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Choosing the right towing car

25th Oct 2022

If you’re looking for some of the best tow cars 2022 has to offer, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you need to tow a horsebox, caravan, or a small camper, we’ve put together a list of the best towing cars available right now.

What to look out for when choosing the right towing car

GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating) - This refers to the vehicle you’re towing with, and the maximum amount your vehicle is allowed to weigh legally with all of the luggage and passengers. You can find this information on the sticker in your driver's side door jam. 
You also want to check the GVWR of your trailer, or whatever you plan on towing, as this will tell you how much you’re allowed to tow safely and legally if you load it up with everything you need, such as water tanks and propane. Find the GVWR on a decal on the side of the trailer/horsebox/caravan. 

GCWR (Gross combined weight rating) / Tow Rating - This is how much in total your vehicle and trailer/horsebox/caravan can weigh altogether, with all your luggage and passengers loaded.

The payload of the vehicle - Again, you can find this in the door jam of the vehicle, and you should see a note displaying the maximum combined weight of occupants and luggage allowed in the vehicle.
 

The Nosewight - This is the weight that’s pressing down on the hitch of your vehicle. You need to check the receiver rating on the hitch of your vehicle, and if it can handle the weight of what you’re planning on towing, as well as the hitch itself, and the ball. 

 

The best cars for towing

With various SUVs, 4x4’s, pick up trucks and other vehicles out there available for towing, all in a choice of either petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, it can be difficult to know which ones are the best for towing.
The majority of the time, cars with a maximum towing capacity of 2,000kg will often be able to tow an average sized caravan with ease, and you’ll probably find this in an SUV or pickup truck.
Smaller cars still have the ability to tow safely despite what some people may think, so if you’re just looking to tow light loads, they can typically manage 1,000kg braked towing capacity. 

SEAT Leon Estate FR 1.5TSI 150PS

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1410

  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2000

  • Caravan (kg): 1199

  • Noseweight (kg): 80

This wonderful, classy estate has plenty of pulling power and torque, and it remains composed at higher speeds yet injects a lively feeling into your driving at the same time. The 620L boot is also a big highlight of this car, making it perfect for family getaways.

ŠKODA Enyaq iV 80 Lounge 82 kWh 204 PS DSG
Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2090

  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2612

  • Caravan (kg): 1000

  • Noseweight (kg): 75

This impressive all electric vehicle from the VW Group offers ample amounts of space inside making it big enough for the family and any luggage needing to be carried, and the battery can be charged from 10-80% charge in just over 30 minutes.

Volkswagen Golf R-Line 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1459

  • Gross vehicle (kg): 1960

  • Caravan (kg): 1240

  • Noseweight (kg): 80

If you’re looking for the best stylish hatchback in the class for towing, the Volkswagen Golf R-Line is tough to beat. It’s a reliable, timeless and incredibly stylish car and is one of the best cars for towing caravans. Go for a diesel and you’ll get incredible torque and pulling power. 

Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ (Xtronic)

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1564

  • Gross vehicle (kg): 1985

  • Caravan (kg): 1330

  • Noseweight (kg): 100

If you’re looking for a great all around tow car, the Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ is a great choice. It has great manoeuvrability, 436L boot capacity, offers plenty of grip while driving and you’ll experience little movement at higher speeds while towing, making it a perfect car for motorway drives. 

SsangYong P Musso Rhino Auto

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2660

  • Gross vehicle (kg): 3400

  • Caravan (kg): 1921

  • Noseweight (kg): 140

If you’re searching for the best pickup for towing, then choose the SsangYong Musso. A pick up is probably going to be your go to choice if you’re having to tow a lot of weight, and with the SsangYong Musso, it won’t feel like you’re towing at all. You’ll also find added luxuries inside such as a 9.2-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, as well as heated and ventilated Nappa leather seats.