The Ford S-MAX and Ford Kuga Win At The Towcar Awards

Ford cars are yet again at the top of the list of towcars, in the third annual Towcar Awards, as judged by experts from What Car?, Practical Caravan and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

The Ford S-MAX 2.2-litre TDCi Titanium has been judged best in its weight class, while the Ford Kuga 2.0-litre TDCi Zetec 2WD has taken top honours in its category.

Head judge of the awards, David Motton, said: "Everything we liked so much about S-MAX two years ago is still true today, but now it's even better. Stability is excellent, even at high speeds, with a supple, well-controlled ride. The new 2.2 TDCi engine makes a huge difference [for towing]: good response from low revs and a hushed engine, which makes long journeys relaxing.  It's a great family MPV and now a top towcar too."

The judges had similar praise for the Ford Kuga's on road performance and stability, saying: "We're big fans of the 2.0-litre TDCi. It's a smooth and responsive engine, so overtaking isn't a problem. If you need to stop in a hurry, the Kuga also delivers, stopping from 30mph in just 10.8 metres."

With kerbweight a significant factor for any towcar buyer, the Towcar Awards are judged in strict kerbweight classes The Ford S-MAX won the 1725-1899kg category, while the Ford Kuga took the title in the 1425-1574kg class.

This year, 39 cars were put through their paces by experts from What Car?, Practical Caravan and The Camping and Caravanning Club, in a series of demanding tests at the MIRA test track in Warwickshire, with each scored on towing ability, solo driving performance and interior space and practicality.

This is the second year running that Ford cars have taken Towcar Awards class honours. Last year's winners were the Ford Mondeo estate and Ford Focus, with Mondeo estate also named overall Best Towcar.