Towing is a highly useful skill for a car to have. Whether you’re taking a trailer to the tip, pulling a track day racer on a car transporter, moving a glider or – yes – going on holiday in a touring caravan, the best cars for towing combine a multitude of skills. After all, they often have to juggle the duty of being a great family car with being powerful, stable, and heavy.
Weight is particularly important. As any skinny child on a seesaw knows, it’s rather difficult to move something that’s heavier than you. The Caravan Club recommends that inexperienced towers (which is most of us) tow no more than 85% of our car’s kerb weight. That means towing around 1200kg with a typical 1400kg mid-sized SUV.
You’ll need to have the engine power to get that much bulk moving, too, and the grip and stability to keep it on the straight and true even on twisting roads or during high winds. Diesel cars still reign supreme when it comes to towing, as their impressive torque figures aid in moving off with all that weight. However, hybrid and electric cars are beginning to come of age in the world of towing, too.
We’ve rounded up the best cars for towing below. Our list covers a variety of budgets and a range of towing requirements, suiting everything from a small trailer or two-berth caravan right up to a car transporter or massive twin-axle tourer.
Do-anything Karoq makes an excellent mid-sized tow car
The Karoq’s safe and level handling – combined with four-wheel drive on some models – takes charge of a caravan or trailer, and the strong, torquey diesel engines tow with ease. The petrols aren’t quite so impressive, with the 1.0-litre in particular not quite feeling up to the task of a fully laden car and caravan. If the Skoda doesn't grab you, you could opt for one of its closely related siblings, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Karoq review
Pros
- Tows up to 1900kg
- Strong diesel engines
- Comfortable and flexible interior
Cons
- Not particularly exciting
- Petrols are weedy
A great big diesel that's capable of pulling anything
The CX-60’s interior embodies the best Mazda traits – it’s high-quality, straightforward, packed with equipment and much more luxurious than you’d expect from a mainstream brand. The sticking point is the ride – it’s very firm and less cossetting than, say, a Toyota RAV4. It can be quite bouncy on a country road.
To find out more, read our full Mazda CX-60 review
Pros
- Cracking 3.3-litre diesel engine
- Up to 2500kg towing capacity
- Fantastic, high-quality interior
Cons
- Firm ride
- Avoid the plug-in hybrid
The ultimate towing machine
And you can take the whole family with you thanks to the Discovery’s seven-seat interior. A fantastic car, while it works – Land Rover’s record isn’t exactly stellar in this regard, and you should opt for a Toyota Land Cruiser if longevity and dependability is of more importance to you than plushness and ease of driving.
To find out more, read our full Land Rover Discovery review
Pros
- Tows up to 3500kg
- Powerful, refined engines
- Genuine space for seven inside
Cons
- Not very reliable
- A Defender is much cooler
The big MPV you can tow with
The Multivan’s very wide compared to a car or SUV, so you’ll be able to see around even an eight-foot wide touring caravan if you use mirror extensions. The entry-level petrol is too puny for much hard towing work, but opt for one of the diesels or the 204hp petrol and you’ll enjoy a 2000kg towing limit. The greener option – provided you charge up regularly – is the excellent plug-in hybrid, which can tow up to 1600kg. If VW were to offer a four-wheel drive model for greater traction, it’d be very hard to beat the Multivan in the tow car Olympics.
To find out more, read our full VW Multivan review
Pros
- Wide body helps with visibility around a caravan
- Seats seven in comfort
- Plug-in hybrid model can tow too
Cons
- Avoid the entry-level petrol
- Can get pricey
A great small tow car for lighter loads
Those diesels are particularly torquey and that makes towing a breeze – especially if you opt for the powerful GTD model. VW’s excellent DSG transmission also makes life easier in this regard. No, it’s not as much fun to drive as a Ford Focus, or as plush inside as a Mazda 3, but the Volkswagen Golf is a better tow car than either.
To find out more, read our full VW Golf review
Pros
- Comfortable and stable to drive
- Powerful diesel engines, including a GTD
- Spacious inside for four
Cons
- Infuriating infotainment
- Not much fun to drive
BMW X5
The ultimate luxury towing machine
Most models can tow up to 3500kg, but even the (fantastic) plug-in hybrid 50e and the (ballistic) X5 M will tow up to 2700kg. With a seriously hefty kerb weight, the 85% match is well over two tonnes, so even the biggest caravan should be well within reach. And in the X5, you’ll arrive at your destination about as rested as it’s possible to be.
To find out more, read our full BMW X5 review
Pros
- Great engine range
- Even the hybrid tows up to 2700kg
- Luxurious interior
Cons
- It’ll cost you
- Five-seat only
Hugely spacious, great to drive and clever to boot
And don’t think you go sacrificing space just because the Superb is lower to the ground. Rear legroom is truly palatial, and the boot is vast too. It’s packed with clever Skoda touches – such as the umbrella hidden in the front door or the ice scraper hidden in the fuel filler flap – and should prove a dependable and comfortable companion for years to come.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Superb Estate review
Pros
- A secure and stable tow car
- Space for five heavy packers
- Excellent engine range
Cons
- Some safety kit optional
- Makes for a very long towing train
Dependable, low-cost heavyweight
The SsangYong’s weight gives a very healthy 85% match of more than 1800kg, enough for a big tourer or car transporter, and while its 2.2-litre diesel engine isn’t the most powerful (or the most refined) it’s up to the task albeit at a fairly leisurely pace.
To find out more, read our SsangYong Rexton review
Pros
- Great value
- High kerb weight and good towing manners
- Capable off-road
Cons
- Unrefined ride
- Not exactly desirable
Kia EV6
Electric towing isn’t just possible – it’s a pleasure
Of course, you won’t be able to travel particularly far. Kia’s EV6 has a towing limit of 1600kg and that’s pretty close to an 85% match – but with that much hooked up behind you, you’ll probably see a maximum of 130 miles between charges. They’ll be a highly pleasurable 130 miles, though, as the EV6 is excellent to drive – it’s our favourite large EV at the moment. And with fast charging on board, you won’t have to wait too long to top up provided there are suitably powerful chargers en route.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV6 review
Pros
- One of the best EVs available
- Long range (unladen)
- Electric torque makes towing easy
Cons
- Limited range when towing
- Not all campsites allow charging
An excellent hybrid SUV for towing
The Santa Fe’s seven-seat interior is spacious, premium-feeling and packed with equipment, while Hyundai’s five-year warranty and highly-regarded dealer network should provide an extra level of reassurance. It’s not as comfortable as, say, a Skoda Kodiaq, but it’s bigger and better for family duties.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
Pros
- Big and heavy, secure when towing
- Excellent interior
- Powerful hybrid system
Cons
- Can't tow as much as the diesel
- Brittle ride
Tom Wiltshire is a Senior Staff Writer on Bauer’s Digital Automotive Hub. He’s written for numerous outlets, including Auto Express, evo and the Press Association, and now divides his time between Parkers and CAR. Tom’s a committed Peugeotist but buzzes off almost any car that’s tiny and silly.
