Our test car’s tow bar hadn’t been installed correctly, which allowed the bar to move and the ball to sit too low. Once this fault was spotted and corrected the Mazda CX-5 was much more its old self, but with so many new models arriving, it drops down the pecking order this year.

The Mazda still has a lot going for it, though. The CX-5 felt stable at 60mph and recovered well from sharp steering inputs, but data from the Al-Ko ATC system showed some movement from the caravan when decelerating from high speeds.

In the hill-start test, the electronic parking brake held car and caravan still, and the 2.2-litre engine had enough brawn to comfortably pull to the top of the hill, provided the driver balanced clutch and throttle with care.

Leave the caravan behind and the CX-5 is great fun to drive. Precise and agile handling makes the Mazda a really enjoyable car to thread down a twisting B-road. This doesn’t come at the expense of ride comfort, though, with a supple but controlled approach to bumpy roads.

Top-spec models like the Sport Nav come with lots of equipment and there’s the reassurance of a five-star rating from the safety experts at Euro NCAP.

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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