MONDEOIS MAGIC!FORD SCOOPS TWOCLASS AWARDS ANDOVERALL TITLE IN THE 25TH YEAR OFBRITAIN’S TOPTOWCAR AWARDS

Supplement sponsored by Bailey of Bristol

PLUSJUDGES’ COMMENTS

ON 36 CARS

STARTING ON

PAGE 6

FORD’S BRILLIANT new MondeoTitanium X Estate has been votedCaravan Club Towcar of the Year 2008in the country’s longest running andmost prestigious towing competition.Held, as usual, at the Millbrook ProvingGround in Bedfordshire, thecompetition attracted 36 entriesrepresenting 20 different brands. Itwas The Club’s 25th year of runningthe competition – a fitting silver jubileeoccasion in The Club’s Centenary year.

Ford can be especially proud of thisyear’s achievement because a MondeoZetec hatchback was also voted one of

the five class winners and an S-Maxcame within a whisker of picking up yetanother award. But the company didn’thave all the glory.

S̆koda took multiple honours too,with Roomster Scout and OctaviaScout models shining above the othersin their price classes. The final classaward went to the much-improvedLand Rover Freelander 2.

Two other category awards are madein The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year,for all-wheel-drive cars up to and above1800kg. For the ‘lighter’ award, thejudges’ vote went again to the S̆koda

Octavia Scout. There were more cars incontention for the over-1800kg award,which makes the Kia Sorento’s triumpheven more commendable.

TITANIUM SHINESIn nature, Titanium is a strong, brightmetal with good corrosion resistance –a fitting epithet, then, for the latestcar to bear the title Caravan ClubTowcar of the Year.

Titanium X is one of two top modeldesignations in the new Mondeo range(Ghia models are ‘more wood thantechno’), offering superb comfort and

ergonomic design as well as brilliantdriving dynamics. The estate carbodywork, Ford claims, comes withalmost 60% more torsional stiffnessthan its predecessor.

Mondeo has been a huge successsince its launch in 1993. All versionsof the latest model have wider trackand revised suspension, and the cars’performance in this year’s Towcar ofthe Year competition shows that a goodtowcar has become even better. Thewide range of engines includes not onlythe five-cylinder 2.5-litre petrol unitthat powered this year’s overall winnerbut a 2.0-litre diesel that was inanother class winner.

All models have electronicbrakeforce distribution and stabilitycontrol, while options include Ford-designed Interactive Vehicle DynamicsControl, which automatically regulatessuspension settings, and Hill LaunchAssist – which could be a boon forcaravanners. HLA maintains brakepressure for a couple of seconds whileyou move your foot from brake toaccelerator pedal.

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 3

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

Titanium X Estate CONQUERS ALL

Published by The CaravanClub, East Grinstead House,East Grinstead, West SussexRH19 1UA, September 2007.Printed by Woodford LithoLtd, Freebournes Road,Witham, Essex CM8 3UH

TESTING TAKES place at theMillbrook Proving Ground inBedfordshire, probably the best cartesting facility in the country. Thisyear the cars were divided into fiveprice categories, the theory being thatanyone thinking about buying a newcar will first consider how much theycan afford to pay.

Manufacturers were invited tosubmit for testing any cars that werenew launches in the period 1 August2006 to 30 September 2007, orexisting models that had beensubstantially modified (eg newengine, different transmission etc).

The Caravan Club also invites theprevious year’s overall winner tosubmit its car for re-testing – in thisyear’s case, the Volvo V50 D5 SE.

The cars delivered are carefullyscrutineered to make sure theyconform to the exact specificationdeclared on the testers’ score sheets.Track tests, using six expert drivers,assess each of the cars’ towing abilitywhile another team of four‘caravanability’ judges makes acareful assessment of each entrant’susability in everyday caravanning. Willit carry a set of awning poles, forinstance, and do you have to get on

your hands and knees to plug in thecaravan electrics?

All caravans are supplied byBailey of Bristol and loaded to 85%of the relevant car’s kerbweight.Noseweights are set at the carmanufacturer’s recommendedlimit, 7% of the caravan’s runningweight or the maximum stipulatedweight for the coupling head,whichever is lowest.

WHERE, WHEN AND HOW

1984C

itroën BX 16 TRS

1985Volvo 360 G

LE

1986Ford Sierra XR 4x4

1987Renault 21 G

TS

1988Vauxhall Senator 3.0i C

D

1989Vauxhall C

avalier SRi

1990Vauxhall C

avalier 4x4 2.0i

1991Rover 416 G

Ti 16v

1992Volvo 940 SE Turbo

1993Vauxhall C

alibra Turbo 4x4

1994C

itroën Xantia 1.9 TD VSX

1995Renault Laguna RT 2.0

1996Vauxhall Vectra 2.0i 16v

25 YEARS OF SUCCESS – PAST WINNERS

4

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

SPECIAL GUESTGUEST OF honour was none otherthan Perry McCarthy, the originalStig from BBC TV’s Top Gear, whowitnessed the testing regime atMillbrook and later presented awardsto the winning manufacturers at acelebratory lunch in London.

The winners in detailTHIS PAGE FROM TOP: Caravan ClubTowcar of the Year 2008 – FordMondeo Titanium X Estate. Big loadlugger that looks great and driveseven better. See p12

S̆koda Roomster Scout 1.9 TDI.Roomster by name, roomy by nature– a great little performer with idealengine and gearbox. See p6

Ford Mondeo Zetec. Smooth diesel-powered version of the Ford’s fun-to-drive large family car. See p7

OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP:S̆koda Octavia Scout TDI. Won itsprice class and went on to bedeclared best 4x4 for lightercaravans. See p8

Land Rover Freelander 2. Looksmore like its big brother Discoveryevery day – and tows almost aswell. See p14

Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XS. Latestversion of a former Caravan ClubTowcar of the Year champ showsit’s still got a lot going for it. See p8

UNDER £16,000 CLASS WINNER

TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 AND £25,000 – £32,000 CLASS WINNER

£16,000 – £20,000 CLASS WINNER

The winning car with Perry McCarthy, alias the original Stig

THANKSTHE CARAVAN Club givesits grateful thanks toBailey of Bristol, whoprovided all the caravansused in Towcar of theYear; and to Al-Ko Koberfor providing tracksidehelp and technicalassistance, ensuring allrunning gear was kept upto scratch.

SAVE ONINSURANCEGET UP to 10% discount oninsurance for Caravan ClubTowcar of the Year class-winningcars! Call 0800 028 4809quoting TC08 for details and apersonalised quote.

1977Peugeot 406 G

LX Dt 2.1

1998C

itroën Xantia V6 Exclusive

1999A

udi A6 A

vant 2.5 TDI

2000Seat Toledo V5

2001Volksw

agen Golf V6

4MO

TION

2002Peugeot 406 2.2 G

TX

HD

i Estate

2004Subaru Forester 2.0 XTv

2005M

azda6 2.0-D Estate

TS2(136ps)

2006Kia Sorento 2.5 C

RDi XE

2007Volvo V50 D

5 Sport

2008Ford M

ondeo

Titanium X Estate

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 5

BAILEY OF Bristol takes the roadsafety of its products very seriously,and is proud of its 10-year associationwith The Caravan Club Towcar of theYear competition. The competition notonly provides caravan owners withimportant information on the choice ofa potential new tow vehicle but alsoprovides a practical examination ofBailey caravans’ performance.

During the week-long test thecaravans are taken on over 250 circuitsof the Millbrook Proving Ground – thisinvolves lapping the high-speedcircular track and tackling ademanding hill route. Throughout thisperiod Bailey constantly evaluates howits caravans perform, gaining valuablefeedback on towing dynamics andstructural integrity.

This is just part of the company’songoing work to ensure it remains atthe forefront of towed vehicle designand technology. Other initiativesinclude funding Trailer StabilityStudies being carried out by BathUniversity, for which Bailey hasmanufactured a fully-adjustable trailerrig which allows variation of theparameters affecting towing stability,leading to greater understanding of thefactors involved.

If further proof were required ofBailey’s commitment in this area, itwas the first UK caravan manufacturerto fit the Al-Ko ATC Trailer ControlSystem as standard specification (onits Senator Series 6 range), to provideowners with additional peace of mindwhile towing on the open road.

2003S̆koda Superb V6 2.5

TDI Elegance

OUR CARAVANABILITY experts, asusual, were John Bramham, Mick Farr,Adrian French and Tom Collin. All fourare extremely experienced caravanners(and three of them, coincidentally, former police officers).

Driving judges are drawn from thecaravanning and motoring press. Thisyear the team was: Lesley Harris fromAuto Express, Andrew Ditton, freelancecaravanning writer, Sally Pepper from Which Caravan?, Barry Williams fromThe Caravan Club Magazine, Victoria Heath from Caravan magazine andmotoring writer Sue Baker.

£20,000 – 25,000 CLASS WINNER AND UNDER 1800KG ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CATEGORY WINNER

OVER £32,000 CLASS WINNER

OVER 1800KG ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CATEGORY WINNER

The Bailey connection

Who were the judges?

Kia cee’d 1.6 LS CRDi£14,735 as testedSecond-placed in its class, the Kiacee’d looks and feels classy for a car ofits price, and the smart, moderndesign works well. Acceleration with a1248kg caravan on the back wasacceptable, and the car felt well incontrol of things despite strongcrosswinds. Enthusiastic take-offsproduced noticeable torque steer,and there was some wheelspin whenstarting off on a gradient – the car wetested was not fitted with tractioncontrol. Its handbrake action put a lotof other cars to shame. Despite acouple of let-downs, the cee’d is avery likeable car with Tardis-like loadcapacity as well as easy access totowball socket and a good, levelattitude when hitched up. Comes witha seven-year warranty too.

S̆koda Fabia 3 1.9 TDI£13,300 as testedThis version of the new Fabia featuresthe same engine and transmission asthe class-winning Roomster and, asyou would expect, its performancefigures are about the same. It’s a littlebit lighter but it handles a caravanalmost as well despite having anoseweight limit of just 50kg. Top gear(5th) is usable when towing but don’texpect too much in the way ofacceleration without dropping down a

cog or two. Brakes are a strong point,including a firm and easy-to-usehandbrake. Top of the class in terms ofoperating costs – covering CO2/kg,insurance group, service hours and onthe road price. Must try harder interms of load carrying.

Fiat Bravo 1.9 MultiJet 150 Dynamic£15,594 as testedOn the test track the Bravo’s 1.9-litrediesel engine shone. It was the mostpowerful engine in its class, it revsreally freely and 225lb ft of torquemeant minimal gearchanges andeasy start-offs. With no tractioncontrol, however (it’s an optional

extra), getting all that power on tothe road is not always easy andwheelspin can be hard to avoid onhill starts unless you balance clutchand accelerator just right. The Bravois fast, and it remained stable on ourtest track untill well over the legal UKspeed limit. Load-carrying ability iscompromised by its raked tailgateand the Bravo didn’t score well interms of value for money. Goodhandbook information on towingthough, and it has both audible and visual warnings for caravanindicator bulb failure.

Daihatsu Materia£11,385 as testedTowing ability would not have beenhigh on the list of attributes whenDaihatsu designed the little Materia,and putting a trailer on the back of this1.5-litre mini-MPV has a verynoticeable effect on both accelerationand top speed. However, it was stableenough at all times and the quirkybody styling makes it a practical smallcar. It’s a surprisingly impressive loadcarrier but the swing-down towingsocket is not only very difficult toaccess but the towball is set too low,resulting in a nose-down attitudewhen hooked up.

6

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

CARS UNDER £16,000

ICONSstorage

towball/sockets/ease of hitching/bulb failure warning

towing informationin handbook

value for money(running costs)

The icons are there to help youidentify a particular car’sstrengths. They are shown inthe order of the car’s strongpoints. They do not necessarilyprovide an accuratecomparison between models

CLASS WINNERS̆koda Roomster Scout 1.9 TDI£14,355 as testedS̆koda’s Roomster mini-MPV didreally well for a little’un. The 1.9-litrediesel engine isn’t especiallypowerful but the output is wellmatched to its well-sorted gearbox.Ratios are just about right for

towing and the S̆koda pulls welleven in top (5th) gear. Like othersmall cars it can be put off its strokeby crosswinds, but the Roomsternever failed to yank its caravan backinto line. A nice conventionalhandbrake held the outfit easily ona tough 17% gradient, and it pulledaway with just a bit of tyre scrabblebut no real problems. For

caravanners, the Roomster beats itssimilar-under-the-skin partner, theFabia, because of its roominess.However, electrics socket accesswas a little awkward and there was no separate warning forcaravan roadlight failure.

KIA CEE’D 1.6 LS CRDI

FIAT BRAVO 1.9 MULTI JET DAIHATSU MATERIA

S̆KODA FABIA 3 1.9 TDI

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 7

Volkswagen Golf Estate SE 2.0 litre TDI£18,366 as testedVolkswagen has had a lot of successin this competition over the yearsand deservedly so. The Golf EstateSE 2.0 litre TDI doesn’t let the sidedown – in fact it achieved the secondhighest score in this group. Like theclass winner, it has oodles of torque(236lb ft) transmitted through a six-speed manual gearbox, and it’s a caryou want to drive enthusiastically.The rewards are a comfortable drive,no problems with instability and aworkmanlike towcar with plenty ofusable luggage space. A restart onthe severe 17% gradient was quiteeasy with care, the standard-fittraction control taking care of a hintof wheelspin. Good value for moneyin terms of operating costs, and easyaccess to sockets. A sloping tailgatereduces load space but not by anysignificant amount.

S̆koda Octavia 1.8 TFSI£19,725 as testedNot as highly thought of as its diesel-engined compatriot in the next priceclass, the petrol-powered TFSI still hasmany virtues. It is fast, its brakes aresuperb and the whole of the interiorexudes quality. In fact the Octavia isone of those cars where everythingfeels ‘just right’ from the driving seat.However, the TFSI engine is sopowerful that keeping everythingunder control with a caravan on theback needs care. It didn’t feel as sure-footed as some cars at high speedand, despite traction control, there’s atendency to spin the front wheels ontake-off, especially on a gradient. Thesix-speed gearbox is great to use butthe top two ratios are on the high side

when towing. Nice and level with acaravan attached, nothing much tofault regarding towball and socketconnections and reasonable towingdata provided – but high runningcosts compared with the competition.

Seat Altea XL Stylance2.0 TDI £17,885 as testedThe Altea is one of those medium-size cars that always feels solid andwell put together. In 2.0-litre TDI guiseit is also fast and has the sort ofhandling that makes you want to driveit enthusiastically. Put a caravan on theback and it doesn’t disappoint. Inparticular, the gearbox (six speed) is adelight to use and the ratios are justright. A conventional handbrake heldthe outfit rock steady on our tough hilltest, and though there was a bit ofwheel scrabble on take-off (on anewly-dampened surface), the Seat’straction control soon got things in

order. From the driving seat, a lovelycar let down only by very thick A-pillars that obstruct forward vision.If load capacity features high on yourlist of requirements in a reasonablysized and priced towcar, then look no further.

Toyota Auris T180 D-4D 2.2 5 door manual£19,395 as testedToyota’s new Auris sticks in my mindfor the way in which it shrugged off thestop-and-restart on our tough 17%gradient. Helped by torque of 295lb ft,the car and caravan rolled away as ifthey were on the flat. And though thehandbrake action is unconventional –the lever is almost vertical – it workedvery well indeed. There was noinstability on our high-speed circuitbut the ride could have been morecomfortable. Only 50kg nosweightlimit and not the best load carrier in itsclass. However, little to fault in terms ofsocket access and handbookinformation.

Mazda3 2.0 Diesel TS2

£17,222 as testedThere were quite strong crosswindsduring our testing period and in theseconditions you need size and weightin a towcar rather than all-out power.

CARS £16,000 – £20,000

MAZDA 3 2.0 DIESEL TS2

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ESTATESE 2.0 LITRE TDI

SEAT ALTEA XL STYLANCE2.0 TDI

TOYOTA AURIS T180 D-4D 2.2 5 DOOR MANUAL

S̆KODA OCTAVIA 1.8 TFSI

CLASS WINNERFord Mondeo Zetec£18,952 as testedMondeo Man really is a lucky chapthese days. The latest incarnationof Ford’s best seller is a giant leapforward in both quality and style.Fitted with the company’s free-revving 2.0-litre diesel engine andsix-speed manual gearbox, theZetec was quick off the line andremained stable even at 80mph onthe test track. Traction control isstandard and a hint of wheelspinon the hill start was quicklybrought into line, after which theoutfit shrugged off our demandingtest route. This engine andgearbox make for relaxed towing

and, with 250lb ft of torque to playwith, not much gearshifting isnecessary – but it’s such a precisepiece of engineering thatenthusiastic drivers will want to.The car’s interior is streets ahead ofsome more expensive competitorstoo. With parcel shelf removed,the Mondeo is an impressive loadcarrier with a deep boot and it satperfectly level when hitched up.Criticisms? The parking brakecould be more effective and doormirrors could be bigger – butyou’d fit extending ones fortowing, wouldn’t you?

8

The Mazda was quite severelybuffeted at times, with the result that itdidn’t make for a relaxing tow. Plentyof torque from Mazda’s 2.0-litre dieselengine (266lb ft) meant relaxedgearchanging on the flat and thebrakes, including handbrake action,were very good. Socket mountingappeared a little flimsy and as a loadcarrier it's a mid-table finisher.Handbook information on towing isimpressive and both audible andvisual warnings alert you to a faultycaravan indicator.

Nissan Qashqai Acenta £16,819 as testedNissan’s new hatchback has someappealing features for caravanners:usable loadspace, good visibility due

to a higher than average drivingposition and big door mirrors, and ahandbrake that holds easily even on asevere slope. With only a 1.5-litrediesel engine, however, it has to beworked hard to keep up with thetraffic flow. Buy a Qashqai Acentaand you can expect a car that’s hardto beat in terms of running costs – itpumps out low emissions, is in a low

insurance group and is competitivelypriced. It’s also more than adequateas a load carrier.

Jeep Patriot 2.0 CRD£17,459 as testedWithout being too unkind to thePatriot, it is a bit of a sheep in wolf’sclothing. It’s got the looks of a serioustowcar but doesn’t quite deliver allthat’s promised. Full-time all-wheeldrive provides plenty of traction evenwhen taking off on a severe hillclimb,and it’s mostly stable at speed. Butyou have to work it hard and the ride ishard with an uncomfortable pitchingmotion. The six-speed gearbox has along action and top gear is too highfor towing, but the ’box is pleasantenough to use. Towball height

appeared a little high when solo butthere was sufficient give in thesuspension to create a levelconnection with hitched to a caravan.Better than average stowage spaceand socket access.

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi £22,327 as testedSecond-placed in its class, the S-Maxshowed again that Ford has got itright for caravanners. Fitted with aslightly modified version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine used in theMondeo that won the previous priceclass, the S-Max’s impressiveacceleration was helped by a slick-shifting six-speed automaticgearbox. I encountered one wobbleat very high speed (beyond the UKlimit) but the car was always incontrol. The brakes are very good –including an oddly-shaped parkingbrake that looks more like an aircraftthrottle control. The cabin is wellappointed and MPV bodywork veryversatile. As you’d expect, Ford’spopular MPV is an exceptional loadcarrier – however, the S-Max doesn’tcome with a spare wheel butpuncture repair sealant and acompressor instead.

OVER 1800KG AWDCATEGORY WINNERKia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XS£23,465 as testedAn old Caravan Club Towcar of theYear favourite and past winner, theSorento reappeared in its latest 2.5-litre diesel, manual transmission guiseand showed exactly why it has done so

well in this competition before. Thefour-cylinder engine churns out torqueaplenty and full-time four-wheel driveensures the car is always well plantedon the ground. Gear ratios are just

right for towing. It pulls well fromspeeds below 50mph in top, 5th, gearyet even at 60mph the engine is doingonly 2000rpm. There was never anytrace of instability, even at high speed.

Inside, the Sorento is a comfortableand attractive car and a pleasure todrive and the only real criticism I hadwas that the handbrake only just heldon our –very tough –17% hill test.Restarting on this gradient was easy,even in high ratio. A 120kg noseweightlimit, bags of storage and extensivetowing information in the handbookhighlights the importance of thecaravan market to Kia.

CARS £20,000 – £25,000

CARS £16,000 – £20,000 continued

NISSAN QASHQAI ACENTA

FORD S-MAX 2.0 TDCI

KIA SORENTO 2.5 CRDI XS

JEEP PATRIOT 2.0 CRD

CLASS WINNER ANDUNDER 1800KG AWDCATEGORY WINNERS̆koda Octavia Scout TDI£20,035 as testedOne problem with a competitionthat goes on for several days is thatweather conditions can varybetween testing one car andanother. This S̆koda drew the shortstraw when I was driving, with a wettrack and strong crosswinds. All themore notable then that it was anabsolute delight to drive, with awilling engine, sweet gearbox withwell-chosen ratios and full-timefour-wheel drive. Pulling away on

our very severe hill start was easy,and on the twisty alpine section ithandled confidently withpredictable turn-in. A comfortableride and nicely-built interior justadded to the pleasure. Withreasonable access to the towingelectrics, efficient warnings forfaulty trailer bulbs and fairlyimpressive load characteristics, theOctavia is a good all-round towcar.But the best reason for buying oneis its running costs – the best of ninein this class.

Nissan Qashqai Tekna All-Mode 4x4 Auto£22,254 as testedWith a bigger engine and six-speedautomatic transmission, the QashqaiTekna All-Mode 4x4 scored morehighly than the front-wheel-drivemodel in the previous class. I found noproblems with performance andstability was never in quesion even at70-mph-plus. Brakes, and notably thehandbrake, were excellent and the carmade short shrift of our demandinghill route. Unfortunately for Nissan,this Qashqai was up against some verystiff opposition. Good access totowing gear means easyhitching/unhitching.

S̆koda Superb 2.0 TDI£20,468 as testedA V6 diesel Superb was crownedCaravan Club Towcar of the Year fiveyears ago, and this latest versionconfirmed that the car makes a stabletowing platform with good drivingcharacteristics. However, the 2.0-litreTDIwith six-speed manual gearboxlacked the sparkle of the formerchamp. Forget top gear when towingand beware too many steep hills. Afterseveral restarts the Superb wassmelling a bit ‘clutchy’. For morenormal, relaxed towing it remains a

very nice car, well appointed and verywell put together, though it didn’t liveup to its name in terms of load carryingcapacity. Towing electrics are easilyaccessible.

Volvo C30 2.0D SE Sport£21,395 as testedIf you are looking for a small, sportycoupé for occasional use as a towcar,you won’t go far wrong with a VolvoC30 2.0D SE Sport. Everything about itis classy and for caravanners there aresome nice unexpected extras likeexcellent door mirrors and superbhandbrake action. However, it’s not amainstream towcar. In first gear the carpulled away effortlessly on our hill startbut as you move up through the gearsyou find the top ratios (five and six)

aren’t suited, and I wasn’t totally happywith its stability. Unfortunately, greatexterior styling doesn’t lead toimpressive load carrying, but full marksto Volvo for ease of socket access andsupplying decent towing information.

Isuzu Rodeo Denver MAX LE£23,686 as testedTo be fair, this isn’t really what youwould call a mainstream caravanningcar, though with four-wheel drive andhigh or low ratios selectable at thepush of a button, this is the sort ofvehicle that would easily tug yourcaravan out of a sticky situation. Evenin two-wheel drive it tackles all sorts ofterrain, up hill and down dale –partlybecause the suspension (torsion bar

front, leaf spring rear) is hard. That alsomeans a fairly uncomfortable ride.Interior noise levels are high too, andthe gearbox feels agricultural.Positives include an abundance ofstorage space, a noseweight limit of120kg and easily-accessible electrics.Isuzu should also be applauded forstowing tools under the rear seat,giving easy access in the event of apuncture.

Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD Auto£24,036 as testedSelectable four-wheel drive, a bigdiesel engine and automatictransmission will attract caravannersto the Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD Auto, withits chunky go-anywhere looks.Unfortunately it felt a bit lethargic onour test track and although it didn’tbecome unstable once wound up to adecent speed, it didn’t feel as well incontrol as some other competitors.Switching from 2WD to 4WD when thegoing gets rough couldn’t be simpler:you just turn a knob. Back on tarmac,the footbrake worked well enoughbut had a lot of travel, while thehandbrake just would not hold the carand caravan on our 17% gradient.Noseweight limit is an impressive126kg but storage not as generous asin some other SUVs.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD£23,589 as testedWith the same big four-cylinder dieselengine and five-speed automatictransmission as in the Dodge Nitro,the Jeep Wrangler offers a similarhard ride and limited performance. Atleast the handbrake would hold withthis car, though the lever was at thetop of its travel. With the car’sutilitarian looks and ‘take apart’bodywork it will appeal to a certainsector of the caravanning market, justlike the Land Rover Defender. Formore conventional caravanners,though, there are more comfortablealternatives. Noseweight limit is aclass-leading 170kg but the towballwas too high: 485-490mm whenhitched to the caravan, resulting in anose-up ride.

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 9

CARS £20,000 – £25,000 continued

NISSAN QASHQAI TEKNA ALL-MODE 4X4 AUTO

VOLVO C30 2.0D SE SPORT ISUZU RODEO DENVER MAX LE

DODGE NITRO 2.8 CRD AUTO JEEP WRANGLERUNLIMITED 2.8 CRD

S̆KODA SUPERB 2.0 TDI

12

Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0DI-D Elegance£25,188 as testedMitsubishi’s Outlander has theadvantage of selectable four-wheeldrive and should be on the shortlist ofanyone looking for a serious towcar.The low-emission 2.0-litre dieselengine is free-revving and so well-matched to the six-speed gearboxthat it was one of the few cars in thisyear’s contest in which sixth gear wasusable when towing. Stability was notan issue: when the Outlander’scaravan was pushed out of line by acrosswind, this beefy car took controlimmediately. Drivers are presentedwith a comfortable and well-designed cabin, with bigger-than-average door mirrors and all controlsin the right place. Brake action,including handbrake performance,was well above average. To top it all,the Outlander has a noseweight limitof 100kg. Our caravanability judgescould find little to fault, with value-for-money running costs and theability to consume as much luggageas you could throw at it. The socket iswell located for easy electricalconnection too.

Volvo V50 D5 SE Sport £25,445 as testedVoted Caravan Club Towcar of theYear 2007, the Volvo put in animpressive performance again thisyear. The sweet-sounding five-cylinder diesel engine is mated to afive-speed automatic transmissionand could get you into trouble if youdon’t keep a watch on thespeedometer. Progress is fast andseamless, but the car has impressivestopping ability too and the parkingbrake works a treat. Inside, theenvironment oozes quality, and there’sroom in the back of this stylish‘sportwagon’ for a fair bit of kit. Therewere no problems with stability, asyou’d expect from the contest’sreturning champion. An accessibleelectrical socket, reasonable runningcosts and good load capabilities.

Volvo V70 2.4D SE£28,945 as testedFitted with a slightly detuned versionof the five-cylinder diesel engine inthe V50, this model also differed byhaving six-speed automatictransmission. Acceleration was briskand seamless but I found the V70

more seriously affected bycrosswinds. Nothing dangerous, butat the limit it seemed the V70 wasslightly less in control of its caravanthan the V50. Nice features included areally easy restart on our 17% gradientand an effective electronic parkingbrake. A good load carrier, and prettydetailed towing information in thehandbook. Nice and level whenhitched up, but not the cheapest interms of running costs.

Nissan X-Trail AventuraExplorer Extreme£26,981 as testedMasses of torque from Nissan’s 2.0-litre diesel engine and fairly lowintermediate gears pay dividends ingetting the X-Trail on the move, andonce you have wound it up to a decentspeed you should have no troublewith instability. In two-wheel drivethere was a little wheelspin on verysevere hill starts before tractioncontrol (standard) cut in, but if I’dneeded 4WD it would have been a

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

CARS £25,000 – £32,000

CLASS WINNER AND CARAVAN CLUBTOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008Ford Mondeo Titanium XEstate 2.5i£25,252 as testedFord’s new Mondeo is a leap forwardin many respects, and although theoutgoing model was a good towcarthis Estate version with 2.5-litrepetrol engine (one of only two in this

year’s competition) is excellent. Thefive-cylinder engine producesmaximum torque from just 1500rpm,making restarts easy; and althoughmaximum power isn’t reached untilit’s doing 5000rpm there is poweraplenty to move its caravan brisklyup to speeds of 80mph (whereallowable) and beyond. Moreimportantly, it does so without anytrace of instability. Handling is sogood that you know exactly what the

outfit is doing. Well-weightedsteering helps you position the outfitprecisely, the brakes are excellentand the six-speed gearbox, as usualin a Ford, is a delight. Add to that awell-appointed interior, comfort and an ability to swallow a hugeamount of luggage and you have a winning towcar.

TOWCAROF THEYEAR

2008

VOLVO V50 D5 SE SPORT VOLVO V70 2.4D SE

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 2.0 DI-D ELEGANCE

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 13

simple matter of turning a dial. The X-Trail’s handbrake is on the ’wrong’side (ie designed for left-hand drivecars) but in practice it worked betterthan most in this year’s competition.Here’s another vehicle with anabundance of storage space, with auseful underfloor slide-out unit in theboot ideal for concealing valuables.Easily accessible socket too, and niceand level when hitched.

Mercedes-Benz C220 CDi£28,797 as testedMake sure you read the handbookbefore you tow with a manual-transmission C-Class; the drivingtechnique for getting away on hillscan seem daunting. Keep your feet onthe footbrake and clutch as yourelease the (foot-operated) on/offparking brake then, as you move yourright foot to the accelerator, pressurein the brake system is maintained for aa couple of seconds while youengage the clutch. In practice it worksbut it needs practice. If you stall, youhave to act swiftly to get your left footon to the parking brake. On the track,the C220 was brisk and the six-speedgearbox well suited to towing. High-speed stability was not a strong point,though. Promising pretty reasonablerunning costs for a Merc, the C220disappoints as a load carrier – itswallowed only half our typicalcaravanner’s load.

Renault Grand Espace Tech Run dCi 150£25,278 as testedWith just driver and ballast to simulateone passenger on board, the 2.0-litrediesel Espace struggled, needingsecond gear to tackle a long 14%straight that many cars took in thirdgear – not a good start for a largepeople carrier. At speed the Renaultdidn’t feel in control, either, but atleast the brakes work well. Theelctronic ‘push-button on, auto-off’parking brake is particularly usefulwhen you are towing. You need tolose a couple of seats to turn thisRenault into a decent load carrier.

NISSAN X-TRAIL AVENTURA EXPLORER EXTREME

MERCEDES-BENZ C220 CDI SSANGYONG REXTON II SX

RENAULT GRAND ESPACETECH RUN DCI 150

HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.2 CRTD CDX + 7 SEAT

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90STATION WAGON

SsangYong Rexton II SX£27,279 as testedAlthough the Rexton didn’t getunstable at speed, it took too long toget there and there was too muchbody roll. At slower speeds it did notgive a comfortable ride and on the hillroute it was difficult to get the parkingbrake to hold. Good points include ahigh noseweight limit (128kg) and themirrors give good visibility. Thetowball was too high – 540mm fromthe ground– so when hitched thenose of the caravan was pointingupwards. Cavernous rear storagecompartment, though, and the toolkit was handily placed beneath thenearside rear seat.

Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRTD CDX+ 7 Seat£26,360 as testedThe Hyundai controlled its caravanwell enough in strong crosswindsbut the ride wasn’t comfortable.Five-speed manual transmission hasa nice enough action, which is just aswell as it needs plenty of use. TheSanta Fe struggled up our long 14%gradient and, although it managedto restart on the tough 17% hill, thehandbrake just wouldn’t hold. Creditwhere it’s due – full marks to Hyundaifor supplying detailed towinginformation, there is a good amountof storage space and the vehicle sitslevel with caravan behind.

Land Rover Defender 90Station Wagon £26,351 as testedA Land Rover Defender will take youanywhere, it will go on forever and itwon’t complain if you put a bigcaravan on the back. Whether youcould live with its uncomfortable rideand noisy interior only you can say. Athigh speed it didn’t feel all that happy,with lots of buffeting; and the brakesdon’t inspire confidence. Handbrakeperformance is good, though, andthe LR shrugs off hill starts. Rear seatshave to be folded sideways to createload space, and then you turnDefender into a two-seater only.Excellent 150kg noseweight limit.

14

Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI£53,500 as testedAnother car that has improved overthe years, Mercedes-Benz’s ML wassubmitted with 4.0-litre V8 engine andseven-speed automatic transmission.What else would you expect foralmost £54,000! Gear selection iscontrolled by a steering column stalk.To be honest, the ML420 shrugs offcaravan towing with such ease that itseems nit-picking to criticise, but thecontrols, especially the steering, are solight that you can tend to over-compensate for any misalignmentdue, for instance, to crosswinds. Likeother M-B models it has a foot-operated parking brake, but that’s nodisadvantage with automatictransmission. An excellent load carrierwith 140kg noseweight limit and it sitslevel with a caravan hooked up.Thumbs up for handbook information,but an expensive car to buy and run.

Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2DI-DC Warrior LWB£32,691 as testedThe Shogun tested came with a big(3.2-litre) four-cylinder diesel engineand five-speed automatic

transmission. Somehow it seemedsluggish off the mark, but speedpicked up rapidly to well over the UKlimit. At high speed the Shogun wasbuffeted strongly by crosswinds anddidn’t always feel completely incontrol. Performance on our hill routewas impressive, with easy take-offs onsteep gradients helped by a decenthandbrake. Even on the 17% hill ourShogun/Senator Louisiana outfit gotaway in two-wheel drive rather thanhaving to engage 4WD or low-ratio.Shogun interiors are much improved,and the high driving position and bigmirrors are a boon when towing. Arear-mounted spare wheel means thetowball sticks out a long way forclearance – mind you don’t catch yourshins. Storage compartment took afull load with little complaint.

Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI£44,418 as testedCompared with the ML, the R-Classhad ‘only’ a 3.0-litre V6 under thebonnet but the same column-stalk-operated auto transmission giving achoice of seven speeds. Gear changeswere imperceptible and despite thesmaller engine – in a car that weighs2270kg empty, with a 1930kg caravanon the back – progress was fast. Again,though, there were times when thisbig people carrier was put off itsstroke by strong winds. Self-levellingair suspension at the back is a bonus,in theory at least, but at slow speedsthere was a tendency for the caravanto ‘snatch’ a bit too much. You need toget down on hands and knees toaccess the 13-pin socket, and to fit in afull load two of the rear seats need tobe down.

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

CARS OVER £32,000

CLASS WINNERLand Rover Freelander 2£32,728 as testedLand Rover’s Freelander has growninto a better-looking, better-equipped 4x4 with a style that isbound to appeal to caravanners.Whether they will pay over £30,000for one remains to be seen, but thediesel-engined, auto-transmissionversion tested here would not

disappoint them. The six-speedgearbox changes seamlessly whenleft to its own devices, it copes easilywith hill starts and descents (justleave matters to Hill DescentControl if you are off-road) and onthe flat you won’t find the Freelanderput off its stroke by gusty crosswinds.Icing on the cake is a pair of big,square door mirrors and a highenough driving position to give you

some view through many caravans.Towing electrics are accessible, thenoseweight li mit of 150kg is goodand the handbook is prettycomprehensive. It also swallowedmost of our load. A worthy winner of the top price class.

MERCEDES-BENZ ML420 CDI MERCEDES-BENZ R320 CDI

MITSUBISHI SHOGUN 3.2 DI-DC WARRIOR LWB AUTO

FOR THE past 10 years The CaravanClub has used Bailey caravans fortesting cars in its Caravan Club Towcarof the Year competition. This year’stesting made use of models from allfour of Bailey’s current ranges:Discovery, Ranger, Pageant andSenator, loaded to weights that variedfrom 880kg to 1968kg.

All models come with a three-yearmanufacturer’s warranty and six-yearbody integrity guarantee, and all useAl-Ko fully-galvanised chassis.Pageant and Senator are fitted asstandard with hitch-head stabilisersand for 2008 Senators are also fittedwith Al-Ko’s fully automatic ATC trailerstability devices – Bailey being the firstmanufacturer to offer this safety aid.

It is worth pointing out that TheCaravan Club disconnects all anti-snaking hardware for Towcar of theYear testing, and it is a testament toboth Bailey and Al-Ko engineeringskills that none of the caravans in thisyear’s competition misbehaved onthe test track.

DISCOVERY SERIES 5This is Bailey’s low-cost, low-weightrange offering three models with ex-works weights with a maximum of just993kg. Mercury, Neptune and Marsmodels offer two, five and six berths atprices from £8599 to £8999.

Features include 3kW heaters,cookers with three-burner hob plus grilland oven, and big gas/electric fridges.

RANGER SERIES 5Next step up is the Ranger series,seven caravans fitted with large,panoramic sunroofs to help maximise a

feeling of lightness inside. Large,aircraft-style overhead lockers offergood storage in Rangers, while on theequipment front there is a four-burnerhob, blown-air heating and fully-sprung upholstery. Prices range from£9895 to £11,875.

PAGEANT SERIES 6With Pageant (seven models,£11,795 to £12,645), buyers haveeven more in the way of homecomforts. Apart from higher qualityfurniture and furnishings, amicrowave oven, directional TV aerial

and stereo radio/CD/MP3 playerbecome part of the standardspecification. A range of interiorlayouts is offered, sleeping two, fouror five adults.

SENATOR SERIES 6Bailey describes its Senator models asoffering ‘the ultimate touringexperience’ and it’s not hard to seewhy. One two-berth and five four-berthmodels, priced from £13,980 to£16,450, feature energy-savinginterior lighting, heated towel rails and17in flat screen TVs.

BAILEY CARAVANSsafe on track,safe on the road

For more details see bailey-caravans.co.ukCARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 15

16

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

MAKE/MODEL CARAVAN NOSE GEARS/ FUEL/WT (kg) WEIGHT SELECTION/ CYLS/

LIMIT (kg) DRIVE CC

UNDER £16,000Daihatsu Materia 880 50 5/MAN/FWD P/4/1997S̆koda Fabia 3 1.9 TDI 995 50 5/MAN/FWD D/4/1896S̆koda Roomster Scout 1.9 TDI 1067 50 5/MAN/FWD D/4/1896Kia cee’d 1.6 LS CRDi 1248 75 5/MAN/FWD D/4/1582Fiat Bravo 1.9 MultiJet 150 Dynamic 1220 60 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1910

£16,000 – £20,000Nissan Qashqai Acenta 1250 75 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1461Mazda3 2.0 Diesel TS2 1262 75 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1998Jeep Patriot 2.0 CRD Sport 1398 75 6/MAN/AWD D/4/1968Seat Altea XL Stylance 2.0 TDI 1312 75 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1968Volkswagen Golf Estate SE 2.0 TDI 1192 75 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1968Ford Mondeo Zetec 1325 80 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1997Toyota Auris T180 2.2 D-4D 1233 60 6/MAN/FWD D/4/2231S̆koda Octavia Estate 1.8 TFSI 1139 75 6/MAN/FWD P/4/1798

£20,000 – £25,000S̆koda Octavia Scout TDI 1301 75 6/MAN/AWD D/4/1968S̆koda Superb 2.0 TDI 1290 75 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1968Volvo C30 2.0D SE Sport 1202 75 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1997Nissan Qashqai Tekna All-Mode 4x4 1432 75 6/AUT/F-AWD D/4/1994Ford S-Max Zetec 1522 80 6/AUT/FWD D/4/1997Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XS 1755 120 5/MAN/AWD D/4/2497Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD 1683 170 5/AUT/R-AWD D/4/2777Isuzu Rodeo Denver MAX LE 1632 120 5/MAN/R-AWD D/4/2499Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD SXT 1713 126 5/AUT/F-AWD D/4/2777

£25,000 – £32,000Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 Di-D Elegance 1437 100 6/MAN/R-AWD D/4/1968Ford Mondeo Titanium X Estate 1360 80 6/MAN/FWD P/5/2521Renault Grand Espace Tech Run dCi 150 1600 80 6/MAN/FWD D/4/1995Volvo V50 D5 SE Sport 1333 75 5/AUT/FWD D/5/2400Land Rover Defender 90 Station Wagon 1606 150 6/MAN/AWD D/4/2401Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRTD CDX+ (7st) 1584 88 5/MAN/R-AWD D/4/2188Nissan X-Trail Aventura Explorer Extreme 1449 100 6/MAN/AWD D/4/1995SsangYong Rexton II SX 1784 128 5/AUT/AWD D/5/2696Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI 1347 75 6/MAN/RWD D/4/2148Volvo V70 2.4D SE 1511 75 6/AUT/FWD D/5/2400

OVER £32,000Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 Di-CD Warrior LWB 1917 135 5/AUT/R-AWD D/4/3200Land Rover Freelander 2 1737 150 6/AUT/AWD D/4/2179Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI 1930 85 7/AUT/AWD D/6/2987Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI 1968 140 7/AUT/AWD D/8/3996

Prices are for cars as tested, including manufacturer-approved towing equipment. Class winners in red. In cases where 85% of a car’s kerbweight exceeded the Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass of the heaviest caravan, excess ballast was loaded into the car

THE COMPETITORS

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 17

BHP@RPM – LB FT@RPM CO2 INS GRP PRICEg/km

102@6000 – 98@4400 169 8D £11,385105@4000 – 240@1800 129 4E £13,300105@4000 – 240@1800 139 5E £14,355113@4000 – 188@1900 125 6E £14,735150@4000 – 225@2000 149 10 £15,594

105@4000 – 240@2000 145 5 £16,819143@TBA – 266@2000 162 9E £17,222138@4000 – 229@1750 180 11E £17,459138@4000 – 236@1750 157 8E £17,885138@4000 – 236@1750 148 12 £18,366138@4000 – 250@2240 156 8E £18,952175@3600 – 295@2000 164 13A £19,395160@5000 – 250@1500 176 TBA £19,725

140@4000 – 320@1750 173 10E £20,035140@4000 – 320@1900 169 12E £20,468136@4000 – 320@2000 151 12E £21,395150@4000 – 320@2000 208 10 £22,254128@4000 – 236@1750 194 11E £22,327168@3800 – 392@2000 209 13 £23,465174@3800 – 295@2000 263 10E £23,589165@3600 – 293@2200 N/A 12A £23,686174@3800 – 339@2000 250 11E £24,036

138@4000 – 228@1750 183 12E £25,188216@5000 – 236@1500 222 14E £25,252110@4000 – 340@2000 196 13A £25,278180@4000 – 350@1750 184 15E £25,445121@3500 – 266@2000 266 13 £26,351153@4000 – 253@1800 191 13P £26,360170@3750 – 360@2000 198 14E £26,981185@4000 – 297@2300 233 14A £27,279170@3800 – 295@2000 156 14E £28,797163@4000 – 340@1750 195 14E £28,945

168@3800 – 275@2000 280 14A £32,691158@4000 – 295@2000 224 13E £32,728224@3800 – 376@1600 253 20D £44,418306@3600 – 516@2000 294 18A £53,500

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR 2008 19

IF THIS Towcar of the Year 2008supplement has whetted your appetitefor a new towcar, here are a fewpointers to help you get it right.

The Caravan Club Towcar of theYear competition is an excellent guideand starting point. Along with eachwritten description in this supplementtake a look at our specification tables,where you’ll find brief but relevantdetails about this year’s entrants.

The type or style of car you requiremay be governed as much by the sizeand weight of your caravan as it is byyour own or your family’s needs. Forinstance, if you have a big family and abig caravan your choice is likely to berestricted to a large MPV or 4x4. Forthose enjoying wider choices, thevariations can become more complex;but don’t fall into the trap of buying acar exclusively for towing, only to endup with one that doesn’t fulfil your other– perhaps more important – needs.

I often speak to caravanners whohave bought an off-roader or peoplecarrier for the caravan they use acouple of times a year, yet complainbitterly that it’s expensive, unwieldyand too big for their everyday needs.Like most things, your towcar choiceneeds a bit of thought, a bit of researchand a good dose of common sense. If,for example, you drive 10,000 miles ayear but tow 1000, then perhapsthere’s room for compromise – as longas it’s a safe compromise. Maybe ifthere’s just two of you, that familyhatchback you fancied mightaccommodate awning, gas cylindersand tinned foods, enabling yourcaravan to be towed at an acceptableweight ratio, saving the purchase ofthat estate car which is far too big for48 weeks of the year.

But let’s start with the towingbasics. Your ideal towcar must haveadequate power to pull your caravanand enough weight to control it.Transmission choices are up to you –automatics these days are excellent,with some even sensing a trailerbeing towed and adjusting their gearselection to suit. Engines? Well, 34out of 36 entries in this year’scompetition were diesel. That speaksfor itself – though I have to concede

that a car with an exceptional petrolengine won this year’s competition.Modern diesels are ever more refinedand produce lots of pulling powerwith very good fuel economy.

You also need a heavy enough carfor your caravan. The Caravan Clubrecommends that your holiday-readycaravan (containing all yourpossessions) shouldn’t weigh morethan 85% of the car’s kerbweight. So aim for this, but in any event never tow a trailer weighing morethan your towcar.

You’ll also need to know thenoseweight, or ‘static verticaldownload’ if we’re getting formal. Thisis the weight your loaded caravan’shitch imposes on the towball. Whileyou want it as heavy as permitted, thisload shouldn’t exceed the car maker’smaximum load nor the caravancoupling’s maximum load. Typically,family car noseweight limits range from50kg to 80kg, with some 4x4s goingbeyond 150kg – though most caravan

couplings have a maximum noseweightfigure of 100kg. One otherrecommendation you’ll see is that the‘ideal’ noseweight of your caravan is7% of its laden weight. Because oftowcar and/or caravan limitations, thisfigure may be difficult to attain; but it’sworth trying to get as close as possible.

The Caravan Club recommendshaving your towcar fitted with the carmanufacturer’s approved towingequipment. As far as the ever-more-complex vehicle electrical systemsare concerned, this advice is probablymore important now than ever before;and if you experience problems yourrecourse to a single supplier shouldsimplify matters. That said,independent towbar makers produceonly Type Approved equipment.Again, be careful about electrics andwiring kits – non-manufacturer-approved kits could cause warrantyproblems if faults occur. Oh, and doyou want twin 7-pin sockets or asingle13-pin? For current UK

caravans you may need a 2x7-pin-to-13-pin adapter – cost from around£15 to £40, with extra cable to lashdown. While 13-pin sockets arebecoming more common on cars,some car makers still offer a choice.The majority of new UK caravans willbe fitted with 13-pin plugs by sometime next year.

Kerbweights, noseweights,power/torque figures, towingequipment prices etc should all beavailable from your car dealer. But notall know about towing. If the dealer isvague, disinterested or unwilling to findout, vote with your wallet and gosomewhere else. But The Club is here tohelp through its Technical Department,Club MagazineTowcar Tests and, ofcourse, Caravan Club Towcar of the Yearcompetitions. Members can downloada detailed leaflet, Choice of Towcar fromwww.caravanclub.co.uk, or it isavailable from The Club’s Informationoffice on 01342 336611.

Happy and safe towing!

CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

TOPS TO TOWCARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE TOWCAR TESTER CLIVE WHITE OFFERSSOME TIPS ON CHOOSING YOUR IDEAL TOWCAR

“34 out of 36 entries in this year’s competitionwere diesel. That speaks for itself ”