Volkswagen T-Roc and Touareg win Towcar of the Year Awards

T-Roc R-Line voted best for towing caravans weighing 1,100 to 1,400kg while the Touareg Final Edition wins category for caravans weighing 1,800 to 2,000kg

• T-Roc wins category for caravans weighing 1,100 to 1,400kg
• Judges said the T-Roc’s engine “really shone”
• Touareg wins category for caravans weighing 1,800 to 2,000kg
• Judges said the Touareg “excelled in this class” and “recorded one of the shortest stopping distances of the competition”

Milton Keynes – Volkswagen is celebrating two wins at this year’s Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards. The T-Roc R-Line was voted best for towing caravans weighing 1,100 to 1,400kg, while the Touareg Final Edition won the category for caravans weighing 1,800 to 2,000kg.

The results were announced at the Royal Automobile Club in London, following in-depth scrutiny of cars by Caravan and Motorhome Club experts in a variety of everyday towing situations.

The Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line 1.5 eTSI 150 PS with seven-speed direct-shift gearbox (DSG) won the 1,100 to 1,400kg category. Judges said: “This stylish compact SUV has long impressed caravanners. The car tested had Volkswagen’s perennial 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine and it really shone. There was more than enough power for hill starts and the car handled well with good refinement.”

The judges were particularly impressed by the Touareg Final Edition 3.0 TDI 4MOTION 286PS with eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox, when moving up in size to caravans weighing 1,800 to 2,000kg. They said: “This SUV has always impressed, but especially so this year as it had an unbeatable combination of power, refinement, comfort and driving dynamics. It excelled in this class, delivering effortless acceleration and smooth six-cylinder refinement.

“Despite its size, the big Volkswagen recorded one of the shortest stopping distances of the competition and remained beautifully controlled throughout. Opulent inside and brimming with tech, the Touareg ticks nearly every single box.”

The Caravan and Motorhome Club judged cars by splitting them into categories, according to caravan weight, to make it easy for potential buyers to choose the best vehicles for their caravans.

Each car was assessed in a variety of demanding real-world situations including gradients, hill starts, downhill braking, high-speed stability, reversing, comfort, visibility and the ability to join fast-moving traffic.

“We are delighted with our double success at this year’s Towcar of the Year Awards,” said Ewan Elder, Product Manager at Volkswagen UK for both the T-Roc and the Touareg. “These awards put vehicles through their paces in stringent but real-world conditions, and as such people have enormous faith in the comments and decisions of Caravan and Motorhome Club judges.

“These awards for the T-Roc and Touareg underline how they are the perfect choices for anyone with caravans weighing 1,100 to 1,400kg and 1,800 to 2,000kg respectively.”

About the Volkswagen T-Roc

Q: What type of vehicle is the Volkswagen T-Roc?
A: The Volkswagen T-Roc is a compact SUV that combines everyday practicality with distinctive styling, a raised driving position and mild-hybrid petrol power.

Q: How practical is the T-Roc?
A: Despite its compact size, the T-Roc offers generous rear passenger space and a spacious 475-litre boot, making it well suited to family life and weekend trips.

Q: What technology features does the T-Roc offer?
A: The T-Roc has a sleek interior with a 12.9-inch touchscreen, advanced driver assistance systems and optional IQ.LIGHT matrix headlights with a high-performance main beam.

Q: What makes the T-Roc stand out from other SUVs?
A: The T-Roc combines bold design, including a full-width LED light signature, with comfort, safety and technology. Its appeal was recognised when it was named Small SUV of the Year at the 2026 What Car? Awards.

Q: What makes the T-Roc particularly good for towing?
A: The T-Roc’s blend of mild-hybrid efficiency, DSG automatic transmission, SUV stability and advanced driver assistance systems makes it a practical and confidence-inspiring choice for towing.

About the Volkswagen Touareg

Q: What type of vehicle is the Volkswagen Touareg?
A: The Touareg is Volkswagen’s top-of-the-range large SUV, combining powerful performance, advanced technology and high levels of comfort for long journeys and everyday driving.

Q: What powertrain is available for the Touareg?
A: The Touareg is available with a 3.0-litre TDI diesel engine, with 286 PS output and 600 Nm of torque, combined with an automatic eight-speed gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

Q: What technology features stand out in the Touareg?
A: Highlights include the advanced Innovision cockpit with 15-inch Discover Pro Max display screen, augmented-reality head-up display and advanced driver assistance technologies.

Q: What makes the Touareg a flagship Volkswagen SUV?
A: Alongside its premium interior, the Touareg offers features such as all-wheel steering, air suspension and active roll stabilisation, delivering a refined and confident driving experience.

Q: What makes the Touareg particularly good for towing?
A: The Touareg’s combination of a powerful engine, air suspension, advanced chassis technology and large SUV stability makes it one of Volkswagen’s most capable towing vehicles. It also has a tow bar fitted as standard along with Trailer Assist – an ingenious system that simplifies reversing with a caravan or trailer; it lets drivers use the mirror adjustment switch, on the door, to control steering.

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VW26047 TR/rp

About the Volkswagen brand: 
A total of 178,607 new Volkswagen passenger vehicles were registered in the UK in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This equated to a market share of 8.84 per cent – ahead of the brand’s market share in 2024 (8.52 per cent) – and made Volkswagen the UK’s best-selling new-car brand for the fifth year running.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has a global presence, producing vehicles at 28 locations in 12 countries, and employs 170,000 people. In 2025, Volkswagen delivered around 4.7 million vehicles worldwide. These included bestsellers such as the Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Golf, Tiguan and Passat, as well as the successful all-electric ID. models. Volkswagen handed over about 382,000 all-electric vehicles to customers worldwide in 2025 and, with its BOOST 2030 strategy, it is consistently driving forward its development into the most desirable brand for sustainable mobility.