The facelifted Peugeot 508 SW makes a case for itself as a tow car, although as an all-rounder it trails the best family estates in several ways.

With a caravan on the back, though, there are few complaints. The 148bhp engine is comfortable pulling a mid-sized caravan, accelerating from 30-60mph in 13.1 seconds. It’s stable on the way up to speed and on the way back, too, with the Al-Ko ATC sensors picking up very little movement from the caravan.

The Peugeot put in a solid shift in the lane-change test, too. Pronounced body roll aside, the whole manoeuvre was refreshingly undramatic, even on the third and fastest run.

In the hill-start test, the 508 SW benefited from having an electronic parking brake. It held car and caravan still and released smoothly. However, after tackling the slope in first gear and briefly reversing uphill, there was a hot smell from the clutch.

As an everyday drive, though, the Peugeot 508 SW isn’t as refined, quiet or smooth-riding as the best family estate cars. It’s not the roomiest car of its kind, either. Rear legroom doesn’t match that of its best rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat Estate. What’s more, the 512-litre boot capacity is actually smaller than that of its little brother, the 308 SW.

The efficient engine should keep fuel bills low, achieving 72.4mpg on the combined cycle. However, future resale values aren’t that strong, so be sure to haggle a generous discount on the asking price.

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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