Volvo has again demonstrated its legendary towcar credentials with another class win at the Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards 2010.
The Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE secured victory in the £25,000 to £32,000 price category, beating rivals from Honda, Isuzu, Skoda, Subaru and Toyota.
Judges praised the Volvo XC60's sure-footed handling, flexible power delivery and all-wheel-drive - all of which contributed to effortless performance during the towing tests. The Volvo XC60 was also praised for its practical load carrying capabilities and poise when hitched to a caravan.
Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan Club Chairman, said: "This vehicle has an extra powerful version of Volvo's excellent five-cylinder engine as well as AWD. Gear changes are smooth and speed builds up rapidly when needed.
"Terms such as 'confident', 'sure-footed' and 'doesn't feel like it's towing', were used plentifully by the judges. Volvo has produced another excellent towcar."
The new powerful twin turbo D5 diesel engine provides a winning combination of high performance and torque levels in a spacious compact SUV package. The D5 engine delivers 205 PS and comes with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed Geartronic transmission. The All-Wheel-Drive system features PreTension®, which improves take-off speed and delivers higher traction in slippery conditions.
Volvo XC60 models are also fitted with Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) which detects if the trailer starts ‘snaking' - a phenomenon that can occur at certain speeds, depending on the mass of the trailer and how it is loaded. If TSA senses snaking tendencies, it brakes the car's individual wheels to counteract the oscillation.
Peter Rask, managing director, Volvo Car UK, said: "The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year award is the ultimate towing trophy and a welcome acknowledgement of Volvo's continuing commitment to developing good towcars."
This award continues Volvo's run of success at the Caravan Club Towcar of the Year competitions and follows success for the Volvo V70 D5 AWD in last year's event. In 2007, the Volvo V50 D5 Sport secured a class win and the overall winner titles, while the outgoing 185 PS variant of the Volvo D5 turbodiesel engine powered the XC70 AWD and V70 AWD to victory in no less than three classes in 2006.
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Notes to editors:
The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Competition (http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/) took place at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire and included rigorous towing tests by an independent panel of six judges who assessed handling, stability, acceleration and braking. There were 28 cars entered for the competition this year. For more information, call Nikki Nichol at The Caravan Club press office on 01342 336797/01342 336768.
