I currently have a Swift Challenger 530 (MTPLM 1436Kgs) which I tow with a Vauxhall Omega 2.2TDi estate which apart from needing a bit of care on hill starts tows my van really well. I want to change cars but looking around the choice is fairly limited in cars or estate cars (unless you can aford to buy a BMW 530 Td) I also don't really want to go to a fully blown 4x4. The other choice is to go for a soft roader such as the X-Trail 2.2 Tdi T-Spec which I understand gives about a 88% towing ratio. Has anyone experience of the top end X Trails 2.2 TD as a tow car pulling a van around the 1436Kg weight. Any information on stability, hillstarting, performance on site reversing van onto pitch in say wet conditions or any other observations would be welcome