Choosing the right tow car matters more than most people think. Our expert John Sootheran has tested hundreds of outfits over 30 years - here are his top picks for every caravan weight and budget.
One of the great benefits of caravann
One of the great benefits of caravanning over motorhoming is that when you get to your destination, you have your lovely car to tootle around in – not a huge, rattly van.
Easy to manoeuvre and park, a good tow car is the secret to successful caravanning. Buy wisely and it can also be your sensible main car for everyday use: Tesco runs, tip trips, cross-country dashes to the in-laws, or dropping the kids off at swimming/dance/football.
These days, there are plenty of options that deliver all this versatility alongside comfort, performance, and – dare I say it – a bit of status. How difficult can it be? Let’s crack on.
ing over motorhoming is that, when you get to your destination, you have your lovely car to tootle around in, not a huge, rattly van.
Easy to manoeuvre and park, a good tow car is the secret to successful caravanning, and in this article we’ll explain all the main factors you should consider when making your choice.
Buy wisely and your tow car can also be your sensible ‘main car’ for everyday use… that’s everything from trips to Tesco and the tip, to cross-country dashes to see the extended family or dropping the kids off at swimming/dance/football.
These days there are plenty of options that deliver all this versatility, along with comfort, performance and, dare I say, ‘status’!
How difficult can it be? Let’s crack on…
How We Choose These Cars
I’m John Sootheran. I previously edited Caravan magazine and now write for Practical Caravan, Practical Motorhome, and the Camping & Caravanning Club magazines. Over the course of my career I’ve driven – and assessed for towing – well over 200 outfits on the road and in competitive awards testing.
The cars in this guide have been selected on three criteria: kerbweight relative to the caravans most of us actually tow, real-world towing stability rather than just spec-sheet numbers, and the ability to be genuinely usable as an everyday car.
I’ll also give you an honest “watch out for” on each one, because no car is perfect – and the ones that pretend to be are usually hiding something.
A note from Raymond James Caravans: as authorised dealers, we match customers to tow cars every week. We’ve seen what happens when someone turns up with a car that’s too light for the caravan they’ve just bought – and it’s not a good afternoon for anyone. The guidance below reflects not just what wins awards, but what we’ve seen work on the road.
The Most Important Thing: Weight
The weight of your car – relative to your caravan – is THE most important factor in choosing a tow car. Not just for practicality, but for legality.
You should always aim for a tow car that’s heavier than your caravan. A caravan that outweighs its tow car is the caravanning equivalent of the tail wagging the dog – and it’s as uncomfortable as it sounds.
Both major caravanning clubs and the National Caravan Council agree that novice drivers shouldn’t tow a caravan weighing more than 85% of the car’s kerbweight. Once you’ve built up real towing experience, that extends to 100%. The full explanation is in our [Caravan Weights Guide].
Put simply: the MTPLM figure on your caravan’s weight plate (usually by the door) should never exceed the kerbweight of your tow car (found on the weight plate in a front door jamb). If it does and you get pulled over, the police can fine you and make you remove weight from the caravan before you go anywhere.
Minimum Towcar Kerbweights at a Glance
| Caravan MTPLM | Min Kerbweight Novice (85%) | Min Kerbweight Experienced (100%) |
|---|---|---|
| 750kg | 882kg | 750kg |
| 1000kg | 1176kg | 1000kg |
| 1250kg | 1470kg | 1250kg |
| 1500kg | 1764kg | 1500kg |
| 1750kg | 2058kg | 1750kg |
| 2000kg | 2352kg | 2000kg |
Worth keeping in mind: a heavier tow car usually means a bigger tow car, which can mean higher insurance, higher fuel costs, and a bigger vehicle to park at Tesco on a Tuesday morning. Only you can find the right balance – but at least now you know the numbers.
How Tow Car Size Impacts Your Journey?
As heavy cars tend to be big cars, you may well end up needing a bigger vehicle than you would ideally have chosen.
Of course, you may well need a large spacious car, especially if you have kids and pets, and like to tour long distances.
Only you can find the right balance between the practicalities of everyday driving
Engine, Gearbox & Drive: The Practical Stuff
Engine
Most sensible caravanners focus on torque rather than peak power when choosing an engine. Modern two-litre diesels offer the ideal blend of pulling power, smoothness, and economy for towing most caravans. My recommendation for a family caravan: at least 150bhp and 400Nm (295lb/ft) of torque. That’s enough for brisk junction exits, with the engine sitting comfortably in its powerband for quiet motorway cruising.
For the frugal, eco-conscious caravanner, VW’s 1.0 TSI petrol engine is an absolute gem. Three cylinders, smooth as silk, and its power delivery surprised even me. That said, I’d pair it with a lighter caravan – more on that in the recommendations below.
Gearbox
Most experienced caravanners will tell you that automatic gearboxes are best for towing – and I have to agree. They take the legwork out of towing, and when it comes to manoeuvring on a tight pitch, an auto can save your clutch a world of pain. Modern automatics are now as fuel-efficient as manuals too. Nothing wrong with a manual – life’s just easier in an auto.
Four-Wheel Drive
4WD adds kerbweight (good for stability), grip, and traction – all genuinely useful for caravanners who pitch on grass or tour in autumn and winter. The trade-off is fuel consumption, which goes up noticeably. For those who prefer CL and CS off-grid pitches, it’s a very worthwhile option.
Body Style: What Actually Works
Caravanners tend to be practical people. Estate cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks dominate caravan parks for good reason – it’s not just about weight, it’s about carrying people, dogs, bikes, and the accumulated debris of a two-week holiday.
I’m a committed estate car fan. You get the handling, performance, and fuel economy of a proper road car, plus the boot space and roof-rail options that make life genuinely easier. My current car is a BMW 3 Series Touring and I wouldn’t swap it.
That said, SUVs offer big boot spaces, higher seating positions, and the visual presence that clearly communicates “yes, I do know what I’m doing” on a busy site. Saloon cars can also work well – modern boots are surprisingly spacious and the 60/40 rear seats add flexibility.
Pick-up trucks – the Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, and VW Amarok – have become dramatically more refined in recent years. If you’re pulling a large, heavy caravan (the [Buccaneer Barracuda], for instance, has an MTPLM of 1,990kg), a pickup with a 3,500kg towing limit gives you plenty of headroom. They’re also ideal for outdoor types who want to throw mountain bikes or fishing kit in the back without a second thought.
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid or Electric?
Not long ago, turbo-diesel was the only sensible answer for caravanning: masses of low-down torque, excellent efficiency, and a range that didn’t require planning your route around charging points. The landscape has changed considerably.
Diesel still has a slight edge for towing, particularly at motorway speeds with heavy caravans. Modern units are refined, economical, and reliable. The fuel cost gap with petrol has narrowed, but diesels remain the most practical all-rounder for touring long distances with a heavy van.
Petrol engines have improved dramatically. Their power bands sit higher in the rev range than diesels, but modern turbocharged units deliver strong mid-range torque and are perfectly capable tow cars, particularly for lighter caravans. They’re also simpler to maintain.
Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) are now a genuinely excellent choice for caravanning – not despite the batteries, but because of them. The extra battery weight increases kerbweight (good for stability), while the combined output of petrol engine and electric motor gives you ample torque from standstill. The Volvo XC60 T6 PHEV won the Caravan & Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year 2025 overall title for good reason. The caveat: charge the battery before you set off, and factor in that your electric range drops significantly when towing.
Fully Electric cars are increasingly capable tow cars – and the numbers back this up. The Tesla Model X weighs 2,459kg (344kg more than a Range Rover), and the Kia EV9 tips the scales at 2,664kg. That kerbweight is a genuine advantage for stability. The challenge is range: expect a 40–50% reduction when towing, and you’ll need to plan charging stops more carefully. CL pitches with hook-up are your friend. For touring in the UK or on well-served European routes, a capable EV is a perfectly viable choice. For remote touring with irregular charging access, I’d still choose a diesel or PHEV.
Gearbox Showdown: Automatic vs. Manual
Most experienced caravanners will tell you that automatic gearboxes are best for towing, and I have to agree. They literally take much of the legwork and elbow grease out of towing, and when it comes to tricky caravan manoeuvring, they can save your clutch a world of pain!
Modern automatics are also now as efficient as manual gearboxes, when it comes to fuel consumption. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a manual tow car, but life’s easier in an auto!
The Power of Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) in Tow Cars
Four-wheel drive adds weight, grip, and traction to tow cars, so is generally seen as a good thing by caravanners, even though 4x4s drink more fuel. This extra grip can be crucial on grass or muddy pitches and when towing on wet roads. All-wheel drive also adds to the kerbweight giving better stability… it’s a nice-to-have for those that enjoy basic CL and CS off-grid camping.
Unmasking the Best Brands in Tow Cars
In the tow car awards, certain brands seem to score consistently higher than their competitors.
The most outstanding performances, year after year come from the multitude of amazing cars in the VAG stable: VW, Skoda, Seat and Audi. These tow cars – and I’m talking ALL of them – share platforms, so there is a consistency right across all the brands.
This means that every model, from the titchy VW Polo 1.0 TSI to the beefy Audi Q7 performs brilliantly in tow-car testing, as confirmed by the never-ending accolades and awards. It could be a happy accident, but the consistency seems to suggest not.
Other serial award winners include Volvo, Nissan, Land Rover, Ford, BMW and, coming up on the outside rail, Hyundai.
The Importance of a Reliable Towbar
Is your proposed tow car compatible with a towbar… some cars aren’t. If it is, will you order the car with it fitted, or buy an aftermarket one from the likes of Witter Towbars?
Is Your Tow Car Roofbox-Compatible? Here's Why it Matters
One reason I love my BMW 3-series Touring estate car are the handy roof-rails. These allow me to fit my Thule roofbox in minutes, and that gives just enough extra space so the kids don’t have to sit with some luggage on the back seat.
Roofboxes are excellent for getting weight (often up to 75kg) out of the caravan, and they’re great for stuff like beach gear that you’ll be using at your destination, keeping damp and sand out of the car.
Check if your tow car is roofbox compatible, but avoid universal-fit mounts and roofbars as they rarely seem to fit as securely as you’d like.
Wrapping Up: The Sum and Substance of Choosing the Ideal Tow Car
It is essential that your tow car also functions as a great everyday ride for most of the population who typically drive without a trailer or caravan in tow; it should be dependable, fuel-efficient, comfortable and the ideal size to easily navigate and park.
Putting all your eggs in the ‘towing basket’ might turn out to be an expensive or uncomfortable mistake, though, it has to be said, most modern cars are stunning all-rounders.
The 2025/26 Award Winners Worth Knowing
Before the full list, a quick word on the major tow car awards – because Google’s AI, every magazine, and frankly most of the caravan park is talking about these:
- Overall Towcar of the Year 2025 (Caravan & Motorhome Club): Volvo XC60 T6 Plug-in Hybrid AWD
- Towcar of the Year 2025 (What Car?/Camping & Caravanning Club): Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI
- Towcar of the Year 2026 (Auto Express): Volkswagen Passat Estate
These aren’t marketing fluff – they’re the results of rigorous real-world testing including high-speed stability runs, emergency stops, hill starts, and reverse manoeuvring. If a car wins consistently, there’s a reason.
Our Curated List of Top-rated Tow Cars (New or Used)
| Small | Medium | Large |
| VW Polo 1.0 TSI | VW Golf | VW Touareg |
| Citroën C4 Cactus | Skoda Octavia | BMW X5 |
| Volvo XC40 | Nissan Navara | |
| Hyundai i30 | VW Amarok | |
| Dacia Duster | Skoda Superb | |
| Ford Focus | Volvo XC90 | |
| BMW 3 Series | Volvo XC60 | |
| VW Arteon | ||
| BMW 5 series | ||
| VW Passat | ||
| Skoda Karoq |
Our Recommended Tow Cars by Caravan Weight
The most useful way to think about this is not “what size car do I want?” but “what does my caravan weigh – and what does that mean for my tow car?” Here’s a breakdown by caravan MTPLM weight band.
Important note on specs: Kerbweight and towing capacity vary by trim level, engine, and optional extras. Always verify against the manufacturer’s spec sheet and the actual weight plate in your car’s door jamb. Prices are approximate and correct at time of writing (June 2026).
Lighter Caravans: Up to 1,300kg MTPLM
Suitable for entry-level and mid-range tourers – many Bailey, Swift, and Elddis models fall into this category.
Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T MHEV
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£30,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~1,422kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,209kg |
| Max towing capacity | 1,650kg |
| Body style | SUV |
A perennial Towcar of the Year contender. The mild-hybrid system smooths out power delivery beautifully and the Qashqai is a genuinely pleasant everyday car. For lighter caravans – a compact tourer up to around 1,200kg MTPLM – it’s excellent value.
Watch out for: Towing capacity of 1,650kg means it’s not the car if you think you might want to upsize to a larger caravan in a few years. Buy for the caravan you have, not the one you had.
Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 TDI
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£27,500 |
| Kerbweight | ~1,475kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,254kg |
| Max towing capacity | 2,000kg |
| Body style | Estate |
The practical caravanner’s choice. Enormous boot, sensible running costs, and a 2,000kg towing capacity that gives you room to grow. Part of the VAG stable, which means the consistency that comes with it (see the Brands section below).
Watch out for: Not the most exciting car on the road, which is fine – it’s not trying to be. If you need to feel something when you press the accelerator, look elsewhere.
Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£18,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~1,300kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,105kg |
| Max towing capacity | 1,500kg |
| Body style | SUV |
The budget option that genuinely works. Unashamedly basic, surprisingly competent. For a compact tourer or a second caravan for occasional use, the Duster makes financial sense. I’ve seen it tow respectably at motorway speeds with a lightweight van.
Watch out for: 1,500kg towing capacity is the ceiling. Don’t try to push it with heavier vans.
Mid-Range Caravans: 1,300kg–1,800kg MTPLM
The sweet spot for most family tourers – Coachman, Bailey Pegasus, Elddis Avante, and many Buccaneer models sit here.
Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI ⭐ What Car? Towcar of the Year 2025
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£38,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~1,854kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,576kg |
| Max towing capacity | 2,400kg |
| Body style | SUV (7-seat) |
An exceptional tow car. Seven seats if you need them, 2,400kg towing capacity, and stability that impressed testers enough to give it the top award. The 2.0 TDI diesel is superb – tractable from low revs, refined at motorway speeds. A family who wants to upgrade from a mid-range van to something more substantial later will never outgrow it.
Watch out for: Running costs are not Dacia-level. This is a premium family SUV and it costs like one to insure and service.
Volkswagen Passat Estate ⭐ Auto Express Towcar of the Year 2026
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£34,500 |
| Kerbweight | ~1,573kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,337kg |
| Max towing capacity | 1,600kg |
| Body style | Estate |
The estate car that keeps winning awards for a reason. 690-litre boot, excellent high-speed stability, smooth power delivery. The 1.5 TSI mild-hybrid is the sweet spot between economy and performance. One of the most pleasant cars in the world to cover 400 motorway miles in – which matters a great deal when you’re touring.
Watch out for: Max towing of 1,600kg is on the lower side for the mid-range category. Check your caravan’s MTPLM carefully – some mid-range vans are pushing towards this limit when fully loaded.
BMW 3 Series Touring
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£40,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~1,620kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,377kg |
| Max towing capacity | 2,000kg |
| Body style | Estate |
This is my personal car, so I’m biased – but not without justification. The 3 Series Touring is the benchmark driver’s estate. 2,000kg towing capacity, roof-rail compatibility for a roofbox (more on that below), and a driving experience that makes the commute home after dropping off the caravan feel genuinely worthwhile.
Watch out for: BMW interior quality has improved enormously, but infotainment can be over-complicated. And yes, the optional extras list will humble you.
Volvo XC60 T6 PHEV ⭐ Caravan & Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2025
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£55,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~2,100kg |
| 85% match figure | ~1,785kg |
| Max towing capacity | 2,400kg |
| Body style | SUV |
The overall winner for 2025 and not a surprise to anyone who’s driven it. The combination of plug-in hybrid efficiency and a kerbweight that naturally stabilises the whole outfit makes this a genuinely excellent tow car. The EV range (around 35–40 miles) takes the edge off urban driving costs. Beautifully built, extremely comfortable on long journeys.
Watch out for: The price. And remember that electric range drops to around 15–20 miles when towing – you’re effectively driving a very refined petrol car for most of a touring trip
Larger Caravans: Over 1,800kg MTPLM
For the bigger tourers – Buccaneer Barracuda (1,990kg), Coachman Lusso, and larger Bailey models.
BMW X5 xDrive50e PHEV
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£82,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~2,495kg |
| 85% match figure | ~2,121kg |
| Max towing capacity | 2,700kg |
| Body style | SUV |
For heavy vans, you need heavy cars – and the X5 PHEV has plenty of both. The 2,700kg towing capacity and near 2,500kg kerbweight make it one of the most capable tow cars on the road. The combined 489bhp output means pulling a 1,900kg caravan never raises a sweat.
Watch out for: This is a serious financial commitment. Running costs, insurance, and depreciation are all in the premium bracket.
Nissan Navara / Toyota Hilux / VW Amarok (Pick-up trucks)
| Spec | Navara | Hilux | Amarok |
| Price from | ~£32,000 | ~£40,000 | ~£50,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~2,110kg | ~2,050kg | ~2,350kg+ |
| Max towing | 3,500kg | 3,500kg | 3,500kg |
| Body style | Pick-up | Pick-up | Pick-up |
All three offer 3,500kg towing capacity – more than enough for any production touring caravan. The Amarok has closed the gap on car-like refinement considerably in its latest generation. The Navara remains the most practically priced. All three are ideal for outdoor types who want to throw kit in the back without worrying about the upholstery.
Watch out for: Pick-ups ride differently to cars – the rear suspension is stiffer when unloaded and can feel fidgety on empty roads. Drive one before you commit.
Electric Tow Cars Worth Considering in 2026
Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD
| Spec | Figure |
| Price from | ~£73,000 |
| Kerbweight | ~2,664kg |
| 85% match figure | ~2,264kg |
| Max towing capacity | 2,500kg |
| Body style | SUV (7-seat) |
The most convincing electric tow car currently on sale. The kerbweight is extraordinary – heavier than a Range Rover Sport – which gives it outstanding stability. 2,500kg towing capacity covers almost any touring caravan. Seven seats. The real-world towing range is approximately 150–200 miles depending on conditions, which is workable for UK touring with planning.
Watch out for: Towing range genuinely requires more planning than a diesel – map your charging stops before you leave, not when you’re running low.
The Brands That Consistently Perform
Certain brands turn up in tow car award shortlists year after year, and it’s not coincidence.
The VAG group – VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi – shares platforms across the range, which means a consistency of engineering that shows up in towing performance. From the VW Polo to the Audi Q7, the handling and stability that wins awards is essentially baked into the DNA. It’s a happy accident that has proven remarkably consistent.
Volvo has become one of the outstanding tow car manufacturers of the modern era. The XC60 PHEV’s Towcar of the Year win is not a one-off – Volvo has been appearing in the top categories for years.
BMW (particularly the 3 and 5 Series Tourings and the X5) consistently delivers towing performance that matches the driving experience – stable, confident, and composed.
Nissan has an impressive record – the Qashqai in particular punches well above its weight class.
Land Rover remains the go-to for heavy towing, though running costs require a healthy budget.
Hyundai has been climbing the rankings steadily – the Santa Fe in particular is worth serious consideration as an alternative to the more expensive European options.
Don't Forget the Towbar and Roofbox
Towbar
Before you fall in love with a car, check that it’s compatible with an approved towbar. Most modern cars are, but not all. If you’re buying new, ordering the towbar fitted by the manufacturer is usually neater than retrofitting. Aftermarket options from specialists like Witter Towbars are perfectly good, but make sure whoever fits it knows what they’re doing – a badly-fitted towbar is a problem waiting to happen.
Roofbox
One of the things I genuinely love about my BMW 3 Series Touring are the roof rails. A Thule roofbox goes on in minutes and takes up to 75kg of luggage out of the caravan – which both reduces its laden weight and keeps sand, damp gear, and wet dogs’ paraphernalia out of the car.
Check whether your proposed tow car has integrated roof rails or a fixing point for aftermarket rails. And avoid universal-fit roofbars – in my experience they rarely fit as securely as the manufacturer-specific equivalents, and this is not the place to be frugal.
Your Questions Answered
What is the 85% rule for caravan towing?
The 85% rule means your caravan’s Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM – the weight on the plate by the caravan door when fully loaded) should not exceed 85% of your car’s kerbweight. For novice towers, this is the recommended limit.
Once you’ve built up real experience, you can tow up to 100% of your car’s kerbweight. The 85% figure isn’t a legal maximum – but it’s a sensible safety margin, especially in crosswinds or on motorways. The full breakdown is in our Caravan Weights Guide.
What is MTPLM?
MTPLM stands for Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass – in plain English, the maximum legal weight of your caravan when it’s fully loaded with everything you’re taking on holiday. It’s found on the weight plate attached to the caravan, usually near the entrance door. This is the number you need when calculating towing suitability, not the caravan’s unloaded weight.
Can an electric car tow a caravan?
Yes – and increasingly well. The key advantage of electric cars for towing is kerbweight: EVs are heavy, which is good for stability. The Kia EV9 weighs 2,664kg, making it one of the most stable tow platforms available. The practical challenge is range – expect a 40–50% reduction when towing, so a car with a 300-mile range will cover roughly 150–180 miles with a caravan on. This is manageable for UK touring if you plan your charging stops; less convenient for remote European touring.
Do I need a special driving licence to tow a caravan?
If you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, you can generally tow a caravan up to 3,500kg combined weight on your existing licence. If you passed after that date, you need a B+E entitlement for heavier outfits. Check the DVLA’s guidance for your specific situation. Most family caravanning outfits fall within the standard B licence category, but always verify.
What does the 7-metre rule mean for caravans?
The 7-metre rule refers to a speed restriction: if your vehicle and caravan combination exceeds 7 metres in total length, you must observe the relevant motorway speed limits, which for caravans in the UK is a maximum of 60mph on motorways and 50mph on single carriageways. Many modern caravans are around 8 metres long, so this applies to most touring outfits.
Putting It All Together
Choosing the right tow car is a mix of arithmetic and honest self-assessment. Get the kerbweight right first – everything else is secondary. After that, think about how you actually use the car on non-caravanning days, because that’s 90% of your driving life.
Most modern cars are genuinely excellent all-rounders. The ones in this guide are the ones we’d confidently recommend – not because of what’s written in a brochure, but because of what we see working day after day on the road and on the pitch.
If you’d like to talk through the right tow car for a specific caravan you’re considering – or you’d like to see what’s currently in stock – our team at Raymond James Caravans is happy to help. We’re in Atherstone, Warwickshire.
Call us on 02476 474747, email general@raymondjamescaravans.co.uk, or browse our current caravan range to start with the van and work backwards from there.
About the author
John Sootheran is a seasoned caravanner and motorhomer who previously edited Caravan magazine and now writes for Britain’s best-selling caravan title, Practical Caravan, alongside Practical Motorhome and the Camping & Caravanning Club magazines. He has assessed more than 200 tow car and caravan outfits in competitive testing and on-road driving over the course of his career, and consults for a number of major caravanning brands. His current tow car is a BMW 3 Series Touring, which he will tell you about at length if you give him the opportunity.