As pick-ups go, the Mitsubishi L200 is reasonably refined and easy to live with. It’s much more car-like than the previous generation, with a more comfortable ride, tidier handling and improved economy and emissions.

It’s a reasonable tow car, too, up to a point. At 60mph the L200 towed straight and true, but at higher speeds it began to move around a little. The Al-Ko ATC system detected there was some movement slowing down from motorway speeds, too.

In the hill-start test the Mitsubishi’s conventional handbrake held without having to be pulled on with undue force. It took quite a few revs to pull to the top of the hill with road-going high-ratio gears selected, but the same gradient could be tackled much more easily in low-ratio four-wheel-drive mode.

However, the lane-change manoeuvre proved too demanding on the third and fastest attempt, losing control as the caravan slid wide.

With its huge load-deck the L200 would have coped with double the volume of holiday luggage we used to check each car’s boot capacity. In fact the L200 makes a practical tow car all-round, with a full-size spare, trailer stability control and a rear-view camera to help when hitching up.

Tempted? Just remember to check your caravan’s handbook before you buy a Mitsubishi L200 to tow it with, as some preclude being towed by a commercial vehicle.

(Please note the price quoted includes VAT.)