Your company car could well be your only vehicle, and if you spend your summer holidays enjoying the freedom of a caravan holiday, you’ll need to pick one which is up to the job.
The ability to pull a heavy trailer usually means picking a powerful engine and four-wheel drive, two features which are unlikely to fill your fleet manager with joy.
However, there are a number of options on the market if you need to haul up to 2,500kg but don’t want to spend more than £155 a month in company car tax.
We’ve picked our five favourite towing heavyweights which won’t leave you penniless, and our calculations are based on a 20 per cent tax payer.
Kia Sorento
Now in its third generation, the Sorento is more mature than ever, offering even more space for up to seven people on board.
All UK cars are equipped with a 2.2-litre diesel which makes selecting a powertrain easy. It’s a powerful unit with 197bhp, and can tow 2,500kg. Four wheel drive a 441Nm lump of torque makes pulling away from junctions a breeze.
KX-1 may well be the entry level trim but it comes well equipped with air conditioning, alloy wheels, cruise control, height adjustable driver’s seat, parking sensors, and rear electric windows. All of this means the Sorento is the cheapest per month on our list.
At a glance…
- Parkers rating: 4 stars
- Engine and trim: 2.2 CRDi KX-1 5d
- P11d price: £28,595
- Towing capacity: 2,500kg
- Boot space: 605/1,615 litres
- Monthly tax costs: £129
- Fuel economy: 49mpg
- Kit highlights: Air conditioning, alloy wheels, cruise control.
For our full Kia Sorento review click here
Mitsubishi Shogun
While the Sorento’s four-wheel drive will help you out of a tricky spot on a muddy campsite, the Shogun is all but unstoppable off-road.
Offering a similar 197bhp, the Shogun’s 3.2-litre diesel doesn’t bless the Mitsubishi with a huge amount of pace, but more than 440Nm of torque and a strong construction result in an epic towing capacity of 3,000kg.
In SG2 trim you get 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, roof rails, side steps and a spare wheel on the tailgate. All the windows are electrically operated and there’s climate and cruise control to help keep driver and passengers comfortable.
At a glance…
- Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
- Engine and trim: 3.2 DI-DC (197bhp) SG2 3d
- P11d price: £26,199
- Towing capacity: 3,000kg
- Boot space: 290/1,119 litres
- Monthly tax costs: £153
- Fuel economy: 36mpg
- Kit highlights: 18-inch alloys, keyless entry, climate control.
For our full Mitsubishi Shogun review click here
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai took the practical and solid Santa Fe and added some style for this incarnation, making it a more attractive proposition for the fleet buyer.
Another one-engine pony, you can only have a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel which makes 195bhp and 421Nm of torque. It’s an impressive unit with lots of that torque available from low revs.
Although you can have seven seats, we’ve picked out the five seater version here as it brings the price down to a reasonable £134 a month.
Alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, heated seats, height adjustable driver’s seat, lumbar support, and parking sensors all come as standard.
At a glance…
- Parkers rating: 3.5 stars
- Engine and trim: 2.2 CRDi SE (5 Seats) 5d
- P11d price: £27,760
- Towing capacity: 2,500kg
- Boot space: 534/1,615 litres
- Monthly tax costs: £134
- Fuel economy: 46mpg
- Kit highlights: Alloy wheels, climate control, heated seats.
For our full Hyundai Santa Fe review click here
Jeep Cherokee
Distinctive is the best way to describe the looks of the fourth generation of the Jeep Cherokee.
It’s a strong off-roader from the same camp as the Shogun, so if you need to navigate rough ground often it’s well worth a look.
Other than a special tough Trailhawk version you can choose between a 2.0-litre diesel engine with a either 138bhp or 168bhp. We’ve picked the latter for its 350Nm of torque and 2,475kg towing capacity.
The entry-level Longitude model comes with dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and a five-inch multimedia touchscreen with voice control and Bluetooth connectivity. The steering wheel has buttons for the audio system and cruise control.
At a glance…
- Parkers rating: 3 stars
- Engine and trim: 2.0 CRD (170bhp) Longitude SW 5d Auto
- P11d price: £ £29,760
- Towing capacity: 2,475kg
- Boot space: 412/1,267 litres
- Monthly tax costs: £139
- Fuel economy: 48mpg
- Kit highlights: Dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, five-inch touchscreen
For our full Jeep Cherokee review click here
SsangYong Rexton W
It might not be an instantly familiar name but Ssangyong offers a number of work-horse vehicles that can tow heavy loads, such as the good-for-3,000kg-towing-ability Rexton W.
There is only one engine, a 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 153bhp. It is not a fast car but it does promise a lofty maximum towing capacity.
The base spec has a long list of standard equipment including automatic air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, leather steering wheel and gear knob, cruise control, electric windows, Bluetooth and roof rails.
Also useful are a heated lower windscreen and heated door mirrors, plus a radio/CD stereo which includes MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity.
At a glance…
- Parkers rating: 2.5 stars
- Engine and trim: 2.0 EX 5d
- P11d price: £23,956
- Towing capacity: 3,000kg
- Boot space: 248/1,338 litres
- Monthly tax costs: £140
- Fuel economy: 38mpg
- Kit highlights: Automatic air conditioning, 16-inch alloys wheels, leather steering wheel.
For our full Ssangyong Rexton W review click here