Whether you’re an experienced caravanner or new to the touring world, you need to make sure you have a car that’s well-matched to your caravan. You can find lists of the best tow cars in many places, but we’ve taken a slightly different approach here by considering the best cars for towing caravans across the three most popular weight categories.
The weight categories that are the most popular in the UK are 1,500kg, 1,800kg and over 2,000kg. The lowest weight encompasses family-friendly, four-berth caravans, while 1,800kg covers luxurious, two-axle caravans. The very biggest, fanciest caravans can easily weigh over 2,000kg. Coincidentally, that’s also what a typical horsebox or car trailer weighs when fully loaded.
You should always allow a bit of ‘headroom’ when matching car and caravan/trailer. So, for the 1,500kg and 1,800kg categories, we considered cars with a maximum towing capacity up to 200kg over those marks. For the 2,000kg category, we included everything up to the legal maximum 3,500kg capacity.
How big a car do I need to tow a caravan?
You can tow a caravan or any other form of trailer with any car that’s been homologated – legally cleared – for towing. Many are, but by no means all. Each car that’s homologated has a maximum towing capacity; so as long as the weight of your caravan doesn’t exceed that capacity, you’re absolutely fine from a legal standpoint.
Exceed the car’s towing capacity and the authorities can order it off the road and give you a fine. The lowest towing capacity we’ve come across is the MG3’s 200kg; the maximum weight that can be legally towed behind a car is 3,500kg.
However, it’s not as simple as matching a 1,500kg caravan to a car with a 1,500kg towing capacity. Experienced caravanners generally abide by the 80% rule. It states that the caravan should be no heavier than 80% of the car’s weight. So that 1,500kg caravan should ideally be towed by a car that weighs at least 1,875kg.
It’s not a hard and fast rule, but the theory is that a car that’s heavier than its caravan/trailer will be more stable while towing than a car that isn’t. If you regularly tow really heavy trailers, you might be better off with a pick-up truck, rather than a car.
How we chose the cars
Lists of the best cars of any type are usually based on expert opinions. But we’ve taken a slightly different approach to compiling the best cars for towing caravans, building a list that’s purely data based. We compiled a list of all the cars that fit into the weight categories we’re concerned with, then looked at the Parkers review ratings for those cars.
The cars presented here are the ones that rated highest in their category. In cases where several cars had the same rating, the ones with highest total score from the ratings in each section of their Parkers review made the list.
Best car for towing a 1,500kg caravan
For this category, we considered every car that can tow between 1,500kg and 1,700kg.
Mid-size SUV that looks and feels a bit special
Hybrid cars tend to have a lower towing capacity than a petrol or diesel of similar size and weight. That’s why the Lexus NX only has a capacity of 1,500kg, when many of its SUVs rivals can tow 2,000kg. But both the self-charging NX 350h and plug-in NX 450h+ have the muscle to make light work of a 1,500kg load.
We were impressed with the NX’s low running costs, reliability and particularly its interior. It’s not the most spacious or practical in this type of car but it’s deeply comfortable, looks interesting, the materials are of the highest quality and it’s put together with millimetric precision.
Read our full Lexus NX review
Pros
- Low running costs
- Wonderful interior
- Plenty of power
Cons
- Should be more practical
- A bit boring to drive
Small SUV that rates higher than similar SUVs
MPVs have long been popular with caravanning families because, besides having loads of space, they tend to have a high towing capacity for their size. The Volkswagen Touran is a case in point, having a capacity of 1,500kg when comparable hatchbacks can only manage 1,300kg. Note that some discontinued diesel models can tow as much as 1,800kg.
The Touran is nine years old now, but it still performs better than its much newer rivals. As you’d expect, we rate it very highly for practicality – it has five sets of Isofix mounts, 47 storage cubbies and a vast amount of space. It’s a doddle to drive and very efficient, as well.
Read our full Volkswagen Touran review
Pros
- Huge space and practicality
- Low running costs
- Panoramic visibility
Cons
- Pretty ancient in car terms
- Not as stylish as an SUV
Large hatchback that's sporty yet user-friendly
Many caravanners are already making the switch to an electric car, despite the fact they absolute chew through the battery’s charge while towing. That means journeys have to be carefully planned around charging stops, possibly as little as every 100 miles.
Still, if that can work for you, there are many EVs that make fine tow cars, such as the BMW i4. We appreciated its performance – it’ll make light of pulling 1,500kg – its sporty handling, and its user-friendliness. Because it’s closely based on the petrol/diesel 4 Series Gran Coupe, there are none of the gimmicks or tricks that can make some EVs a bit intimidating. Its long range should translate to fewer stops while towing, too.
Read our full BMW i4 review
Pros
- Up to 367 miles of range
- Sporty handling
- User-friendly tech
Cons
- Not the most practical of cars
- Styling not to all tastes
One of the best mid-size hatchbacks
It may not seem like an obvious choice, but the BMW 1 Series has the credentials of a usefully capable tow car. The 190hp 120d diesel model reaches our 1,500kg capacity benchmark and has the power to be untroubled by that kind of weight. However, the car itself only weighs 1,450kg, so might be better matched to a lighter caravan.
As an everyday car, the 1 Series leads the mid-size hatchback class. We were very impressed by its driving experience, feature-rich technology and safety credentials. But it’s not the most practical proposition, so more of your equipment and luggage will have to travel in the caravan.
Read our full BMW 1 Series review
Pros
- Muscular, efficient diesel engines
- Fine driving experience
- Useful tech
Cons
- Could be more practical
- A bit light for towing 1,500kg
The best cars for towing a 1,800kg caravan
For this category, we considered every car that can tow between 1,800kg and 2,000kg.
Still the best mid-size saloon/estate you can get
We could have awarded this slot to the bigger BMW 5 Series, but that car is currently transitioning between generations, and we’ve only driven the latest version in electric i5 form, so can’t yet provide a fully rounded view on it. Not that you’re slumming it in a 3 Series – it’s still the best car of its type.
We rate it very highly in every area we consider but particular highlights include its driving experience, comfort, tech and practicality. Diesel estate models are probably the best bet for towing with their extra boot space, extra weight and fuel efficiency. The M340d’s 516lb/ft of torque would pull 1,800kg as if it wasn’t there.
Read our full BMW 3 Series review
Pros
- Fabulous to drive
- Usefully spacious and practical
- Diverse model range
Cons
- Top-spec models are pricey
- A bit light for 1,800kg caravans
Big family EV has impressive towing ability
The Kia EV6 has won awards for its ability as a tow car. The instant torque of its electric motor easily takes the strain of pulling a caravan and its weight means it’s very stable while towing. But the usual caveats about an EV’s range dropping rapidly while towing apply.
As a car, the EV6 is a somewhat confusing proposition. It’s often described as a crossover or SUV, but you could equally argue that it’s actually a big hatchback. Whatever it is, it’s so good we named it Best Large Family Car for 2024. It’s great to drive, very practical and the well-equipped interior looks fantastic.
Read our full Kia EV6 review
Pros
- Looks great inside and out
- Up to 328 miles of range
- Lots of passenger and boot space
Cons
- Firm ride quality
- Touchscreen-heavy interior
Our Best Seven-Seater for 2024
If you want to go caravanning and have a big family, you need a car with acres of space and a high towing capacity. The Volkswagen Multivan hits the bullseye on both counts. It has a similar capacity to comparable seven-seat SUVs, but it’s massively more spacious.
Indeed, we think it’s the Multivan’s space that really stands out. Seven adults fit with room to spare in comfortable seats, there’s an ingenious sliding tower of storage boxes and tables and the Long version has a gigantic boot. It’s also plusher inside than its van-based rivals and is much better to drive. The diesel engine is best for towing.
Read our full Volkswagen Multivan review
Pros
- Immense space and practicality
- Feels like a car to drive
- Available with a diesel engine
Cons
- It’s a very big car
- Less robust than some rivals
The best cars for towing a 2,000kg caravan
For this category we considered every car that can tow at least 2,000kg, up to the legal maximum of 3,500kg.
Proves you can tow in the lap of luxury
There’s only a small handful of caravans that the Range Rover Sport can’t tow – and that’s because they have to be towed by a commercial vehicle. In fact, it’ll easily pull its full capacity of 3,500kg without breaking sweat, especially if you go for the 350hp diesel engine.
And while the car takes the strain, you can relax in an immensely comfortable, spacious, practical and high-tech interior. There’s arguably a bit too much tech, but it all works very well. It’s a fabulous car to drive, as well, and is as capable off-road as you expect a Land Rover to be. So, there are no worries about getting stuck on muddy caravan site.
Read our full Range Rover Sport review
Pros
- Fantastic driving experience
- Luxurious interior
- Huge space and practicality
Cons
- It’s rather expensive
- Image won’t suit everyone
A small SUV with a big towing capacity
The Skoda Karoq’s wide towing capacity range reflects the diverse selection of engines it’s available with. The 2.0 TDI diesel engine with four-wheel-drive achieves the top 2,100kg rating, which is a huge capacity for quite a small car. However, that does you mean you might face stability issues if you pull the full capacity.
Otherwise, we think the Karoq is among the very best small SUVs. It might not be as stylish as some of its rivals, but it’s a fantastic all-rounder. It has a remarkable quantity of passenger and boot space for its size, it’s comfortable, generously equipped and robustly made. It’s rather pleasant to drive, too.
Read our full Skoda Karoq review
Pros
- Very spacious for its size
- Lots of models to choose from
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- A bit small for towing heavy loads
- Uninspiring styling
3. BMW iX
Even EVs can tow heavy caravans
The BMW iX has the highest towing capacity of any EV currently on sale in the UK. However, we suspect that range would drop alarmingly quickly while pulling the full 2,500kg. Pulling that weight should be no issue at all, though, as even the least powerful iX model has 321hp and 465lb/ft of toque.
Take the love it or hate it styling out of the equation, and the iX is one of the very best cars that BMW sells. We were particularly impressed with its driving experience – it’s amazingly quiet and refined, and remarkably agile for such a big car. It’s crammed with tech, too, but a car this size really should have more passenger and boot space.
Read our full BMW iX review
Pros
- State-of-the-art tech
- Refinement
- Up to 383 miles of range
Cons
- Divisive styling
- Should be more practical
Is petrol or diesel better for towing a caravan?
Diesel cars have been the traditional choice of many caravanners for several decades. That’s because diesel engines produce more torque than petrol engines do, so are better able to haul along the extra weight of a caravan. However, as diesel cars become rarer, caravanners in the market for a new car might be left wondering where to turn.
Fortunately, the latest generation of turbocharged petrol engines produce almost as much torque as an equivalent diesel, so aren’t at the disadvantage they once were. The instant torque of an electric car can make light work of towing, as well, albeit at the expense of range.
Is it better to tow a caravan with an automatic car?
Towing puts considerable extra strain on a car’s engine and particularly its gearbox. With a manual gearbox, the clutch has to take that strain every time you pull away, which can cause it to wear out prematurely.
A car with an automatic gearbox doesn’t have that issue but might develop others. For instance, it may need the transmission fluid and filter changing more often. Some manufacturers – including BMW – have specific software for the gearbox of automatic cars fitted with towbars that changes how and when it changes gear, partly to optimise torque delivery but also to prolong the gearbox’s life.
Should I use cruise control when towing a caravan?
There’s no reason not to use cruise control while towing, indeed it can actually be helpful to do so, particularly when slowing down. That’s because cruise control adjusts the throttle – and therefore the engine’s power – to reduce speed, rather than using the brakes. So, using cruise control to slow down prolongs the life of a car’s brakes, which can take a real hammering with the extra weight of a caravan.
What is the most efficient speed to tow a caravan?
There’s no hard and fast rule on the most efficient speed for every car, whether it’s towing a caravan or not. That’s because it depends on what type of engine the car has and what gear it’s in.
20-odd years ago, car manufacturers published a car’s mpg at a constant 56mph (90kmh). That figure was usually the highest among the figures presented because the car would be in top gear, with the engine turning at relatively low rpm.
If you want to know the speed at which your car is most efficient while towing, the best thing to do is drive at different speeds and see what the fuel economy display in the trip computer says.
