!NEW! Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer Crowned Best Petrol Tow Car

Proving that petrol can still play in the pulling power stakes, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer has been recognised as the best petrol model in the annual Tow Car Awards 2014.

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 1.6 Turbo

The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 1.6i 16V Direct Injection Turbo (170 PS) beat competitors from Mercedes–Benz and SEAT to be awarded Best Petrol Tow Car in the prestigious awards, run jointly by The Camping and Caravanning Club, Practical Caravan magazine and What Car?.

Since even the most avid caravan owners will spend more time driving ‘unhitched’ than towing, the judges looked at more than pure hauling ability. The scores took into account the car’s performance while towing and driving solo, its practicality, as well as buying and owning.

Head judge David Motton, Practical Caravan’s Tow Car Editor, said, “The 1.6 litre turbocharged engine proves that the best petrols can make very capable tow cars.”

The Insignia Sports Tourer’s turbocharged petrol engine, which entered production last year, features direct injection and Start/Stop technology, helping it to achieve an impressive combined fuel economy figure of 45.6mpg and emit just 146g/km CO2.

David continued: “It’s a much more flexible engine than most petrols, with a punchy 168 bhp at the top of the rev range and 260 Nm torque (280 Nm with Overboost) across a broad power band. It pulled from 30-60 mph in 15.3 seconds and the engine stays quiet and smooth even when worked hard.

“At speed the Vauxhall feels reassuringly solid. Even when tested at speeds above the legal limit, there’s hardly any movement from the caravan. The Insignia’s electronic parking brake held car and caravan still on the 1-in-6 slope and released smoothly and the fitment of Trailer Stability Assist ensures car and caravan stay in sync.”