Of the half dozen cars we economy tested this year, the Hyundai i30 Tourer achieved the best fuel efficiency, returning 24mpg.

The official combined figure suggests 74.3mpg should be possible in solo driving, although in practice you would need to drive very gently to get anywhere near that.

The i30 Tourer impressed in other ways besides being frugal. In the lane-change test, the Hyundai performed as well as any car in this class, feeling stable and in control even with the caravan sliding behind it.

At high speeds the i30 needed the odd steering correction, but nothing untoward – we never felt any small movements were about to get out of hand.

Acceleration is rather steady, needing 16.4 seconds to go from 30-60mph. But the i30 certainly doesn’t feel underpowered towing a caravan weighted to 85% of the kerbweight. It did need quite a bit of clutch slip to pull up the 1-in-6 slope used for our hill start test, though.

Like our drivers, the practicality test team were mostly happy with the Hyundai. The large boot didn’t have room for every item of holiday luggage, but for a relatively small estate car the 602-litre capacity is generous.

We were also pleased to see a reversing camera with a clear view of the towball, and the 80kg noseweight maximum is reassuringly high for such a light car.

The i30 Tourer is priced keenly, and has the reassurance of a five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

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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