Tow Car Awards: overall winner 2022
The Tow Car Awards is Britain's biggest and best tow car test programme, with a history stretching back to 2007...
Kerb weight 1880kg 85% match 1598kg Max towing weight 2400kg Towball limit 100kg
At the 2018 Tow Car Awards, the car that came out on top was the Audi Q5. Here's what we said about it at the time:
This year’s field was packed with talent, so our judges spent a long time debating which car deserved to be the overall winner, but ultimately everyone agreed that the Audi Q5 was the best all-rounder.
With 201bhp and 295lb ft of pulling power, its diesel engine is ideally suited to towing, and it’s cleaner and more efficient than older Q5 models.
More importantly, the Q5 is exceptionally stable. It doesn’t seem bothered by the weight of a caravan behind it at all, towing serenely at the legal limit and (at our test track) beyond. It coped just as well with an emergency lane change and gave the impression it would have been just as happy at higher speeds.
Inside, the build quality really shines through. The doors shut with a satisfying clunk, and the materials feel upmarket. The Q5 feels every inch the premium product, something a posh badge on the nose doesn’t always guarantee.
The interior is roomy as well as plush, with plenty of space for adults to get comfortable in both rows of seats. There’s lots of luggage space, too; you won’t need to travel light when touring in the Q5.
Choose Sport trim and the Q5 is very competitively priced. And strong resale values mean monthly finance payments are broadly on a par with those of some cheaper SUVs that don’t have as much cachet.
But this isn’t a victory based on brand appeal. There’s real substance to the Q5, with a near-ideal blend of performance, stability and practicality.
Our ratings
Towing 5/5 Solo driving 4/5 Practicality 5/5 Buying and owning 4/5 Overall 5/5
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