Last year’s class winner remains one of our favourite tow cars this time around.

With a 30-60mph time of 15.6 seconds, the Kuga quickly gets up to speed on motorways and A-roads. Stability is good, and although the Al-Ko ATC system showed the caravan to be moving around when slowing from 70mph, it could hardly be noticed by the driver.

However, in an emergency stop the caravan could be felt giving the Kuga a hefty shove, and the stopping distance of 12.7 metres is disappointing.

A comfortable ride combines with fine handling, with or without a caravan in tow. It’s one of the most enjoyable cars in this class, although not the most practical. The boot isn’t as large as we’d like, so a couple of items from our typical luggage load had to be left behind. More points were lost for the shortage of useful towing advice in the handbook.

The price tag of £23,546 is now looking rather steep when there are so many able cars in this class that cost less.