The needs of caravanners don’t necessarily align with the rest of the driving population. While diesel sales have declined ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, this type of engine is still popular with tow car drivers.
It’s easy to see why, too – compared with petrol engines, diesels have more pulling power in the middle of the rev range, making for more relaxed towing. And unlike a plug-in hybrid, the best diesel tow cars deliver consistent economy on a long journey.
Diesel was once the default choice for anyone covering a lot of miles, as well as caravanners, but many brands have dropped it. Even so, the best diesels still make excellent caravan tow cars.
Here, we’re featuring our favourite picks on the market, featuring options from Kia, Škoda, Mazda and more.
The best diesel tow cars
Kia Sorento 2.2 Diesel ‘3’
Mazda CX-80 3.3D Exclusive-Line
Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 193PS Sportline DSG 4×4
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 150PS R-Line
Mercedes E220 d Exclusive Premium Estate
The best diesel tow car – our top picks
Kia Sorento 2.2 Diesel ‘3’
- Price: £47,290
- Kerbweight: 1929kg
- 85% match: 1640kg
- Towing limit: 2500kg
One compelling reason for choosing a diesel over a hybrid is that diesel models often have a higher towing capacity.
Take the Kia Sorento. While the hybrid and plug-in hybrid can tow just 1110kg and 1010kg respectively, the diesel has a more useful 2500kg limit.
Quite why these powerful two-tonne hybrid 4x4s should be lumbered with such low towing capacities is a question for another day. Suffice to say, if you are considering a Kia Sorento to tow your caravan, the diesel is likely to be the only suitable model, and it’s also one that we picked as the best car for towing a 1500kg caravan at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025.
Although it can sound rather gruff at times, the burly diesel engine could be purpose-made for towing a caravan. It has pulling power to spare and easily holds speed on hilly roads.
The seven-seat cabin is really superb, with lots of space and thoughtful design. There are air vents, handy USB ports and cupholders for all passengers, even in the third row.
There’s lots of room for your luggage, too, with the rearmost seats folded away.
Although the latest Sorento is too new to be around in big numbers on the used market, you’ll find that there are plenty of older models still available to choose from.
The asking price for a 2022 car with 40,000 miles on the clock will be around £31,000.
Full review: Kia Sorento 2.2 Diesel ‘3’
Mazda CX-80 3.3D Exclusive-Line
- Price: £52,475
- Kerbweight: 2165kg
- 85% match: 1840kg
- Towing limit: 2500kg
The Mazda CX-80 isn’t just a better tow car with diesel power. It’s a better car, full stop. The alternative is a plug-in hybrid that’s not as smooth and refined as it should be.
Go diesel, and you’ll enjoy a six-cylinder engine with 254hp. This is an SUV for towing that sounds good and goes hard, offering a definite step up in performance compared with the Škoda Kodiaq or Kia Sorento.
A sensible car/caravan match will see the Mazda pull the tourer without any trouble at all, although the Kodiaq has the edge over the CX-80 when it comes to stability at speed or in an emergency manoeuvre.
In everyday driving, the CX-80 handles well. Although a big and heavy car, it’s quite agile for its size. The downside is a ride that’s too firm for some tastes. The Exclusive-Line model that we’ve chosen here has 18-inch alloys, rather than the 20-inch wheels fitted to more expensive versions, which helps to take the edge off sharp bumps.
There’s space inside for seven, and whichever trim level you choose, the CX-80 is well equipped. There aren’t huge numbers on used forecourts, but we found a high-spec CX-80 with just 500 miles on the clock for £45,990. That’s a substantial saving.
Full review: Mazda CX-80 3.3D Exclusive-Line
Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 193PS Sportline DSG 4×4
- Price: £50,620
- Kerbweight: 1852kg
- 85% match: 1574kg
- Towing limit: 2400kg
The new Škoda Kodiaq is at its best with diesel power, certainly for caravanners. While Škoda’s SUV also comes with petrol and plug-in hybrid power, the 193hp diesel engine is well suited to towing a trailer.
It’s strong enough to comfortably pull a family caravan, but that strength is balanced by excellent fuel economy. We’ve seen close to 50mpg in solo driving, and a shade less than 30mpg while towing a four-berth caravan.
This version of the Kodiaq comes with four-wheel drive. That helps put the car’s power to the road, especially in wet weather, and contributes to hassle-free hill starts.
Stability at speed is highly impressive. The Škoda will happily tow at 60mph all day with no sign of nervousness. In everyday driving, the Kodiaq corners keenly for an SUV and copes well with poor surfaces. If you’re tempted by the plug-in hybrid, remember that it loses the third row of seats.
The latest Kodiaq is still very new, but there are plenty of used Škoda Kodiaqs on the pre-owned market. We’ve seen three-year-old diesel 4x4s for around £24,000.
Mercedes E220 d Exclusive Premium Estate
- Price: £65,525
- Kerbweight: 1970kg
- 85% match: 1675kg
- Towing limit: 2100kg
SUVs might be more popular, but the best estate tow cars make excellent choices for pulling a caravan. The latest Mercedes E-Class Estate is very good indeed.
Mercedes continues to offer a choice of diesel engines alongside petrols and hybrids. The E220 d has mild-hybrid assistance for a total of 220hp. It also provides 325lb ft of pulling power.
Although we haven’t towed with this particular engine, those numbers suggest that the E220 d won’t be troubled by any well-matched caravan.
We have towed with the more powerful E450 d, and if the less expensive car is half as good, it will make a fine tow car.
The quicker version was extremely stable and superbly quiet at speed.
With a kerbweight of 1970kg, the E220 d is as heavy as some big 4x4s. That brings a wide choice of tourers into play, even while abiding by the 85% matching guideline.
Inside, the E-Class is well made and very comfortable to travel in. There’s lots of space for five people, and the boot’s 615-litre capacity is excellent.
This generation of E-Class hasn’t been around for long. We looked for an older model from 2022 and found a car with 57,000 miles priced at £26,899.
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 150PS R-Line
- Price: £34,750
- Kerbweight: 1441kg
- 85% match: 1225kg
- Towing limit: 1600kg
Diesel has disappeared from smaller vehicles more quickly than from executive saloons and big SUVs. As such, there’s not much choice if you are looking for a small family car that’s powered by diesel.
One option, however, is the Volkswagen Golf, which is still available with a 2.0-litre diesel with either 115hp or 150hp.
Although it pushes up the price, here we’ve gone for the 150hp version, because the additional power and torque make it far better suited to towing.
It’s the same engine that’s used in some larger, heavier cars in the Volkswagen Group. So in the relatively small and light Golf, it retains power in reserve for towing. So long as you are sensible when matching car and caravan, the TDI engine is more than up to the job.
The Golf makes a stable tow car, with a sense of security at speed that’s actually pretty rare in a vehicle of this size. It almost feels like a car from the class above.
The cabin is generous for five people and there’s 381 litres of boot space, which is a lot more generous than the luggage room in the plug-in hybrid Golf.
We looked for a used model from 2022 and came across a 150hp diesel with 25,000 miles for £23,850.
If you are looking at the pre-owned market, one thing you’re likely to be wondering is where to purchase one – if you’re in need of guidance, don’t miss our tips on where to buy a used car in the UK.
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