The Insignia Country Tourer is Vauxhall’s answer to cars like the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack, combining four-wheel drive with a raised ride height compared with the regular estate on which it’s based.

It can be a good formula for a tow car, but in Vauxhall’s case the results are mixed. For the most part stability is good, but the relatively soft suspension took a while to settle after any short, sharp steering input or if caught by a gust of wind. In the lane-change test the back of the car was pushed around by the caravan when changing direction in a hurry.

With 195PS (192bhp) to call upon, the 2.0-litre diesel is strong enough to pull from 30-60mph in 14.1 seconds, but it’s a gruff-sounding engine.

All that power proved useful in the hill-start test, and the electronic parking brake held the outfit still on the 1-in-6 slope.

You’d think an estate car of this size would have enough space for a full load of holiday luggage, but there wasn’t enough room for the Aquaroll. The presence of a Trailer Stability Programme and a handy reversing camera boosted the car‘s practicality score.

With a price tag the wrong side of £30k, be sure to haggle hard for a discount.

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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