The Peugeot 508 SW is one of the best family estate cars. It’s a capable tow car, too. The 2.0 HDi engine musters 240lb ft of torque – enough for determined acceleration, even when towing. The 30-60mph sprint took 16.6 seconds.

If you need to stop in a hurry, the brakes are reassuring. Car and caravan came to a halt in just 10.5 metres, and felt stable. The same could be said of the 508 in the lane-change test. Although the caravan moved around behind it, the Peugeot wasn’t pulled off course.

Relatively firm suspension means bad road surfaces are felt more than if you are driving, say, a Volkswagen Passat, but the Peugeot is far from uncomfortable. Anyone riding in the back will find there’s less legroom than in a Passat or Ford Mondeo, but only tall passengers will complain. There’s plenty of room for your feet if you’re sitting in the middle.

Our practicality judge was pleased to find room for all our holiday luggage in the 512-litre boot. Folding the back seats ups the capacity to 1598 litres – not as big as some, but enough for most needs.

The £24,325 price is competitive. Because the 508 SW is new to the market, haggling probably won’t save more than a few hundred pounds.