2016.

The award also marked the fourth time in five years that the British-built XF was chosen as its class winner with the judges all unanimously putting it at the top of score sheets for its effortless towing ability.  

This year saw 41 cars entered across a number of different classes where the judges assessed each vehicle on acceleration, gearing and stability while towing a weighted caravan on a basic hitch on a straight-mile and slalom course. 

The XF proved its worth as a tremendously capable tow vehicle with the judging panel, made up of industry experts from Practical Caravan, What Car? and the Camping and Caravanning Club magazine, praising the premium saloon’s superb stability and great performance thanks to the advanced 180hp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine.

To find the most complete tow car in each class, the judges also test the car’s ability to cope with towing on uneven surfaces while further assessments of luggage-carrying ability, running costs, reliability and safety are also conducted. And it was the XF that consistently achieved the highest cumulative score across the battery of tests.

David Motton, Tow Car Editor, Practical Caravan Magazine, said: “Judged purely on its towing ability, each and every one of our drivers had the Jaguar XF at the top of the 1550-1699kg weight class. 

It really is that good. We’ve enjoyed towing with the previous XF, by the new model is even better. Very few cars come close to the Jaguar’s unperturbed towing manners at 70mph, and in the lane-change the XF completed the test at ever faster speeds without any pushing or pulling from the caravan – the Jaguar made our most dramatic and violent test seem almost pedestrian.”

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, said: “The multi-talented XF also boasts all the stand-out qualities that customers look for in premium executive saloon including style, technology, efficiency and safety. 

Winning this award goes to show that the XF is also tremendously practical and versatile when called upon to tow up to 2,000kg in luxury and comfort. The award is made all the more special considering the intensely competitive sector in which the XF competes in and it is one Jaguar is rightly proud of."  

The XF’s lightweight aluminium construction coupled with the all-aluminium Ingenium engine means Jaguar’s multi-award winning saloon sets the class benchmark for fuel efficiency and emissions.

Powertrains include a 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine in outputs of 163PS and 180PS. The 163PS 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel boasts emissions from just 104g/km and 70.6mpg on the combined cycle and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Customers also have the choice of two powerful V6 engines: a 300PS, 516lt ft (700Nm) turbocharged diesel and a 380PS, 332lb ft (450Nm) supercharged petrol engine.

The XF’s class-leading efficiency also makes it one of the most cost effective premium executive saloons for fleet and business customers boasting the lowest insurance group ratings (from 25E) and the highest residual values according to industry valuation company CAP retaining 53% of its value after 3 years/30,000 miles.

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Ford takes the title of best petrol powered tow car at this years awards.

Ford's Mondeo Vignale has pulled in the honour of best petrol-powered tow car by experts at this year’s Tow Car Awards. Last year the Ford Mondeo topped the table in the same category.

Experts from the Camping and Caravanning Club worked with Practical Caravan and What Car? magazines to assess this year’s field of 41 tow vehicles. Along with testing the cars’ ride and handling in all conditions, the judges also reviewed the vehicles’ practicality, and the buying and owning experience.

The Ford Mondeo Vignale, the first of Ford’s upscale Vignale range, triumphed with the top-end EcoBoost 2.0-litre 240PS model.

David Motton, Practical Caravan’s Tow Car editor, said:  “Last year the Ford Mondeo was our favourite petrol tow car. This year it’s the turn of the upmarket Mondeo Vignale to collect that award. The 240PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost is one of the most powerful petrol engines we’ve ever tested – 30-60mph in just 9.2 seconds is seriously quick. With more mid-range pull than most petrol engines, the Vignale easily passed the hill-start test, too."

Paul Baynes, Ford of Britain product marketing manager, said:  “Ford Vignale is the highest expression of the Ford brand in Europe, and paired with our award-winning EcoBoost engine, the Mondeo Vignale is a truly unique ownership experience - we’re delighted with this accolade from the towing experts.”

Priced from £29,395, the Ford Mondeo Vignale range includes petrol and diesel in four-door and estate bodystyles, plus front- and all-wheel drive.  An optional electric retractable tow bar with Trailer Sway Control can be specified on all series.

Petrol tow car of the year-winning spec

Ford Mondeo Vignale 2.0-litre EcoBoost 240PS Powershift

Bodystyle	4dr
Price	£30,855
Kerbweight	1,564kg
85% match	1329kg
Max towing weight	2,000kg
Towball limit	90kg

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Volvo, unsurprisingly takes the Safety Award with the new XC90 Sports Utility Vehicle.

• Volvo XC90 wins Safety Award at the What Car? Awards 2016
• Seven-seat SUV praised for its world-first crash-prevention aids
• Automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection is standard on every XC90

The Volvo XC90 has won What Car?’s Safety Award at a prestigious ceremony held at the Grosvenor House hotel, Park Lane, London on Wednesday 13^th January 2016.

The XC90 beat competition from Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz to claim the coveted award, and was praised for its world-first safety features, such as Run-off Road Protection, which automatically tightens the seatbelts and has energy-absorbing front seats to help prevent spinal injuries.

Another world first is automatic emergency braking at a junction, which will apply the brakes to stop or help prevent an accident if you inadvertently turn into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

This is on top of the other standard safety technologies, such as City Safety, which can help to avoid or mitigate collisions with pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles day or night, and the driver alert and lane-departure warning systems.

Jim Holder, What Car? Editorial Director, said: “The Volvo XC90 is far from the cheapest car on the Safety Award shortlist, but it is by far the best. Indeed, the Swedish SUV is the safest car ever tested by Euro NCAP, and it includes several cutting-edge features that even the organisation itself doesn’t currently have ratings for. It is, quite simply, the safest car on sale today and a thoroughly deserving winner of this award.”

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, added: “This award is yet more proof that Volvo is at the forefront of automotive safety – in fact, it is our vision that no-one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020. The XC90’s innovative IntelliSafe safety features are designed to keep you, your family and other road users safe from harm – and the fact that this technology is fitted as standard to every XC90 means that you don’t have to pay a penny extra to get the safest car on the road.”