Land Rover Defender review - iconic 4x4 reinvented
The best tow cars to buy in 2024
Choosing the right car for towing can be tricky, so we’ve put together the best options on sale today
Picking the best tow car for your needs isn’t always that straightforward. Some buyers need a tow car to haul a big, heavy trailer, while others only need something for the occasional caravan holiday. No matter what your towing needs are, we’ve covered the best tow cars on sale today.
There’s more to a good tow car than just its tow capacity. Sure, a car with the maximum 3,500kg capability will give you headroom to tow the biggest of loads, but not everyone needs all of that grunt. A smaller, less powerful car might be able to tow enough for you, and will be more affordable to run the rest of the time.
With that in mind, we’ve included several cars that achieved high scores in our road tests but don’t necessarily have an enormous tow capacity. They’re all excellent options for everyday driving and offer great practicality, but will happily tow up to around 2,000kg. We’ve also thrown in some more dedicated alternatives that will make light work of even the heaviest towing jobs.
The cars on this list are aimed at buyers with regular, heavy-duty towing in mind – perhaps a caravan or horsebox. If occasional, lighter loads are more likely, you can exercise some creative licence with your choice of tow vehicle – most small superminis or family hatchbacks can manage a 1,000kg braked trailer, for example.
The best tow cars in 2024
Read on for our list of the best tow cars on sale in the UK, or check out our guide on how to tow a car here. Also make sure to check out all the rules surrounding towing in the UK, including the changes which took effect from 16 December 2021.
- Priced from around £58,000
- Tow capacity: 3,500kg
When the new Land Rover Defender arrived on the scene in 2019, some were worried about whether its new-found focus on comfort and refinement would detract from the legendary ruggedness of its forebear. Those doubts were quickly put to rest once we’d tested it both on and off road – it’s an excellent SUV that can tackle sand dunes, muddy trails and, of course, the school run.
Handily, it’s even better at towing than the old model. With a maximum braked tow capacity of 3,500kg (3,000kg for the plug-in hybrid), it can haul just about anything. Its eight-speed automatic gearbox has low ratios to help with towing, and there’s an optional Advanced Tow Assist system that allows you to reverse a trailer using helpful arrows on the screen – a valuable feature for those who find this task challenging.
It’s expensive to buy – the five-door 110 model starts from over £63k – but if you want a capable road car that can handle all of your towing duties, we think the Defender is the best there is.
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- Priced from around £46,000
- Tow capacity: 2,250 to 2,400kg
The Volvo XC60 may be one of the older cars on this list, but it still offers a competitive blend of refinement, technology and style to trouble even the latest mid-size family SUVs. For buyers after a comfortable, premium family car that can also handle towing duties, the XC60 ticks all the boxes.
Buyers needn’t be put off by the lack of a diesel engine in the XC60 – both the petrol mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models come with respectable maximum towing capacities. The entry-level mild-hybrid B5 can pull up to 2,400kg, and the plug-in hybrid models are only marginally behind at 2,250kg.
With 455bhp and an equally lofty claimed fuel economy figure of 282mpg, the top-spec XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid outperforms most other mid-size SUVs in terms of performance and efficiency, as well as towing capacity. The figures are certainly impressive, but if towing is your priority, we think you’ll be better off saving some cash and opting for the B5 petrol mild-hybrid.
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- Priced from around £35,000
- Tow capacity: 3,500kg
The Ford Ranger is no longer just a barebones workhorse for commercial buyers. The latest model was released in 2022 and has the style, tech and comfort to rival some of our favourite family SUVs. It’s the best-selling pickup truck in Europe and – although its size may deter some buyers – it offers excellent practicality and durability, as well as powerful diesel and petrol engines.
Its towing capabilities are equally impressive. Available in either Single Cab (two-seater) or Double Cab (five-seater) body styles, the Ranger will tow up to 3,500kg, meaning it can handle practically any towing load you throw at it. The Ranger also qualifies as a light commercial vehicle, bringing Benefit-in-Kind tax advantages that will lower running costs for commercial buyers.
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- Priced from around £30,000
- Tow capacity: 1,400kg to 2,100kg
Skoda’s mid-size SUV, the Karoq, has been around for some time now, but it remains one of the most well-rounded cars in its class. It’s a proven family workhorse, but it makes an equally good tow car, too. Even the most affordable 1.0-litre petrol model will haul up to 1,400kg, which should be enough for most small trailers and caravans. Opt for the top-spec diesel Karoq with four-wheel drive, and it’ll pull over two tonnes – that’s more than the bigger Skoda Kodiaq.
When you’re not heading off on a caravan holiday, the Karoq will happily slip into everyday family life. It’s great to drive and is one of the comfiest cars in its class. It’s even fairly economical, despite the fact there’s no hybrid tech to speak of. Like all Skodas, practicality is perhaps the Karoq’s strongest asset. You get a big boot, a spacious cabin, and a clever rear bench that slides forward to increase storage space.
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- Priced from around £70,000
- Tow capacity: 1,500kg to 2,000kg
It wasn’t all that long ago that you would’ve found a BMW 5 Series Touring on this list with a thumping great diesel engine. Times are changing, however, and the diesel 5 Series is no more, replaced by the electric BMW i5. But don’t count it out – the i5 Touring is one of the best electric cars for towing on sale today. In eDrive 40 guise, it’ll haul 1,500kg, while the bonkers M60 xDrive will pull another 500kg on top of that.
Prices start from around £70,000, so we doubt many BMW i5 Tourings will be used solely as farmyard trailer luggers. Instead, the i5 Touring is best thought of as the ideal luxury EV that can also be used for towing when needed. Just be aware that, like all EVs, your range is likely to take a hit when towing, so it won’t be the best option for long-distance caravan trips.
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- Priced from around £19,000
- Tow capacity: 750kg to 1,500kg
Regular Carbuyer readers won’t be shocked to find the Dacia Duster on this list. The rugged small SUV has always performed well when it comes to towing, and the new third-generation model is a more well-rounded car than ever before. So much so that it picked up the Carbuyer Car of the Year trophy for 2025.
So what makes the Duster a good tow car? For starters, it’ll tow up to 1,500kg when equipped with the petrol mild hybrid engine, which will be plenty for most buyers. There’s loads of storage space for carrying your gear, plus there’s a four-wheel drive model for added traction. While those attributes aren’t particularly special, it’s the Duster’s price that really seals the deal. Starting from around £19,000 – or £21,000 for the mild hybrid – it’s nothing short of a total bargain. Just don’t go for the self-charging hybrid model if you plan to tow – the capacity drops to an underwhelming 750kg.
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- Priced from around £48,000
- Tow capacity: 1,600kg to 2,000kg
Is there a cooler family van right now than the Volkswagen Multivan? Ok, maybe the electric ID. Buzz, but if it’s towing you’re concerned about, then the Multivan is the one to go for. We think it’s the best big family car for towing on sale today, thanks to its impressive tow capacity and prodigious practicality. Both petrol and diesel Multivans are rated for towing up to 2,000kg, and we found it to be stable and have plenty of traction when pulling a trailer.
Open one of the Multivan’s sliding doors and it’s pretty clear you’re not going to be short on interior space. It’s as van-like as the exterior styling suggests, with individually sliding seats that can be removed for maximising cargo space. With both rows of rear seats removed, you’ll have around 4,000 litres of space to play with – plenty of room for all your holiday gear.
Importantly, the Multivan feels no different behind the wheel than any regular family car. It’s comfortable over long journeys, and things feel quite plush in the front pair of seats. Much of the interior tech is pinched from the Volkswagen Golf, too, so everything works just as well as you’d hope.
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- Priced from around £40,000
- Tow capacity: 750kg to 1,600kg
An electric hatchback may not be the obvious choice for hauling a trailer or caravan, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5 punches above its weight when it comes to towing. With a maximum towing capacity of 1,600kg, the South Korean EV is just as capable as many petrol or diesel-powered hatchbacks, if not more so.
The 1,600kg figure only applies to the larger 84kWh battery model, with this variant boasting a more powerful motor and a larger range. It's nippy, has plenty of interior space and even entry-level models come with a long list of standard equipment. We think it looks great too, with a charming retro-futuristic design that stands apart from today’s crop of SUVs.
While it can’t match the BMW iX in terms of outright towing capacity, it’s more affordable, with the 84kWh model starting at under £44k. If you shop for a used model, there are low mileage examples cropping up from as little as £25k.
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- Priced from around £24,000
- Tow capacity: 1,500kg to 1,700kg
The SEAT Leon Estate offers a great mix of handling, roominess, and towing capacity, making it an ideal all-rounder. The 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine will satisfy most buyers, offering good low-down pulling power. An optional seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox makes towing easier and improves refinement. Towing capacity is 1,700kg for the 1.5-litre, making it an ideal tow vehicle for all but the very largest caravans. Even the more affordable 1.0-litre petrol engine can haul up to 1,500kg, which may be enough for some buyers.
There are several trim levels available but all apart from the hybrid retain the 620-litre boot that makes the Leon especially practical for long journeys with lots of luggage. Another advantage is that – although the Leon isn't featherweight – it is lighter than many of the other tow cars listed, meaning there are fewer compromises in fuel economy or handling when you aren’t towing.
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- Priced from around £65,000
- Tow capacity: 3,500kg
Heavily inspired by the original Land Rover Defender, the Ineos Grenadier is a capable and rugged, if compromised, road car. Its design is resolutely old-school, prioritising off-road prowess over handling and performance, and its towing capacity surpasses that of most other road cars.
While many other SUVs are catered to school-run comfort or navigating supermarket car parks, the Grenadier is happiest tackling a dirt track or charging across a muddy field. Its BMW-sourced petrol and diesel six-cylinder engines provide enough shove to allow the Grenadier to tow up to 3,500kg – tied with the new Land Rover Defender.
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Looking for a car that can handle the worst of British weather? Read our list of the top 10 best cars for winter…
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