A compact executive saloon like the Jaguar XE may not be the most obvious tow car, but it does the job remarkably well.

Stability at speed is nothing short of brilliant. Even when travelling well beyond the legal limit we had no nervous moments towing with the Jag, and plentiful grip and pin-point steering accuracy made the lane-change test easy.

It made short work of the hill-start test, too. The rear-wheel-drive Jaguar XE didn’t suffer from the traction problems of some of its front-wheel-drive rivals, and its plentiful torque and automatic gearbox made for an easy getaway.

For the most part, our practicality testers rated the XE highly for a saloon car, but the small boot couldn’t take the bulkier items from our typical load of holiday luggage.

Rear-seat space is also tight, with a rather claustrophobic feel in the back of the car. Those in the front have more room, but the finish isn’t especially plush for a car with a £34,000 price tag.

The firm low-speed ride and surprisingly high levels of engine noise also count against the Jag. But leave the caravan behind and head out on a winding B-road, and the XE is exceptionally rewarding to drive.

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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