If you’re planning on towing a caravan, perhaps for a family holiday, you’ll want a car with plenty of oomph and adequate space for all your passengers and holiday luggage.
You’ll also want something that gives you the confidence to haul your caravan long distances. Read our blog to discover if you need insurance to tow another vehicle.
Here the caravan insurance experts at Adrian Flux rate our top 10 cars for towing a caravan.
The Tiguan Allspace makes a great tow car. Stable and powerful, the Tiguan seats seven, though head and leg room on the fold-away rear seats is restricted meaning they are best reserved for occasional use.
Wherever you are taking your caravan, on the motorway, uphill or in the country, the Tiguan will make light work of the journey, meaning your investment of a sound £42,000 will be money well spent. Of course, it’s a VW too, so there will be few issues in terms of reliability.
The Tiguan is an SUV of substance and style that will make towing your caravan a breeze for mile after mile.
Looking for a little bit of luxury in your caravan tow car? Then look no further than the XC60.
In this model, Volvo prioritises comfort and refinement over driver enjoyment – but that’s not to say you won’t be satisfied with the ride! And your passengers will be delighted with the roomy interior and comfort levels.
Depending on the engine, the XC60 can tow up to 2400kg and models come with an optional towing pack that includes a retractable towbar, mudflaps and plastic luggage compartment mat.
If you have a spare £45,000, the XC60 should be able to handle everything you need and expect from a reliable tow car.
The Skoda Kodiaq is not what you would call an exciting drive, but it’s roomy and very practical. The two-litre engine isn’t the fastest unit on the road but it’s efficient and economic to run.
There’s a variety of petrol and diesel models on offer, and Skoda gives buyers a choice of five and seven-seat models. The top-end seven-seater with top spec will cost around £36,000.
It’s a very competent tow car, with most models capable of hauling up to 2000kg. Handling is assured, especially if you opt for the four-wheel drive powertrain.
Going further upmarket at around 70 grand, the BMW iX electric may actually work out to be cheaper than you think when you take into account the remarkably cheap running costs.
Many EVs have high kerb weights but low towing limits. However, that’s certainly not a problem with the iX, because its 2500kg legal maximum is well in excess of the fully loaded weight for most luxury caravans.
The battery range, however, may be an issue. The entry-level model has the smallest battery, providing a range of 247-257 miles. That aside, it’s great to drive and has serious power, great handling, good comfort levels and heaps of driver assistance tech.
At the top end of the market costing in excess of £60,000, the E-Class Estate represents a luxurious alternative to many SUVs on the road.
The E-Class Estate has a shed-load of space for passengers and luggage and boasts a tech-laden interior. More importantly for caravanners, it will provide assuring stability as a tow car, even at speed or in windy conditions. There’s enough power and torque for heavy-duty towing too.
As you would expect from a premium manufacturer such as Mercedes, the E-Class is packed with clever technology and driver assistance gadgets, making for a comfortable and stress free ride.
The Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 litre diesel manual is a straightforward SUV able to haul up to 2500kg – that’s a twin-axle caravan loaded with luggage.
The manufacturers describe Santa Fe as “rugged and refined,” and they’re not far wrong. The combination of powerful engine and high-speed stability is exactly what’s needed from a trusted towing vehicle.
The Santa Fe can seat five adults comfortably with the option of two further seats in the rear. The spacious cabin oozes comfort, making it great for long journeys with the caravan in tow. It’ll cost you around 40k.
If you don’t want an SUV but fancy something a little more macho than a standard estate, the Audi A6 Avant is a great option with prices for new starting at around £40,000.
There are certainly more sensible options for towing a caravan, but the Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system performs fabulously even with the caravan hitched up behind.
The Avant affords the best of both worlds: great towing ability yet it’s smart to look at and roomy for driver and passengers. As you would expect from an Audi, the Avant comes with a shedload of driver assistance gadgetry too.
The Kia Sportage – the South Korean manufacturer’s best-selling car in the UK – was named Family SUV of the Year by What Car? magazine and it makes an excellent tow car too.
The Sportage Terrain Mode automatically adjusts to suit all environments and conditions, including snow, mud and sand, meaning it handles just as well off-road as it does on the urban cycle.
It’s quite a good looking vehicle with plenty of comfort tech so, if you have the £28,000 to invest, the Sportage may be the perfect tow car for you. And it comes with Kia’s famous seven-year warranty too.
The Honda CR-V offers solid build quality and four-wheel drive to haul even the biggest of caravans with a 2000kg towing capacity.
As a family SUV, the CR-V is a great choice. There’s lots of space for passengers and plenty of luggage, and clever tech that makes the car easy and satisfying to drive, even with a laden caravan following behind.
The latest petrol and hybrid versions don’t afford the same pulling power as the older turbo diesel models, but that four-wheel drive is responsive and will maintain your speed with the correct selection of gears.
The CR-V will set you back from £32,000 to £41,000 depending on the spec you go for.
The Land Rover Discovery looks great and performs incredibly well under the strain of towing a caravan, even when you’re towing a very large twin-axle caravan.
The 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine provides plenty of power and tech including Tow Assist and Trailer Stability Assist to make towing a breeze, whatever the weather.
It’s excellent off-road, even while towing, so you’ll be able to negotiate a water-logged or boggy campsite with ease. You will pay for the privilege though – you’ll need to spend almost £60,000 for a new model.
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