The Caravan and Motorhome Club has announced the winners of the Towcar of the Year 2026 awards which saw a number of popular car brands praised.
The Volkswagen Passat R-Line 2.0 TSI 204PS DSG has been crowned the 2026 Towcar of the Year by the esteemed panel of experts and judges.
More than 34 million Volkswagen Passat models have been produced over the last 52 years, making it the second best-selling model behind the iconic Golf.
Judges from the Caravan and Motorhome Club said the ninth-generation of the Passat was "the best of the lot".
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They added that they voted "overwhelmingly" for the Passat as the overall winner, highlighting its "superb towing capabilities, power, quality interior, refined driving experience and huge storage space".
Judges also noted the Passat's ability to respond positively to sudden lane changes and unexpected movements in the road.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club said that judges were so confident in the performance of the vehicle that they could "push it a little harder than most cars".
The Passat comes equipped by a 2.0 TSI petrol engine, which is described as "lively and responsive", while Judges praised the impressive 690-litre boot.
The Volkswagen Passat R-Line 2.0 TSI 204PS DSG was crowned Towcar of the Year 2026
|VOLKSWAGEN
The Volkswagen Passat also won in the Family Towcars and Caravan weight 1300kg-1500kg categories.
Nick Lomas, director general of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: "The pace of technological advancement in motoring has been remarkable and the strong presence of electric vehicles in this year's competition highlights just how far the industry has come.
"We warmly congratulate all the deserving winners of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2026 Awards."
The cars were tested at the UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground near Bedford, which offers a variety of driving environments.
The Volkswagen Multivan Style 2.0 TSI 204PS won the Best Family Towcar
|VOLKSWAGEN
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In total, 15 of the entrants were pure-electric, while a number of hybrid vehicles were also entered for the Towcar of the Year Awards 2026.
The Porsche Macan Electric was crowned winner in the 1,800kg to 2,000kg category, with judges praising the "sheer silence" of the vehicle during testing.
The car's stopping power was also deemed to be "class leading" and "felt like its price was justified in that it delivers comfort, build quality and handling".
Electric vehicles from BMW, Genesis, Kia, Maxus, Mini, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Skoda and Volkswagen were included in the category for best electric towcar.
The Winners of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2026 Awards
|CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB
Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2026 Winners
Caravan weight under 1,300kg - Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x 82kWh 210 kW 4x4
Caravan weight 1,300kg - 1,500kg - Volkswagen Passat R-Line 2.0 TSI 204PS DSG
Caravan weight 1,500kg - 1,600kg - Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE EVOLVE 87 kWh
Caravan weight 1,600kg - 1,700kg - Genesis GV60 Sport Plus
Caravan weight 1,700kg - 1,800kg - BMW X3 M50
Caravan weight 1,800kg - 2,000kg - Porsche Macan Electric
Caravan weight over 2,000kg - BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport
Electric Towcars - BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport
Hybrid Towcars - Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid AWD Ultra
Family Towcars - Volkswagen Passat R-Line 2.0 TSI 204PS DSG
Large Family Towcars - Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Multivan Style 2.0 TSI 204PS
Pick Up Towcars - Isuzu D-Max STEEL Edition
Luxury Towcars - Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner
Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2026 - Volkswagen Passat R-Line 2.0 TSI 204PS DSG