You get a lot of car for your money with the Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer. Under £28,000 buys a roomy estate car with four-wheel drive and a healthy list of standard equipment.

As a tow car, it’s good rather than outstanding in this company. In the lane-change test the caravan was moving around significantly on the third and final run, but the Vauxhall completed the test without being pulled off course.

However, at high speeds the Country Tourer is nothing like as composed as the likes of the BMW 5 Series Touring. It’s settled enough at 60mph, but beginning to move around at 70mph. The Al-Ko ATC sensors also detected some sway slowing from motorway speeds.

Relatively soft suspension may be partly to blame, but the trade off is a comfortable ride with and without a caravan behind it.

Inside, the Country Tourer is a lot roomier than its predecessor. That’s especially noticeable in the rear of the car, where there’s now a lot more legroom than before.

The Vauxhall does a better job of carrying lots of bags, too, although our practicality judges struggled to fit the more awkwardly shaped items from our test load of touring luggage.

It’s good to see the car comes with trailer stability control, but the lack of a reversing camera as standard seems an odd omission when the car is otherwise generously kitted out.

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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