The Leon X-Perience is Seat’s take on a small but worthy niche: the 4×4 estate car. With its raised ride height and four-wheel drive, the X-Perience should happily tow over a bumpy farm campsite, but with lower running costs and a more rewarding driving experience on Tarmac than many SUVs offer.

The most powerful version finished second in its weight class at the Tow Car Awards 2015. Is the less-powerful model just as good and what tow car ability does it have?

So, what are we looking for? We want a car that’s as tough as an SUV but as practical as an estate. We expect stable towing, the muscle to pull a family caravan, and a boot that swallows a fortnight’s holiday luggage.