Nissan is celebrating a double triumph at the 2021 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards, with two of the manufacturer’s vehicles recognised for their towing prowess after a thorough judging and evaluation process.
Top honours in the pick-up category went to the Nissan Navara dCi 190 Double Cab N-Guard Automatic; while the Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T 140 N-Connecta Manual was placed third in the 1100–1200kg caravan weight class.
Judges praised the Navara for its ‘‘refined driving experience and cabin’’ but noted that it was ‘‘rugged enough to handle all manner of caravanning paraphernalia in the load bed’’. They added that ‘‘its multi-link rear suspension equates to a winning combination of towing stability and passenger comfort’’.
Qashqai’s third placing in the 1100-1200kg grouping was also an impressive achievement. After nearly 15 years on sale, the pioneering crossover remains as popular as ever with thousands of families using it to tow their caravans and trailers away with them every year.
Cars put forward for the awards were assessed by an independent panel of expert judges who carried out full technical specification and towing capability reviews.
The “caravanability” of each vehicle was assessed by evaluating boot load spaces (with the rear seats up and down), roof load limits and nose weight limits.
Club members were invited to share their thoughts and experiences about the cars which were also put through their paces in a real-world test with loaded caravans.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s one million members, along with others who tow as part of their hobbies or work, depend on the organisation for advice about the best vehicles for their needs.
Nick Lomas, director general of the club, said: “Caravan holidays have never been more popular and it’s important to make sure we provide relevant information to our members about the vehicles available to them.
‘‘The club, with its 110+ years of experience, has worked with respected industry colleagues and journalists, all of whom are themselves caravanners, to bring together this invaluable set of data and information.”
Andrew Prescott, Product Executive at Nissan GB, said: ‘‘We are thrilled with our double success in the 2021 Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards.
‘‘Thousands of people rely on Nissan every year when they travel with their caravans and our range contains many vehicles ideally suited to towing duties whilst delivering safety, comfort and refinement for driver and passengers alike.’’