The term SUV covers a variety of cars, but not all sports utility vehicles are sporty, and some are lacking when it comes to utility. However, the best SUV tow cars make excellent towing options.
While diesel used to be the default choice, nowadays you’re more likely to find petrols or hybrids of various flavours. Despite their 4×4 tow car looks, these vehicles could send power to either two or four wheels.
Two-wheel drive is the way to go for a lower purchase price and better fuel economy. Four-wheel drive versions are heavier for more favourable car-to-caravan matching ratios, and will put their power down more cleanly on slippery surfaces.
As SUV tow cars are such a popular style of vehicle, there are plenty of options to choose from, with popular brands like Škoda, Seat, Kia and Mazda all featuring in our round-up.
The best SUV tow car:
Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’
Mazda CX-80 3.3D AWD Exclusive Line
Kia EV9 GT-Line 378bhp AWD
Nissan X-Trail e-4orce Tekna
Skoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI 150PS Monte Carlo
BMW X3 M40d
Mazda CX-60 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV 254ps AWD Homura
Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 150PS 4Motion Black Edition
Volvo XC40 B4 Plus
The best SUVs for towing:
Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’
- Price: £46,195
- Kerbweight: 1929kg
- 85% of kerbweight: 1640kg
- Max towing limit: 2500kg
Reason to buy:
- Fuel efficient and excellent to tow with
Reason to avoid:
- Not the quickest
The Sorento diesel is one of the best caravan tow cars in our opinion, receiving a very impressive 5/5 when put to the test. Excellent to tow, fuel-efficient and with a good cabin, all at a competitive price – there’s certainly a lot to like in this SUV.
Its 2.2-litre diesel may make the occasional grumble but with a towing capacity of 2500kg, plenty of muscle, and 325lb ft of torque, this proved “easy to forgive”, in the words of our reviewer, David Motton.
Matched to a tourer with an MTPLM of 1397kg, David added “it immediately felt at home”, quickly getting up to speed and having an engine strength that can maintain speed on hilly roads without the need for hard revving. There was an impressive 27.6mpg figure too.
It could be an ideal SUV for newcomers to caravanning, as David remarked that he thought a novice would find a hill start straightforward with the Sorento, thanks to the car’s automatic gearbox, four-wheel drive and pulling power.
Motorways and dual carriageways are navigated with composure in the vehicle that was our pick for the best car for towing a 1500kg caravan at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025. In fact, despite its price tag, the Sorento doesn’t feel that far off from the unshakeableness provided by a luxury 4×4.
For everyday driving, it’s a pleasure as well. Ok, twisting country roads can emphasise that it’s a heavy car and it’s not exactly agile either, but if you’re looking at a 4×4 seven-seater, is that really your priority? We’d suggest not. Something likely to be, however, is excellent comfort, and that is provided here.
Inside, the infotainment system and dashboard have been updated, with a dual-purpose touch panel perhaps not the simplest to use but more straightforward than touch screen menus.
Full review: Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’
Mazda CX-80 3.3D AWD Exclusive Line
- Price: £52,205
- Kerbweight: 2061kg
- 85% of kerbweight: 1752kg
- Max towing limit: 2500kg
Reason to buy:
- Provides stable towing and driver-focused handling
Reason to avoid:
- Mainstream rivals are cheaper
The CX-80 is Mazda’s largest SUV, providing a kerbweight of over two tonnes and a towing capacity of 2500kg, ensuring there is plenty of scope for your car/caravan matching.
When testing it, David found the Mazda confidently towed a tourer with a MiRO of 1464kg, with its 3.3-litre diesel providing 406lb ft of torque from as little as 1500rpm, contrasting with the Sorento diesel’s 325lb ft.
The results when hitched up are impressive, as you would expect from one of the best SUVs for towing – its eight-speed automatic transmission and pulling power means it not only holds speed well on hills but can overtake with ease, with the engine even having a lot in reserve when maintaining a 60mph speed on a motorway.
It has a longer wheelbase than the CX-60 (which also features), offering great stability as it tows, regardless of whether it is in towing setting or not. As a 4×4, hill starts are straightforward too, even in wet weather.
As a solo drive, the Mazda can handle twisting roads well, with the engine-less noisy than the CX-60.
We were particularly pleased to see a rotary controller with shortcut buttons for the infotainment screen too – this makes navigating it much easier than a touch-sensitive screen, in our opinion. Boot space can vary from 258-litres to 1971-litres, depending on how many of the seven seats you’re using.
Full review: Mazda CX-80 3.3D AWD Exclusive Line
Nissan X-Trail e-4orce Tekna
- Price: £45,310
- Kerbweight: 1880kg
- 85% match: 1598kg
- Towing limit: 1800kg
This well-built hybrid tow car is a practical SUV, even though it’s something of a lightweight in the large 4×4 and SUV world, due to its kerbweight of 1880kg. However, its towing limit means there’s going to be a wide range of models for more experienced caravanners to choose from.
We found it made light work of pulling a tourer with a MiRO of 1306kg, the Nissan’s torque of 387lb ft creating a powerful performance. The engine was also only heard occasionally as the SUV towed with stability.
A small additional factor that we appreciated – they’re not always the easiest to attach on modern cars, but we found our caravan towing mirrors could be put on with ease too.
However, for all its towing benefits, one thing we have to point out is its economy – we achieved an average of 21.4mpg despite testing it in favourable conditions. Reversing also proved a slight issue, with the breaks slamming on after going back around a metre.
For solo driving, the X-Trail is a great option, capable of cruising at speed and overtaking when necessary. We like how spacious and comfortable it is too – three would be able to travel comfortably in the rear, for instance.
With the exception of its economy, we think the vehicle that was our winner of the best caravan tow car under 2000kg at the Practical Caravan Awards 2024 makes a great SUV towing car option to consider.
Full review: Nissan X-Trail e-4orce Tekna
Kia EV9 GT-Line 378bhp AWD
- Price: £73,275
- Kerbweight: 2648kg
- 85% of kerbweight: 2251kg
- Max towing limit: 2500kg
Reason to buy:
- Tows with stability and drives comfortably
Reason to avoid:
- Issues with range and having to secure caravan while charging
Coming with an impressive kerbweight of 2648kg, 378bhp and 516lb ft of torque, the Kia EV9 GT-Line is an SUV that offers quick and confident towing. In fact, after hitching up a caravan with an MTPLM of 1102kg, the Kia barely seemed slowed.
To test it further, it was then paired with a tourer which had an MTPLM of 1900kg – the EV9 still offered excellent performance, quickly getting up to speed on motorway slip roads and having good punch for overtaking. Stability is also there, with even breezy weather and rain proving no issue. The 4×4 proved capable on a 1-in-10 slope too.
As an SUV for towing, there’s a lot to like. However, even the best electric tow car will face issues with the practicalities of its range when towing. Hitched up the 1900kg tourer, it achieved 1.2 miles per kWh – a range of around 115 miles, assuming the estimated usable battery capacity of 96kWh, meaning you’d be stopping to charge every couple of hours or so.
When charging, you will most likely need to find a way to keep your caravan secure too. Ok, better weather and a lighter tourer would help here, but the issue of securing the caravan remains.
Despite this, we were impressed by how this SUV doesn’t feel intimidating to drive, despite its size. It’s smooth, with the cabin quiet and country roads neatly navigated. There’s plenty of space for passengers inside, even for adults who sit in the third row. The standard list of equipment is excellent too, including heated and ventilated seats in the front two rows, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and much more.
Full review: Kia EV9 GT-Line 378bhp AWD
Škoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI 150PS Monte Carlo
- Price: £28,370
- Kerbweight: 1280kg
- 85% of kerbweight: 1088kg
- Max towing limit: 1250kg
The Škoda Kamiq is a very worthy SUV for those who have a lightweight and small caravan.
When pulling a tourer with a MiRO of 1059kg, we found the 1.5-litre petrol stronger than you may expect, with the engine punchy and responsive. We were also impressed by how well it towed at the caravan speed limit of 60mph, pulling the tourer comfortably in top gear in the majority of conditions.
The Kamiq also provided something the best SUV tow cars will always come with – stability at speed. There was the odd movement, but we didn’t think it was alarming, and steering corrections were rarely needed – instead, the SUV is capable of pulling straight, with minimal intervention.
One of the benefits of a small tow car like this is it will be easier to navigate narrower roads – that’s the case here, with suspension that we thought was ‘well-judged’ and precise steering. Something we did note – hill starts on a 1-in-6 slope were a bit of a struggle, despite the test occurring in dry weather – lots of revs and clutch slip were required.
As an everyday car, the Kamiq is efficient, easy to drive around thanks to its size, and coming with useful features like parking sensors and a rear-view camera for simple parking.
Despite its size, you may be surprised by how spacious it feels too. In the Monte Carlo, a sunroof comes as standard, but there’s plenty of headroom for the driver, while legroom is decent, so long as you don’t want a high-up driving position.
We’d say if the best SUV to tow a caravan for you is going to be a small and lightweight option, this Škoda is well worth considering.
Full review: Škoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI 150PS Monte Carlo
BMW X3 M40d
- Price: £62,785
- Kerbweight: 2080kg
- 85% match: 1768kg
- Towing limit: 2400kg
This BMW SUV is the most powerful diesel tow car in the X3 range, offering 340hp and 516lb ft of torque. There’s no getting away from its asking price, but this is a strong vehicle, with a kerbweight of 2080kg and towing limit of 2400kg – impressive.
Its 85% match figure of 1768kg meant it could tow a tourer with a MiRO of 1505kg with total ease – maintaining speed on a hill was no problem. We loved how the SUV tow car’s four-wheel-drive system provided a smooth and clean getaway – even a hill start on a 1-in-10 slope in damp conditions was simple.
Speed and stability are both provided, with firm suspension and barely a wobble felt. Yet low speeds are just as straightforward, with reversing when hitching up a caravan a simple process.
For solo travel, there’s that impressive 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds – it’s a pleasure to drive. There’s plenty of room for five too, with legroom in the rear and spacious seating up front.
Caravanners who like to take lots of essential caravan accessories on tour will be able to utilise a luggage capacity of 550 litres to 1600 litres, depending on their seating arrangement. Then there’s the impressive efficiency too – we achieved 41-43mpg while using it for day-to-day driving, and 25.2mpg while towing, a figure we think is reasonable.
Full review: BMW X3 M40d
Mazda CX-60 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV 254ps AWD Homura
- Price: £50,705
- Kerbweight: 2025kg
- 85% of kerbweight: 1721kg
- Max towing limit: 2500kg
Reason to buy:
- Offers strong and stable towing, good fuel economy
Reason to avoid:
- Can be noisy
The Mazda CX-60 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV 254ps AWD Homura offers many of the hallmarks you could want in a good SUV for towing. The 4×4 diesel is stable and strong, coming with mild-hybrid assistance to provide lower emissions.
It also comes with improved economy – when towing, our tester achieved around 27.8mpg, while solo driving on the motorway saw 47mpg.
Its kerbweight is an impressive 2025kg, and when hitched up to a tourer with a MiRO of 1497kg, it towed comfortably. Ok, it may not have the quietest of engines, but it’s capable of towing with plenty of power and offers 406lb ft of torque from as low as 1500rpm.
Junctions and steep hill starts proved simple, despite heavy rain the day before, as the CX-60 pulled away without wheelspin or difficulty.
We were impressed by its towing mode too – Mazda says this is optimised for dealing with a heavy load, and our tester found it both “competent and reassuring”.
Motorways were tackled with stability, with manoeuvres onsite proving a similar story. As an everyday car it’s excellent to drive, thanks to its 3.3-litre six-cylinder diesel.
One thing we will highlight is that the engine isn’t the only noisy factor – road noise can be an issue too, due to the 20-inch wheels and wide tyres. However, if you prioritise a sporty performance over comfort, we’d say this is an SUV tow car which makes a tempting choice.
Full review: Mazda CX-60 3.3 e-Skyactiv D MHEV 254ps AWD Homura
Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 150PS 4Motion Black Edition
- Price: £42,930
- Kerbweight: 1706kg
- 85% match: 1450kg
- Towing limit: 2200kg
You have to spend quite a bit to get hold of a four-wheel-drive version of the Tiguan nowadays. But for just shy of £43,000, you will be buying a very capable all-weather SUV tow car.
Stability is a given. There’s very little movement, even in windy weather, and spending the extra for the 4Motion model adds some kerbweight and greater traction. It’s a very reassuring car to tow with when the roads are wet and greasy.
Spend a bit more and you can have the 200hp version of VW’s 2.0 TDI, but the 150hp version offers enough performance for most needs. There’s plenty of mid-range pull for confident acceleration, and a combined economy figure of 44.8mpg.
The Black Edition comes with pearlescent black paint, black 20-inch alloys and dark interior trim, befitting the name. An eight-speaker stereo, digital cockpit, three-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof and heated front seats are all fitted as standard.
The Tiguan has been around for a while – a new model is expected this year – but it’s still one of the best SUVs for towing, especially for families. We’ve seen a 67-plate diesel Tiguan 4Motion with 50,000 miles offered for under £23,000.
See our review of the Volkswagen Tiguain Allspace
Volvo XC40 B4 Plus
- Price: £41,865
- Kerbweight: 1672kg
- 85% match: 1421kg
- Towing limit: 2100kg
Family SUVs don’t come any classier than the Volvo XC40.
Volvo has recently slimmed down the range, which means you can no longer order the plug-in hybrid model. So here, we’re recommending the more powerful of the two mild-hybrid petrol versions.
The B4 has 197hp, a healthy increase over the 163hp of the cheaper B3. However, there’s no penalty at the fuel pumps for this extra performance, with an official combined economy figure of 42.2mpg.
Being front-wheel drive, this model isn’t as heavy as some mid-sized SUVs, but it’s still weighty enough to provide a sensible match for many family four berth caravans.
The XC40 makes a fine tow car, with impressive stability to match a respectable turn of pace. You can tell that Volvo still thinks carefully about the needs of tow car drivers when developing new models.
In solo driving, the XC40 is comfortable and capable, but not as much fun as a BMW X3.
The cabin is a highlight, superbly made and minimal in style. Despite being smaller than the Volvo XC60 and XC90, there’s enough space for adults in the back, and a decent boot.
Used examples start at about £18,000 for high-mileage cars.
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