French car makers tend to do things a little differently. At their best, the designers and engineers create striking cars with distinctive engineering.
In recent decades, that flair has sometimes been hidden, but the big three – Citroën, Peugeot and Renault – are all building exciting cars again.
If you want an SUV for towing a caravan, these car makers will oblige. But there are also models, such as the Peugeot 408, that seem to defy classification. There’s also no shortage of fully electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid models, although towing capacities are often on the fairly low side.
So if you want a vehicle that’s stylish and offers that important trait of stability that we look for in the best tow cars, test drive one of these five.
Please note: Vehicles pictured may not be exact model or year
Peugeot 408 Hybrid 136 Allure
- Price: £35,165
- Kerbweight: 1469kg
- 85% match: 1249kg
- Towing limit: 1300kg
If you’ve always wanted a coupé crossed with an SUV mixed with a hatchback, there’s good news – Peugeot has made one. The 408 is an odd mix of genres, but it’s certainly striking.
The eight-speed plug-in hybrid version has the highest towing capacity, at 1400kg, but it’s only available from stock. The seven-speed replacement model is limited to 1290kg.
We’d pick the more affordable regular hybrid tow car, saving some £6000 over the plug-in. It has a towing capacity of 1300kg, so when it comes to the car/caravan matching, it can tow relatively light vans like the Swift Alpine 2.
Picking the hybrid means fairly steady performance from the 136hp engine and the 22hp electric motor, but if someone overtakes you while you’re towing uphill, just think of all the money that you’ve saved.
You won’t have to spend too much at the pumps, either, with an official combined figure of 47.9-58.8mpg.
The cabin is almost as striking as the outside. It’s well made and attractive, with plenty of space for passengers. The boot holds 536 litres in the hybrid, 471 litres in the plug-in. On the used market, non-hybrids from 2023 start at around £18,500.
Renault Rafale E-Tech Plug-in Hybrid Techno Esprit Alpine
- Price: £45,695
- Kerbweight: 1789kg*
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Towing limit: 1500kg
The Rafale is Renault’s take on the sporty SUV-coupé. Viewed from the side, it looks similar to the Peugeot 408, although the plug-in hybrid Renault is faster.
It has 300hp, so when the petrol engine and the electric motor are working together, there’s plenty of muscle to cope with a sensibly matched caravan. The towing capacity of 1500kg is relatively low for such a heavy and powerful car, but it still leaves a wide choice when it comes to hitching up a caravan.
Sharp but light steering takes a little getting used to while you are towing – it’s easy to steer more than you intend. Take the time to acclimatise and the Rafale proves stable.
Hill starts are easy with so much pulling power, and this version of the Rafale sends its power to all four wheels, which is a big plus in wet weather.
Fuel economy is very good, so long as you recharge the vehicle regularly. In official tests, the Rafale plug-in emits just 12g/km of carbon dioxide.
The Rafale is quite a recent addition to the market, so the only plug-in hybrids that we could find for sale were new cars in-stock with dealers.
However, some were priced several thousand pounds below the recommended retail price, so it’s worth shopping around.
*Including 75kg for driver not included in Renault’s published kerbweight
Renault Captur TCe 90 Evolution
- Price: £22,195
- Kerbweight: 1298kg*
- 85% match: 1103kg
- Towing limit: 1200kg
You would think that the more powerful 145hp hybrid version of the Renault Captur would make a better tow car than the 90hp petrol. However, the hybrid is lumbered with a 750kg maximum towing figure.
The petrol vehicle has a more useful 1200kg limit, although given the car’s low kerbweight and modest engine power, even 1.2 tonnes is a bit of a challenge. Micro caravans and the likes of the Swift Basecamp 2 should be okay, though.
Accept that it is going to take a while to get up to speed, and the Captur tows well for such a small tow car. It’s reasonably stable, too, happily towing a caravan at 60mph.
As a day-to-day car, the Captur is quiet and efficient. It’s not as much fun as a Ford Puma and it doesn’t ride as smoothly as a Škoda Kamiq, but it’s an easy car to live with.
The cabin is reasonably roomy. The legroom isn’t generous in the back, even with the rear seats moved all the way back on their runners, but then the Captur isn’t much bigger than the Clio supermini.
More powerful petrol models are available if you are shopping for a used vehicle.
We’ve seen 140hp 1.3-litre cars from 2022 priced from £13,000 or thereabouts.
*Including 75kg for driver not included in Renault’s published kerbweight
Citroën C5 Aircross Diesel 130hp Plus
- Price: £28,380
- Kerbweight: 1567kg*
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Towing limit: 1250kg
The C5 is closely related to the Peugeot 5008, but the two cars are distinctly different to drive. The Citroën has the brand’s trademark soft ride.
Pillowy suspension doesn’t always make for stable towing, but in our experience, the C5 is a secure tow car.
Then again, it should be, when it’s only approved for towing up to 1250kg.
Although diesel is rapidly becoming a rarity, the Aircross is still available with diesel power. The 130hp engine will cope well with any lightweight caravan. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are available, but they cost more.
In solo driving, the Citroën will suit drivers who prefer comfort over agility. It’s a bit wallowy if you corner with any enthusiasm.
The cabin design is very distinctive. A sound driving position is just the ticket for long drives, although rear-seat passengers won’t be as happy as those in the front – legroom is quite tight in the back.
The C5 Aircross is keenly priced, and should be cheap to run, too. In official tests, the car returns 45.4-54.1mpg.
There are plenty to choose from if you’d like a used Citroën Aircross too. Prices for a 2022 diesel auto start from under £15,000.
**Including 75kg for driver not included in Citroën’s published kerbweight
Peugeot 5008 Plug-in Hybrid 195 Allure
- Price: £43,560
- Kerbweight: 2048kg
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Towing limit: 1300kg
The 5008 is a seven-seat car that is the most practical of the five French cars we’ve chosen. The cabin is family-friendly, with good space in all three rows and an upmarket ambience.
Peugeot offers buyers the choice of electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid models. All three have low towing limits for a car of this size and weight. The plug-in hybrid’s 1300kg capacity is 300kg higher than any other model’s.
Given the power of petrol engine and electric motor combined, you’d think the 5008 could pull a heavier tourer. There’s 195hp and 258lb ft of torque when both sources of power are working together.
In everyday use, many trips can be completed using electricity rather than petrol. The EV range is quoted as 39-55 miles.
Carbon dioxide emissions are very low, which makes for an affordable tax bill for a company car driver. Private and business drivers alike will be pleased by the official combined figure of 212.7-356.2mpg. Of course, frequent recharging will be necessary to approach that sort of economy.
We struggled to find a pre-owned plug-in hybrid model, but prices for a 2022 petrol car start from around £16,500.
If you’re new to caravanning and will be setting off on your first tour soon, don’t miss my tips on towing a caravan for the first time either, as I share advice to help you stay safe on the road.
You can also take a look at my pick of the standout Korean cars for towing, as well as my round-up of the best Japanese tow cars.
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