Choosing the right tow car is always a crucially important step, as it will allow you to drive with stability. The Practical Caravan Awards 2024 are here to help you find the right vehicle for you – in this guide, we take a look at the big, bold cars that have impressed our team over the past year, as we reveal our pick for the best tow car over 2000kg, as well as our other top recommendations.
This is the category for you if you own (or are planning to purchase) a large, heavy caravan – or simply fancy a tow car that has a bit more oomph on the road. There’s a lot to love about our five contenders: they vary in size and style, but each one offers comfortable, easy towing, even if you have a weightier van.
This year, we’ve selected the BMW X5 50e M Sport as the best caravan tow car over 2000kg – we loved the confidence it inspires when towing. In this guide, you’ll be able to see what we made of it, as well as the other contenders.
The best caravan tow car over 2000kg is:
BMW X5 50e M Sport
- Price: £79,265
- Kerbweight: 2420kg
- 85% match figure: 2057kg
- Maximum towing weight: 2700kg
Last year, our favourite heavyweight tow car was the BMW X5 45e. BMW has updated its plug-in hybrid 4×4 with more power and a bigger battery, and it’s now called the 50e.
The total power output is a huge 489hp, giving a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds. Given that the old, less powerful model could accelerate at warp-factor speed while towing, the latest model could probably tow a caravan made of solid lead.
Of course, having power to spare is all well and good, but what we really look for in the best caravan tow cars is stability. The X5 is as good as cars get on that score, with confidence-inspiring towing manners. The big X5 is also exceptionally economical. The larger battery gives an electric range of up 65 miles, and the official combined figure is 313.9mpg. You’ll need to recharge often to match that, though.
The other tow cars over 2000kg that we shortlisted are:
These are the towing vehicles we shortlisted at the Practical Caravan Awards 2024; alternatively, if you’re looking for a lightweight option, our guide to the best small tow cars is worth a look.
Audi A6 Avant 50 TFSI e Quattro S Line
- Price: £63,015
- Kerbweight: 2150kg
- 85% match figure: 1828kg
- Maximum towing weight: 2000kg
A big SUV is the obvious choice if you are looking for a tow car weighing over two tonnes, but there are some estate tow cars that fit the bill, too. The plug-in hybrid tow car version of the Audi A6 Avant makes the scales groan with a hefty kerbweight of 2150kg. That gives a high 85% match figure of 1828kg, so most caravans can be prudently paired with the big Audi.
Performance is effortless, even with a heavy tourer in tow. The Audi is stable at speed as well as quick, although it’s not quite as secure as the BMW X5. As you would hope when spending well over £60,000, the Avant S Line is well equipped, although it’s easy to spend a lot more if you are tempted by the list of options.
The only real disappointment is that the hybrid components eat into boot space, so there’s a modest 405 litres for holiday bags.
Full review: Audi A6 Avant TFSI e Quattro S Line
Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Auto
- Price: £51,745
- Kerbweight: 2090kg
- 85% match figure: ABOVE MAX TOW
- Maximum towing weight: 1600kg
Towing with an EV is complicated by the relatively short range of electric cars and the difficulties of recharging with a caravan. However, for anyone determined to switch to an electric tow car the Kia EV6 is the one we’d recommend.
Like most electric cars, the EV6 is heavy, and the weight is carried close to the ground. That contributes to excellent stability, whether you are towing on the motorway or a country road.
Some electric cars are heavily compromised by restrictive maximum towing figures, but the EV6 will pull as much as 1600kg, so it will tow a wide range of caravans. With lots of power (321hp) and four-wheel drive, the EV6 is very rapid, with or without a caravan. It’s also roomy, practical, and packed with high-tech features such as twin 12.3-inch screens in the cockpit and the ability to charge other electrical devices – even other EVs.
Land Rover Defender 110 P400e X
- Price: £92,455
- Kerbweight: 2613kg
- 85% match figure: 2221kg
- Maximum towing weight: 3000kg
You need to be downright rich rather than merely well off to afford the Defender 110 P400e. In a parallel universe where caravan journalism pays better than hedge-fund management, we’d be sorely tempted by the big Land Rover. The ‘e’ part of the model name tells you this is the plug-in hybrid, reducing emissions compared with the petrol or diesel versions so long as you recharge often. It can still tow heavy and luxurious twin-axle caravans, thanks to a kerbweight of 2613kg and a maximum towing figure of 3000kg.
With 404hp and a 0-60mph time of just 5.4 seconds, the Defender has muscle to spare for towing. It’s super-stable too. The only irritation when caravanning is the way the spare wheel gets in the way of the stabiliser handle when hitching up. Inside, the Defender is somehow both rugged and luxurious, but luggage space is tight for a car of this size.
Volkswagen Multivan 2.0 TDI 150PS Life standard
- Price: £46,450
- Kerbweight: 2166kg
- 85% match figure: 1841kg
- Maximum towing weight: 2000kg
There’s a strong case to make for the Volkswagen Multivan as the best family car you can buy. With its sliding doors, armchair-like seats, and flexible design the VW is a very comfortable way for up to seven people to travel.
It’s a fine tow car, too. The diesel engine will be working hard if you tow a caravan weighing close to the 85% match figure, and it’s easy to briefly spin the front wheels when pulling away on a hill. Once up to speed, though, the Multivan is stable and secure.
Although far from cheap for an MPV, the Multivan is good value in this company, undercutting the other cars on our heavyweight shortlist. The diesel returns 42.2-43.5mpg on the combined cycle, so it will be cheap to run for such a big car.
- Looking for ways to improve your towing? Then take a look at our guide to 7 ways to be a better tow car driver
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