Voted Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2007, the Volvo put in an impressive performance again this year. The sweet-sounding five-cylinder diesel engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and could get you into trouble if you don't keep a watch on the speedometer. Progress is fast and seamless, but the car has impressive stopping ability too and the parking brake works a treat.

Inside, the environment oozes quality, and there's room in the back of this stylish 'sportwagon' for a fair bit of kit. There were no problems with stability, as you'd expect from the contest's returning champion. An accessible electrical socket, reasonable running costs and good load capabilities.

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Volvo V50 D5 SE Sport