Tow Car Awards: overall winner 2025
The Tow Car Awards is Britain's biggest and best tow car test programme, with a history stretching back to 2007...
Kerb weight 1854kg 85% match 1576kg Max towing weight 2400kg Towball limit 100kg
In 2025, the Skoda Kodiaq was named Tow Car of the Year for the fourth time. Here's what we said at the time:
Make a list of the qualities you look for in a tow car. The chances are the Skoda Kodiaq possesses most or all of them.
First and foremost, it ticks all the right boxes while towing. It’s very stable at the legal limit. However hard our drivers pushed it at the test track, they never had a nervous moment. And if you do run into trouble, the Kodiaq is on your side. In the emergency lane change tests, it was reassuring and controlled. Some cars cope with the first two speeds but start to feel ragged on the fastest run, but not the Kodiaq. The final manoeuvre was no more dramatic than the first.
Diesel power may be on the decline, but it remains popular with caravanners. It’s easy to see why when an engine pulls as strongly as the Kodiaq’s. Yes, there are plenty of quicker cars, but the Kodiaq has enough poke for nipping past dawdling traffic.
Four-wheel drive is another feature many of us look for in a tow car. It’s not something you can take for granted, even when buying a large SUV, but this version of the Kodiaq sends power to all four wheels. It helps with hill starts and when pulling away from a grass pitch. Knowing that the car is a 4x4 gives the driver confidence while towing in bad weather, too.
In daily use, the Kodiaq may not be quite as polished as the BMW X5, but it’s still good to drive, while providing a comfy ride for all occupants, with those in the front and second rows in particular enjoying loads of space.
The driving position is spot on and – joy of joys – there are physical controls for the likes of the air-con, as well as a large and responsive infotainment touchscreen.
Every one of this year’s category winners is a great car, but the Kodiaq surpasses them all. It can tow heavier 'vans than the Volkswagen Passat, and while the X5 is wonderful, the Kodiaq is 90% of the car for 60% of the money. No other winner can claim a more complete range of talents than the brilliant Kodiaq.
Our ratings
Towing 5/5 Solo driving 5/5 Practicality 4/5 Buying and owning 5/5 Overall 5/5
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