Vacationing families looking to beat the credit crunch with a budget-break in Blighty should consider the new Citroën Berlingo Multispace as their new caravan companion.

The cheeky MPV has just been voted the UK’s best value Towcar. In a gruelling competition that saw more than 38 cars competing in five different categories, the Berlingo Multispace 1.6HDi XTR model beat off competition from Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot and Skoda to win in the sub-£16000 category at the 2009 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards.

Six expert drivers assessed each car’s towing performance, acceleration, braking and the ability to cope with demanding hill starts. A team of four ‘caravanability’ judges carefully assessed each model’s usability in terms of every day caravanning.

The Caravan Club judges heaped praise on the Multispace’s behaviour under tow, highlighting its lively response, great turning performance on the hill route, excellent visibility and unbeatable storage space and versatility in the cabin thanks to the removable rear seats, sliding doors, large glass area and interior roof bars.

With the current gloomy economic outlook, caravanning holidays in the UK are fast becoming a cool and inexpensive alternative to pricey trips abroad. The Multispace’s excellent value for money, good fuel economy and heaps of storage space make it the smart choice for families looking to caravan on a budget - but still travel in comfort.