Which cars are most suitable for towing a caravan?

If you have a caravan and are looking for a new car to tow it, you need to take into account the towing capacity (braked). A high towing capacity is not essential, but above 1,500 kg you are reasonably safe and can tow anything – from trailers and horse trailers to large caravans.

 Gaspedaal.nl previously mapped out how scarce and expensive storage spaces are; the choice of a suitable towing car is therefore at least as important. In this article, we discuss various cars with a towing capacity of more than 1,600 kg.

Hatchbacks

Hatchbacks are not necessarily known as ideal caravan tow vehicles. Most hatchbacks are compact and have an economical engine, making them not ideal for towing a caravan. However, there are a number of models in this category that do have a high towing capacity. These are generally large and often expensive cars. Moreover, they are often not traditional hatchbacks, but the lesser-known (and more streamlined) liftbacks.

Examples of hatchbacks with a towing capacity of more than 1,600 kg are:

• Audi A7
• BMW 6 Series GT
• Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class
• Polestar 3
• Polestar 4
• Seat Leon
• Skoda Superb
• Volkswagen Arteon

Sedans and station wagons

Sedans and station wagons are excellent touring cars. They are long and offer more space than hatchbacks, and they also have a stable road holding. Often, these types of cars are also very pleasant for long distances due to their high driving comfort. Sedans and station wagons are also excellent for towing caravans. There are various models available with a high towing capacity, allowing you to effortlessly tow a large caravan. In this category, you will also find various high-performance cars, such as the Audi RS6 or the BMW M5.

Examples of sedans and station wagons with a towing capacity of more than 1,600 kg are:

• A4 (RS4)
• Audi A6 (RS6)
• BMW 5 Series
• BMW 7 Series
• Jaguar XF (Sportbrake)
• Mercedes-Benz CLS
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Nio ET7
• Porsche Panamera
• Subaru Outback
• Volkswagen Passat (Variant)
• Volvo S60/V60
• Volvo S90/V90

Crossovers and SUVs

Crossovers and SUVs are the fastest-growing car category of the last 20 years. In the past, we only knew them as off-road vehicles, but nowadays you can find them in all shapes and sizes – from the Renault Captur to the Ford Bronco. They are practical, spacious, and user-friendly cars that offer much more luxury and comfort than before. They are generally heavier than hatchbacks, station wagons, and sedans and are available with powerful engines. This makes them suitable for towing caravans.

Examples of crossovers and SUVs with a towing capacity of more than 1,600 kg are:

• Alfa Romeo Stelvio
• Audi: Q3, Q5, Q6 e-tron, Q7
• BMW: iX, X3, X4, X5, X7
• Ford: Kuga, Explorer
• Kia: EV9
• Land Rover: Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar
• Mazda: CX-6, CX-60
• Mercedes-Benz: GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, GLS
• Porsche: Macan, Cayenne
• Seat Tarraco
• Tesla Model X
• Volvo: EX90, XC60, XC90

The most popular caravan tow cars

As you can see, there are various models to choose from if you want to buy a good caravan tow car. Research by camping specialist ACSI shows which cars are the most popular for towing a caravan. The top 10 looks like this:

1. Mazda CX-5
2. Volkswagen Tiguan
3. Ford Kuga
4. Volvo XC60
5. Toyota RAV4
6. Nissan Qashqai
7. Hyundai Tucson
8. Volvo XC40
9. Subaru Forester
10. Citroën C4 Picasso