Top of the tow: Kodiaq and Elroq secure 2026 What Car? Tow Car of the Year titles

• Kodiaq tops up to 1,700kg category to record back-to back wins
• Elroq named Best Electric car for caravans up to 1,400kg
• Judges praise Kodiaq’s strong performance and stability when towing
• Elroq scores highly for performance and surefooted handling
• Škoda has now recorded 38 Tow Car of the Year category wins

Milton Keynes, 11 June 2026: Škoda has pulled in another pair of towing awards with the Kodiaq and Elroq taking top honours in the 2026 What Car? Tow Car Awards. Both cars repeated their victories of 2025, seeing off stiff competition to be crowned winners in their respective categories. The two latest awards mean that Škoda has won an incredible 38 category wins in the Tow Car of the Year awards.

Having been named overall Tow Car Of the Year in 2025, the Kodiaq once again topped the up to 1,700kg category. Tested in 2.0 TDI 193PS Sportline DSG 4x4 form, the seven-seater SUV impressed the judges with its solid and predictable handling and exceptional practicality. Commenting on the Kodiaq’s win, judge David Motton said: “Stability has to be top priority when choosing a tow car, and in this respect the Skoda Kodiaq excels. What’s more, the diesel engine confidently pulls car and caravan up to speed.”

Highlighting the Kodiaq’s long distance comfort, Motton added: “The Kodiaq is easy to enjoy as an everyday drive as well as a tow car. Thanks to the smooth ride and roomy cabin, long journeys are relaxed. It makes an excellent seven-seat tow car.”

The Kodiaq was joined in winners’ circle by the Elroq, which secured victory the up to 1,400kg category. Having won the up to 1,200kg title in 2025, Skoda’s multi-award-winning all-electric compact SUV proved that it is just as competent with a heavier load. Tested in 85 SE L form, the Elroq’s sure-footedness proved the deciding factor for the What Car? judging panel. Explaining why the Elroq took top spot, David Motton said: “The Skoda Elroq remains our favourite EV for towing a lightweight caravan. Most importantly, it’s very stable. There wasn’t so much as a twitch from the back of the car while towing. The Elroq has power to spare, too.”

Motton also praised the Elroq’s long driving range and practicality, adding: “For day-to-day journeys, the Škoda is enjoyable to drive and very comfortable. The interior is roomy and the car will go a long way between charges.”

The Tow Car of the Year judging panel, comprised of car and towing experts from What Car?, conducted a series of tests with a range of caravans. Trials included an emergency lane-change, 30-60mph acceleration, 30-0mph braking, and a hill start. All test vehicles were also rated for their towing suitability, with boot space and trailer stability systems also taken into account.

Škoda has a strong history of catering to drivers who tow. Every model in the brand’s current lineup is available with a factory-fitted tow bar and wiring, while certain models also offer the convenience of an electrically-retractable tow hitch.

A comprehensive library of Škoda media resources, including photography, video footage and technical specifications, can be found at www.skodamedia.com.

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• is successfully steering through the new decade with the Next Level Škoda Strategy;
• aims to become one of the top three best-selling brands in Europe by the end of the decade by offering its customers the best of both worlds through a range of attractive BEV, hybrid & ICE products;
• effectively exploits the potential in important growth markets such as India, Vietnam and the ASEAN region;
• currently offers customers 13 passenger car model ranges: Fabia, Scala, Octavia, Superb, Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq, Epiq, Elroq, Enyaq, Slavia, Kylaq and Kushaq;
• delivered more than 1,040,000 vehicles to customers worldwide in 2025;
• has been part of the Volkswagen Group, one of the world's most successful car manufacturers, for more than 30 years;
• is part of Brand Group CORE, an organisational merger of the Volkswagen Group's volume brands, with the aim of achieving joint growth and significantly increasing the overall efficiency of all five volume brands;
• independently develops and produces components such as MEB battery systems, engines and transmissions for other Volkswagen Group brands;
• operates three production plants in the Czech Republic; has production capacities in Spain, Slovakia, Kazakhstan and India, mostly through group partnerships, as well as in Vietnam and Ukraine in cooperation with a local partner;
• employs around 40,000 people worldwide and is active in almost 100 markets.

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