Some things are beneficial when towing, but not essential. Four-wheel drive is one such feature, especially if most of your towing takes place during the summer months.
Choosing a front-wheel drive (FWD) car instead has several benefits that can make it an attractive option when you’re looking for the best car for towing a caravan. For one thing, prices are lower.
If you’re thinking of choosing a tow car that is FWD, you will find running costs should also be cheaper, as front-wheel-drive cars generally have better fuel economy than a 4×4 tow car
Going for a FWD car doesn’t mean forgoing the high-up driving position of an SUV, as many modern cars have the looks of an off-roader without a four-wheel-drive transmission.
Some of the finest driving tow cars on the market are front-wheel drive. Here are our five picks for the best FWD car for towing.
Vehicles pictured may not be exact model or year.
Škoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI 150 SE L Edition
- Price: £29,545
- Kerbweight: 1288kg
- 85% match: 1095kg
- Towing limit: 1250kg
Provided you own a very light tourer, the Škoda Kamiq makes a very fine towing vehicle, and we actually shortlisted it for the best small tow car category at the Practical Caravan Awards 2026.
With a kerbweight of less than 1.3 tonnes and a 1250kg towing limit, the Kamiq suits small tourers such as the Adria Action or Swift Basecamp. It tows such compact caravans with assurance, displaying stability to rival bigger and heavier tow cars.
The engine is the same 1.5-litre unit found in the Passat, so it’s noticeably livelier in the lighter car. It offers plenty of power for a car of this size and a small tourer. Just be careful to balance the clutch and throttle when making hill starts (an auto with the same engine costs another £1400).
Inside, the Kamiq packs in remarkable space for a car of such modest dimensions. The driving position is more hatchback than SUV, but drivers of most shapes and sizes should be happy. There’s more space than you’d expect in the back, too.
An SE L Edition is one rung down the ladder from the top spec Monte Carlo Edition of the Kamiq and comes well-equipped as standard.
That includes lots of safety kit, contributing to the Kamiq’s impressive five-star rating from Euro NCAP.
We’ve seen a 2024 car with 4000 miles advertised for £21,995.
Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 180PS ST-Line X FWD
- Price: £40,345
- Kerbweight: 1689kg
- 85% match: 1436kg
- Towing limit: 1600kg
The Kuga makes an impressive all-round tow car. There is a 4×4 version (see our review of the Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 183PS ST-Line X AWD), but the front-wheel-drive models are cheaper to buy and perform almost as well in all but the worst weather.
We’ve chosen the 180hp full hybrid car, which makes for excellent economy – we’ve seen better than 30mpg while towing. The powertrain is strong enough to cope with any sensibly matched caravan.
Stability at speed is very good. We’d have no qualms about towing long distances, even on windy days.
Leave the caravan behind and the Kuga handles better than most SUVs, although the sporty ST-Line X version has quite a firm ride.
The cabin is reasonably roomy, but the standard of finish is disappointing. There are too many hard and cheap-looking plastics. More boot space would also be welcome – there’s not as much room for luggage as you’ll find in a Kia Sportage or a Skoda Karoq.
Provided you can live with those shortcomings, take a look at used deals to save a huge amount over the new price. We’ve seen a 20,000-mile car from 2024 priced at £24,030. That’s more than £16,000 less than the cost of the same car fresh off the production line.
Volkswagen Passat 1.5 TSI Evo 150PS Life
- Price: £40,860
- Kerbweight: 1573kg
- 85% match figure: 1337kg
- Towing limit: 1600kg
The current Passat will be the last, but the VW is going out on a high after nine generations. Today’s car is only offered as an estate. It’s a very roomy car, with lots of space for people and their luggage. Adults have room to stretch out in the back, while the boot capacity of 690 litres with the rear seats upright puts most alternatives to shame.
Passat buyers have a choice of petrol and petrol-electric hybrid cars. Although the more powerful hybrid versions are tempting, we’re recommending the mild-hybrid petrol. With 150bhp, performance is steady while towing, but the trade-off is strong fuel economy and a relatively affordable price.
Stability at speed is excellent, and the VW is quiet and comfortable on long towing journeys.
In everyday driving the ride is comfortable and handling is neat and composed. Although Life specification is the entry level, it comes with 17-inch alloys, an eight-speaker stereo, a 12.9-inch infotainment screen and three-zone climate control.
You can save substantial sums on nearly new examples. We’ve seen a 25-plate car in R-Line spec with 10,000 miles on the clock priced at £33,950, if you’re thinking of buying a used car instead.
Volvo XC40 B4 Mild Hybrid Core
- Price: £41,240
- Kerbweight: 1688kg
- 85% match: 1435kg
- Towing limit: 2000kg
The XC40 is keenly priced for a car with a prestige badge. In fact, at the time of writing Volvo is offering the well-specified Plus model for £1500 less than the price quoted above.
That buys you the B4, the more powerful of the two mild-hybrid petrols. With 197bhp, this XC40 will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. Those figures suggest the B4 will easily cope with a caravan weighing 85% of its kerbweight.
Although we haven’t towed with this particular version, we’ve been very happy with the towing manners and stability of every XC40 we’ve tried.
Because it’s front-wheel drive, caravanners may need to be careful with the throttle in wet weather to avoid wheelspin, especially when pulling away on a steep hill.
For everyday driving, the Volvo is comfortable and stylish. Performance is lively and the ride composed, although keen drivers will have more fun in a BMW X1.
The cabin is roomy enough for five, and very comfortable for four. Boot space is average for this size of SUV.
If you like the look of the XC40 but not the price, we’ve seen a used car from 2024 with 33,000 miles for £24,900.
Seat Leon Estate 2.0 TDI Evo 150PS FR DSG
- Price: £34,285
- Kerbweight: 1504kg
- 85% match: 1278kg
- Towing limit: 1600kg
While SUVs are more popular, there’s still a place for estate cars. As a rule, there’s more space for luggage in an estate, and their lower centre of gravity makes for stable towing.
You don’t see too many Seat Leon Estates, but owners know they are on to a good thing. Under the skin, the Leon is closely related to the excellent Volkswagen Golf and Škoda Octavia. The Seat’s firmer suspension makes for excellent stability while towing.
Like estate cars, diesel engines are out of favour. However, the diesel in the Leon could have been purpose made for towing.
The familiar 2.0-litre diesel has seen service in many Volkswagen Group models and delivers plenty of pulling power and impressive fuel economy figures.
Without a caravan, the Seat is fun to drive. Its nimble handling and precise steering mean you’ll be grinning broadly on a country road. The trade-off is a fairly firm ride, especially around town.
There’s lots of passenger space inside, and a generous 620-litre boot capacity.
If you prefer to buy used, then expect to pay £20,000 or less for a 2022 car with 24,000 miles on the clock. Just be aware that diesels are harder to find than petrol versions.
Before taking to the road this season, you could consider embarking on a caravan towing course – it can have huge benefits, regardless of your previous levels of experience.
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