Many new car buyers in Britain will look for something that has good towing ability, possibly because they want to use a caravan. While there are plenty of large four-wheel drive cars around with decent pulling power, not everyone who wants a good tow car will necessarily have the budget for that sort of vehicle.
Here we highlight five cars that offer decent towing capacity in a variety of categories, including 4x4, estate, hatchback and even small car.
4x4 - Land Rover Discovery
If you’ve got the budget for a large 4x4 from an upmarket brand, then the Land Rover Discovery is a very good choice. It’s a big and very practical Land Rover offering loads of passenger and loading space within.
As well as being a decent cruiser, the Discovery’s maximum towing weight is massive at 3,500kg. Towing duties, even on a route with lots of hills and turns, should feel like a doddle if you use a Discovery.
Crossover – Mazda CX-5
As well as already being a stylish, practical crossover that’s good to drive, the CX-5 can also offer a lot of pulling power for duties such as towing.
Using a range of modern petrol and diesel engines that merge performance and efficiency convincingly, the CX-5 can offer up to 2,000kg towing capacity, or a figure very close to that amount, depending on the exact engine choice.
Estate – SEAT Leon ST
The latest SEAT Leon ST is a great entry in the estate market segment, not only because it's spacious all-round, but because it also offers a wide choice of engines with decent towing ability. The latter is especially true if you go for a diesel unit, like the 2.0-litre TDI diesel – which contributes to a max towing weight of 1,600kg.
A diesel-run Leon ST is very competent for the task of towing but won’t cost that much to run either. The 2.0-litre diesel mentioned earlier offiicially averages over 60mpg.
Hatchback – Audi A3
Looking for a car that can do a decent job of towing, but you don’t want something as big (or expensive) as a 4x4, crossover or estate? Well, if a family hatchback-sized car is your preference, then the Audi A3 should prove a fruitful option.
One of the more upmarket options in the family hatchback segment, the Audi A3 is available in three-door or five-door Sportback guises and has several engines with strong towing potential.
A stand out option in the latest A3 range is the 2.0-litre TDI diesel which offers a max towing weight of 1,800kg. Other engines in the A3 range offer identical or very similar towing weights, but the running costs of the diesel stand out.
Small car – Fiat Panda 4x4
Small cars are not the most obvious choice when buying a vehicle for their towing ability. If, however, you want a new car decent for towing but only have the budget for a smaller car, then consider the Fiat Panda 4x4.
The Panda 4x4 is a likeable little vehicle because while it is small and reasonably priced (starting at less than £15,000), it also has a rugged side, and you may be surprised at just how versatile it is.
In diesel form, the max towing weight of the Panda 4x4 is 900kg. That is a lot less when compared to other cars in this guide, but for its size and price, those figures are rather impressive.
And since an average fuel economy of around 60mpg and CO2 emissions below 120g/km are both realistic, it won’t break the bank when it comes to running costs.
