Sometimes, your car alone just won’t cut it. Perhaps you’re a caravanner, who likes to travel in style or comfort. Maybe you need a trailer for work or leisure. Whatever reason you have for towing, it’s good to know that today’s cars are better-equipped than ever for hauling heavy loads. With any of these three super-capable tow cars, you can enjoy a decent drive and tow in effortless style.
Written by ParkersPublished: 21 October 2019Updated: 21 October 2019
The Parkers Best Tow Car 2020 is the Volkswagen Touareg. An accomplished all-rounder, it would be a reasonable contender for luxury car, large family car and off-roader too – yet it achieves all of this without sacrificing the ability to work hard. To drive, it feels closer to a large luxury estate car than an SUV, with impressive refinement, comfort and handling for its size. It can tow 3,500kg, and does so with the benefits of modern technology – trailer assist does for towing, what park assist did for parallel parking; steering the car and trailer using cameras and the mirror control for perfect placement. The powerful V6 diesel engines don’t just tow – there’s provide enough performance to match what once passed for hot-hatch pace. Given the performance, quality and technology, the Touareg is also good value, making it the clear winner for Best Tow Car 2020.
A proven workhorse for the country, the Land Rover Discovery’s sophisticated 4×4 system, high kerb weight and luxurious interior ensure it’s simply one of the best cars you can buy if your lifestyle includes regular towing for work or leisure. Not only can it tow the full 3.5-tonnes securely, its off-road capability is exceptional – but the Discovery is also an accomplished car for A-roads and motorways, with space for seven adults and a lot of practical touches for families that demand a versatile SUV, such as electrically folding rear seats, and high-end in-car entertainment.
The SsangYong Musso with automatic gearbox offers the highest towing and carrying capacity in its class, it’s also remarkably refined for a double cab pickup that is among the most affordable in the UK. Very closely related to the Rexton SUV, generous interior space for five comes at the expense of a smaller pickup bed than most rivals – but it can still carry over a tonne while towing 3.5 tonnes, thanks to a remarkable 6,750Kg GTW. Despite such tough credentials for work the Musso’s controls are as light as a family hatchback. It also qualifies as a commercial vehicle for tax, making it an ideal dual-purpose family car for businesses and sole traders.
