Our 2012 class winner is still an excellent tow car. If the BMW’s price is too high or you regularly caravan on rally fields, the Volkswagen Tiguan makes a compelling case for itself.

The VW didn’t blitz our lane-change test with the authority of the BMW 3 Series, but it proved stable, composed and controlled. At high speeds in a straight line the Tiguan was affected by strong winds a little more than the BMW, but data from the Al-Ko ATC system shows nothing dramatic going on.

There are plenty of more powerful cars in this class, but the Volkswagen doesn’t feel out of its depth. The 30-60mph time of 16.6 seconds is solid, and the Tiguan would reach 70mph into a stiff headwind.

In normal driving the Tiguan is comfortable, with a well-judged suspension set-up that strikes an able balance between comfort and agility.

With a couple of reservations the practicality judges were as happy as the drivers, thanks to the fitment of trailer-stability control, a comprehensive handbook and enough luggage space for almost all our typical family’s holiday luggage.

Although we’ve tested the more upmarket R-Line version this year, we’d recommend saving around £2000 by choosing the SE specification tested in 2012.