We make no apologies for concentrating on diesels at the Tow Car Awards, but the Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 T petrol had us intrigued.
The turbocharged petrol engine promises near-diesel economy with enough mid-range pull for towing. In practice, that’s very nearly what you get. The 14 second 30-60mph time shows this is a quick car when the engine is put to work, although at very low revs it feels weak.
We’ve been happy with the stability of the Insignias we’ve tested, and the Sports Tourer was no exception. The electronic handbrake held first time on the hill start, although lots of clutch slip was needed to climb the hill.
Every piece of luggage went in the boot, but the towing electrics are tucked under the bumper, which makes hooking up awkward.