This year, Practical Caravan were once again invited to bring our caravanning expertise to the judging panel and over the following pages we bring you the Carvan Club's view on what's the best towcar for your cash.
Read the full review of these towcars, plus our verdict, in the Awards 2004 issue of Practical Caravan.
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FACTFILE
Price £11,695
Engine 2.0-litre, common-rail turbodiesel
Max power
90bhp @ 4000rpm
Max torque
151lb/ft @ 1900rpm
0-60mph 13.4 sec
Top speed 99mph
Average fuel economy 49.6mpg
Insurance group 5
Kerbweight 1311kg
85 percent weight 1114kg
Maximum towing limit 1100kg
Maximum noseweight 70kg
What is it? It’s a van-derived five-seater with great headroom and masses of space
Price £11,695

RUNNERS-UP
Seat Ibiza FR TDi
Price £13,850
Kerbweight 1236kg

Mitsubishi Space Star 1.9 DI-D S
Price £12,999
Kerbweight 1260kg

FACTFILE
Price £15,895
Engine 2.0-litre, common-rail turbodiesel
Max power
114bhp @ 3600rpm
Max torque
207 lb/ft @ 2000-2200rpm
0-60mph 10.6 sec
Top speed 115mph
Average fuel economy 49.6mpg
Insurance group 6
Kerbweight 1350kg
85 percent weight 1146kg
Maximum towing limit 1300kg
Maximum noseweight 55kg
What is it? A small hatch that stands out particularly for its refinement and trim.
Price £15,895

RUNNERS-UP
VW Golf 2.0 GT TDI with DSG
Price £18,030
Kerbweight 1532kg
Vauxhall Astra 1.8 SRi
Price £15,195
Kerbweight 1248kg

FACTFILE
Price £24,495
Engine 3.0-litre, V6 common-rail turbodiesel
Max power
174bhp @ 4000rpm
Max torque
243lb/ft @ 1600rpm
0-60mph 8.5 sec
Top speed 138mph
Average fuel economy 37.7mpg
Insurance group 9
Kerbweight 1592kg
85 percent weight 1353kg
Maximum towing limit 1400kg
Maximum noseweight 78kg
What is it? A fine-riding hatch – good at shifting big loads
Price £24,495

RUNNERS-UP
Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi
Price £15,300
Kerbweight 1545kg

Volvo S40 2.0D SE
Price £19,938
Kerbweight 1426kg

FACTFILE
Price £18,700
Engine 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Max power
134bhp @ 3500rpm
Max torque
229lb/ft @ 2000rpm
0-60mph 10.9 sec
Top speed 122mph
Average fuel economy 44.1mpg
Insurance group 8
Kerbweight 1506kg
85 percent weight 1280kg
Maximum towing limit 1600kg
Maximum noseweight 75kg
What is it? A very practical load-lugger with the same agile underpinnings as the acclaimed Mazda 6 hatchback
Price £18,700

RUNNERS-UP
BMW 330d SE Touring
Price £29,600
Kerbweight 1691kg

Renault Mégane Sports Tourer 1.9 dCi Dynamique
Price £15,900
Kerbweight 1315kg

FACTFILE
Price £30,400
Engine 2.5-litre common-rail turbodiesel
Max power
177bhp @ 4000rpm
Max torque
295lb/ft @ 2000rpm
0-60mph 8.3 sec
Top speed 140mph
Average fuel economy 34.4mpg
Insurance group 15
Kerbweight 1675kg
85 percent weight 1424kg
Maximum towing limit 1500kg
Maximum noseweight 78kg
What is it? The latest incarnation of BMW’s load-lugging titan
Price £30,400

RUNNERS-UP
Mercedes E320 CDi Avantgarde estate
Price £36,865
Kerbweight 2032kg

Mercedes C220 CDi SE Avantgarde saloon
Price £25,085
Kerbweight 1540kg

FACTFILE
Price £20,294
Engine 3.0-litre direct-injection turbodiesel
Max power
157bhp @ 3800rpm
Max torque a 246lb/ft @ 1600-2400rpm
0-60mph 19.0 sec
Top speed 96mph
Average fuel economy 30.9mpg
Insurance group 11a
Kerbweight 1845kg
85 percent weight 1568kg
Maximum towing limit 3000kg
Maximum noseweight 120kg
What is it? A tough all-round pick-up that has a reputation for cast-iron durability.
Price £20,294

RUNNERS-UP
Nissan Navara Rally Raid
Price £19,638
Kerbweight 1832kg

Mitsubishi L200 Warrior
Price £21,322
Kerbweight 1765kg

FACTFILE
Price £16,700
Engine 2.0-litre common-rail turbodiesel
Max power
138bhp @ 4000rpm
Max torque
236lb/ft @ 1750rpm
0-60mph 9.9 sec
Top speed 125mph
Average fuel economy 47.9mpg
Insurance group 8
Kerbweight 1511kg
85 percent weight 1284kg
Maximum towing limit 1400kg
Maximum noseweight 75kg
What is it? A brand new five-seat Midi-MPV from Seat with overtly sporty aspirations.
Price £16,700

RUNNERS-UP
Ford Focus C-Max 2.0 TDCi Ghia
Price £18,390
Kerbweight 1524kg

Citroën Xsara Picasso Desire
Price £15,845
Kerbweight 1313kg

FACTFILE
Price £20,995
Engine 2.0-litre, horizontally opposed turbocharged petrol
Max power
175bhp @ 5600rpm
Max torque
181lb/ft @ 3200rpm
0-60mph 7.9 sec
Top speed 125mph
Average fuel economy 28.8mpg
Insurance group 15
Kerbweight 1451kg
85 percent weight 1233kg
Maximum towing limit 1800kg
Maximum noseweight 75kg
What is it? A powerful vehicle with a great engine, somewhere between a compact 4x4 and the traditional 4x4 estate.
Price £20,995

RUNNERS-UP
BMW X3 3.0i Sport
Price £33,450
Kerbweight 1765kg

Nissan X-Trail 2.2 dCi T-Spec
Price £23,395
Kerbweight 1855kg

FACTFILE
Price £20,995
Engine 2.0-litre, horizontally opposed turbocharged petrol
Max power
175bhp @ 5600rpm
Max torque
181lb/ft @ 3200rpm
0-60mph 7.9 sec
Top speed 125mph
Average fuel economy 28.8mpg
Insurance group 15
Kerbweight 1451kg
85 percent weight 1233kg
Maximum towing limit 1800kg
Maximum noseweight 75kg
What is it? A powerful vehicle with a great engine, somewhere between a compact 4x4 and the traditional 4x4 estate.
Price £20,995

RUNNERS-UP
BMW X3 3.0i Sport
Price £33,450
Kerbweight 1765kg

Nissan X-Trail 2.2 dCi T-Spec
Price £23,395
Kerbweight 1855kg

FACTFILE
Price £51,570
Engine 5.0-litre, V10 turbodiesel
Max power
309bhp @ 3750rpm
Max torque
553lb/ft @ 2000rpm
0-60mph 7.8 sec
Top speed 140mph
Average fuel economy 23.2mpg
Insurance group 16
Kerbweight 2624kg
85 percent weight 2230kg
Maximum towing limit 3500kg
Maximum noseweight 140kg
What is it? An exquisitely made leviathan that costs more than some houses but has more torque than an oil tanker
Price £51,570

RUNNERS-UP
2nd Land Rover Discovery 3
Price £41,995
Kerbweight 2718kg

3rd Mercedes Benz ML350 Special Edition
Price £33,070
Kerbweight 2115kg