The Audi A4 Allroad’s big brother, the A6 Allroad, is a former class winner in this competition. Is the smaller car as good? Not quite, but it’s still a very fine tow car.

The Allroad comfortably held 60mph in top gear into a headwind, and with the breeze in its favour was still accelerating through 70mph. The brakes were among the best in this weight division, easy to apply smoothly but with aggressive bite when needed. The 30-0mph stop took 10.3 metres.

Straight-line stability was fine, but the Audi wasn’t quite as secure through the lane-change test as the Skoda Superb Estate or BMW X1. On the final high-speed run the car’s back end began to move around as the caravan tried to get its own way.

In the reversing test, the engine and well-chosen ratio allowed car and caravan to move backwards smoothly with no sign of any transmission strain. On the 1-in-6 test hill, the electronic parking brake held the outfit first time, every time. However, some drivers noticed the clutch smelling after they cleared the top of the hill.

It may be an estate like the class-winning Skoda, but the Allroad has nothing like as much luggage space as the Superb. We couldn’t find space for two items from our typical luggage load. Under the boot floor there’s a compact spare wheel, and Audi confirmed that this may be used when towing if necessary.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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