For those who tow, an SUV of some description has become the default choice of car. Whether you’re towing a caravan on holiday, a horsebox to the races or a trailer to the tip, towing ability goes far beyond just getting a tow bar fitted. It’s a careful balancing act of weights and measures, trading ability in one area for practicality in others. That’s a balance the best SUVs for towing achieve.
There are all sorts of different cars that are great for towing, but the extra size and weight of an SUV compared to an equivalent hatchback or estate means they’re better able to take charge of whatever you’re towing, improving stability and safety. Especially on a windy day, when you might get into a ‘tail wagging the dog’ situation in a smaller, lighter car.
The four-wheel-drive many SUVs have also improves traction, making for a smoother drive when your caravan/trailer is hooked up. But the biggest advantage SUVs have as tow cars is simply that they pull more weight than an equivalent ‘regular’ car. Read on to find which ones we think are best; we’ll also answer some of the biggest questions about towing.
Mazda’s big-engined big SUV makes a very fine tow car
There’s much else to like to about the CX-60. It looks fantastic, its interior’s a truly lovely place and there’s vast passenger space. It’s very good value and can even crack 50mpg on the WLTP cycle. Only the ride quality lets down an otherwise excellent driving experience. All in all, it’s a genuine alternative to more expensive premium-brand SUVs like the Land Rover Discovery.
Read our full Mazda CX-60 review
Pros
- Smooth, torquey engine
- Looks fabulous outside and in
- Surprisingly efficient
Cons
- Towing capacity perhaps a bit low for a car this big
- Less than smooth ride
Budget-friendly option that's as characterful as it is useful
The 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine paired with four-wheel-drive is the best option for towing. It’s rated to tow 1,500kg, so the 1,000kg or so of a small caravan should be child’s play. Performance isn’t great but the engine has plenty of low-down pull and a very low first gear makes pulling away easier.
Read our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- High towing capacity for a car this size
- Family-friendly practicality
- Surprisingly capable off-road
Cons
- Interior feels cheap
- Lacks the latest safety features
Proves you can tow while relaxing in the lap of luxury
The Sport’s smaller size makes it easier to live with every day and it offers a more poised, more engaging driving experience. It also costs considerably less. Yet it still offers sumptuous comfort, bang-up-to-date tech and space for five adults plus their luggage.
Read our full Range Rover Sport review
Pros
- Effortless towing ability
- Deeply luxurious
- Genuinely useful as a family car
Cons
- It's not cheap
- Styling divides opinion
As good a tow car as the bigger Skoda SUVs
The Kamiq is one for our favourite small SUVs, generally. It’s a spacious and practical family car, the latest facelifted version looks great, it comes with all the tech you need and it’s great value. It’s not quite as good to drive as a Ford Puma, but what is?
Read our full Skoda Kamiq review
Pros
- Usefully high towing capacity
- Space and practicality
- Up-to-date tech
Cons
- Not especially engaging to drive
- Diesel engine no longer available
Most of a Land Rover's ability for a much lower price
The Rexton can tow up to 3,500kg and has a sufficiently hefty kerbweight to deal with a large horsebox or twin-axle caravan. It’s also hugely spacious, has a vast boot and offers a very long list of standard features – it’s the most luxurious SsangYong yet. It’s not as nice to drive as a Land Rover but does give a comfortable ride.
Read our full SsangYong Rexton review
Pros
- Fantastic value for money
- Huge passenger and boot space
- Lengthy equipment list
Cons
- Underpowered for heavy trailers
- Vague handling
Super-stylish small SUV with a lot to offer
The 2008 looks just as good on the inside as it does on the outside, it genuinely feels like a premium product and its tech impresses. There’s plenty of passenger and boot space for a young family, too.
Read our full Peugeot 2008 review
Pros
- Torquey turbo petrol engines
- Loads of tech
- Lovely to drive
Cons
- Diesel engine no longer available
- Some models are pricey
The must-have SUV that can do everything
The Defender’s style is central to its appeal but there’s much more to it. Its interior is full of useful features including many, many USB and 12-volt sockets, five-door models have loads of passenger space and the boot is usefully big. It’s loaded with tech and offers a fine driving experience, too.
Read our full Land Rover Defender review
Pros
- Takes 3,500kg in its stride
- Thoughtfully designed interior
- Feels imperious on the road
Cons
- 90 version unstable with heavy trailers
- Can get very expensive
Mid-size SUV punches above its weight
It’s a fine car, generally. The Karoq packs enough interior and boot space into its relatively modest footprint to see a family of four through from bringing the kids being born to taking them to university; it’s good to drive, generously equipped and, in typical Skoda fashion, packed with thoughtful little details that make life on the road easier.
Read our full Skoda Karoq review
Pros
- Very high towing capacity for its size
- Practicality of a bigger car
- Great value
Cons
- Getting a bit long in the tooth
- Rather functional design
Latest generation of an erstwhile caravanners' go-to
In its latest iteration, the X-Trail has become rather more handsome and interior quality is orders of magnitude better. The ePower hybrid models are very refined the ride is pleasant. There’s loads of space for five but the boot isn’t as generous as the Skoda Kodiaq’s.
Read our full Nissan X-Trail review
Pros
- Competitive towing capacity
- Looks really good
- Generous passenger space
Cons
- Hybrid-only powertrains
- Small-ish boot
Great option for those that appreciate value for money
The Korando feels less sophisticated than the Nissan Qashqai, with its unrefined engine and spongey driving experience. But it’s a massive improvement on its predecessor and there’s no denying you get a lot of car for your money.
Read our full SsangYong Korando review
Pros
- Vast improvement on its predecessor
- Generously equipped
- Torquey diesel
Cons
- No diesel 4x4 model anymore
- Unrefined engines
FAQs
What makes a good tow car?
A tow car has to remain usable every day. There’s no point being able to effortlessly tow if every other journey is miserable? That’s why this list features SUVs that are good daily transport, as well as great tow cars. We’ve also included SUVs of all shapes and sizes knowing that not everybody needs – or can afford – a vast tow car.
First thing to consider about a car good tow car is its towing limit, or capacity – that’s the weight a car is legally allowed to tow. It’s gospel, as well, because towing more than your car is allowed to is a criminal offence. Some vehicles aren’t cleared (homologated, to use the technical term) for towing at all, so can never legally do so. Many hybrids and electric cars aren’t.
The numbers aren’t the be-all and end-all, though. A good tow car needs to have the power, and particularly the torque to haul the combined weight of the car itself and the trailer. After all, who wants to be the archetypal caravanner holding up a vast queue of traffic? That’s why diesel engines, with their low-down pulling power, remain the go-to choice for tow cars.
Stability is also important, and heavier vehicles tend to deal better with the weighty task of commanding a trailer. We also appreciate vehicles with clever additions that make towing easier, such as camera systems for hooking up and air suspension that lowers the car down to the hitch.
Most economical 4x4 for towing horse trailer?
A horse trailer – also known as a horsebox – can be surprisingly heavy. The weight of the trailer itself, the horse and its water and feed can easily add up to well over 2,000kg. The most economical 4x4 or SUV for towing that kind of weight is one that’ll most easily cope with it. If the total weight of your horse trailer is right on the limit for your car, which itself has relatively little power, its engine is going to have to work very hard and it’ll drink fuel. Get an SUV with a 3,500kg towing capacity and a thumping-great diesel engine, and it’ll barely notice your 2,000kg-plus horse trailer, therefore it’ll be more economical.
Which cars can tow 3,500kg?
The maximum weight you can tow with a car in the UK is 3,500kg. There are quite a lot of cars available to buy new (and yet more used cars) that are capable of pulling that kind of weight. Your choices of new car are the Audi Q7 and Q8; Bentley Bentayga; BMW X5, X6 and X7; INEOS Grenadier; Land Rover Defender, Discovery, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover; Mercedes GLE, GLS and G-Class; Porsche Cayenne; Ssangyong Rexton and Volkswagen Touareg.
Note that certain models of some of these cars have lower towing capacities. The maximum train weight you tow on a car driving license is 6,750kg – that’s the weight of the loaded trailer plus the car and its contents.
What is the best SUV to tow a caravan?
There are a lot of factors to consider, including the weight of the caravan and its length, height and width. As a rule of thumb, you need a car that’s at least 20% heavier than the caravan and that’s as close to its height and width as possible. But don’t let that lead you into a buying a car that’s bigger than you really need when you’re not towing.
Is petrol or diesel better for towing a caravan?
There’s always a lot of discussion about whether to choose a petrol or diesel engines. Diesel engines are generally better for towing because they have more torque, or pulling power if you prefer. New diesels are getting rarer, even among big SUVs, but the latest turbocharged petrol engines produce lots of torque, as well, so they’re an acceptable substitute. Hybrids can also have the muscle for hauling a heavy trailer, however they generally have lower towing capacities than an equivalent petrol or diesel car.
Are electric SUVs good for towing?
The instant power and torque provided by an electric motor means that electric SUVs can be fantastic for towing. Relatively few have actually been legally cleared for towing and some of those that have been have very low capacities. But the likes of the Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model X are capable of towing a biggish caravan/trailer.
There’s a big problem, though. Towing slashes an electric car’s range to the point that you may need to recharge every 100 miles or so. The efficiency of a petrol or diesel isn’t affected anything like as much. Hopefully, the situation will improve in years to come.
Have you considered pickup truck?
If your needs are heavyweight but your budget is small, consider a double-cab pickup instead of a large SUV. These workhorses are great value, especially if they’re purchased as commercial vehicles rather than cars. Yet the latest models can almost match SUVs for comfort, safety and drivability. Best of all, almost every pickup currently on the market is rated to tow 3,500kg which only a few (rather expensive) SUVs can match.
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