As a general rule, the heavier the tow car, the more stable it will be.
Of course, not everyone needs a heavyweight tow car and we’re not suggesting you should run a bigger, heftier car than necessary to make a safe match. But a vehicle with a kerbweight of two tonnes-plus will usually make a secure and stable tow car, even when pulling one of the best twin-axle caravans.
Heavy tow cars are often 4x4s, which brings further advantages. Improved traction is one, which is especially useful in bad weather or if you stay on farm campsites.
So, if you have a big caravan and are looking for one of the best tow cars to match, here are five heavyweight machines. After sorting your car, you can then start thinking about the towing equipment you need to make your experience on the road as stress-free and safe as possible.
Heavyweight tow cars: our top picks
BMW X5 xDrive 50e M Sport
- Price: £82,260
- Kerbweight: 2495kg
- 85% match: 2121kg
- Maximum towing weight: 2700kg
In the spring of 2027, deliveries of the new X5 will start. Even towards the end of its life, though, the current BMW X5 is one of the very best heavyweight tow cars.
If you can’t wait for the new model, you’ll find today’s car tows exceptionally well. The X5 is stable at speed and accelerates rapidly, thanks to the combined petrol-electric power output of 489hp.
Like many plug-in hybrids, the X5 xDrive 50e is a very heavy car because of the need to include the battery and motor as well as a petrol engine. That makes for favourable matching ratios when you’re matching a car to a caravan, and although some heavyweights have a higher towing capacity, the 50e’s limit of 2700kg is more than enough for caravanning.
Leave your tourer on its pitch and the X5 is a rewarding car to drive, with sporty handling that belies the BMW’s hefty weight. It’s remarkably comfortable, too.
Inside, there’s plenty of room for five although the plug-in model can’t be had with seven seats, unlike the diesels. Still, the infotainment looks great, the cabin is well finished, and there’s enough luggage space for a family holiday, which will come in handy when packing a caravan.
If you’re thinking of buying a used car instead, a 2023 50e model with 70,000 miles on the clock will set you back around £48,990.
Mercedes E450 d 4Matic AMG Line Premium Estate
- Price: £83,895
- Kerbweight: 2203kg
- 85% match: 1873kg
- Towing limit: 2100kg
If you are searching for the ultimate estate car, it’s tough to look beyond the Mercedes E-Class, a car we shortlisted for the best tow car for a 2000kg caravan category at the Practical Caravan Awards 2026. The E 450 d is the most powerful diesel available to E-Class buyers and comes with four-wheel drive and a kerbweight of well over two tonnes.
Other than a disappointing noseweight of 84kg, the big Merc makes a wonderful tow car. Performance is effortless, thanks to the six-cylinder diesel engine and hybrid assistance providing a huge 553 lb ft of torque. That is easily enough to cope with passengers, luggage, and a luxury twin-axle.
Stability at speed is also extremely good, although perhaps not quite in the same ‘immovable object’ category as the BMW X5. We’d have no qualms towing long distances with the E-Class.
As an everyday drive, the E 450 d combines pace with exceptional comfort. The luxurious cabin offers acres of space, making the Mercedes almost as enjoyable to travel
in as it is to drive. With 615 litres of luggage room, there’s more space for bags than you’ll find in the equivalent Audi or BMW models.
Such abilities come at a very high price if you buy new. We found a slightly less powerful E 400 d Estate from 2023 with 21,000 miles, priced at £45,999.
Full review: Mercedes E450 d 4Matic AMG Line Premium Estate
Kia EV9 ‘GT-Line’ AWD
- Price: £74,645
- Kerbweight: 2648kg
- 85% match: 2251kg
- Towing limit: 2500kg
As a rule, SUVs are heavy, and the same can be said of electric cars. It’s no surprise, then, that an electric SUV like the Kia EV9 is very heavy indeed.
The all-wheel-drive, seven-seat version makes the scales groan with a kerbweight of 2648kg. Some electric tow cars have high kerbweights but low towing capacities – not an accusation that could be levelled at the EV9.
This model is approved to tow 2500kg, although we’d advise sticking to the 85% guideline for the sake of stability. The kerbweight is so high that’s hardly restrictive.
Any misbehaving caravan is brought into line very quickly when towed by the Kia EV9. It’s so heavy that stability is never an issue, something you will always be looking for when choosing a tow car. Performance is strong, too, with vivid acceleration thanks to 378bhp and 516 lb ft of torque.
In everyday driving, there’s no getting away from the Kia’s bulk. It’s more than five metres long and nearly two metres wide, not including the mirrors. Combine that size with such heft and the EV9 is less agile than some sportier SUVs such as the BMW X5.
On the other hand, the Kia’s size makes for a very roomy and practical cabin.
We’ve seen a 2023 car with 31,000 miles advertised for £42,720.
Full review: Kia EV9 ‘GT-Line’ AWD
Ford Tourneo Custom EcoBlue Titanium (H1, L2)
- Price: £62,905
- Kerbweight: 2168kg
- 85% match: 1843kg
- Towing limit: 2500kg
While most members of the heavyweight two-tonne club are SUVs, they’re not the only cars to qualify. Some of the biggest MPVs also weigh more than 2000kg.
The Ford Tourneo Custom is one of them. This is the MPV version of the latest Transit commercial vehicle and comes with eight or nine seats depending on the specification chosen.
Although we haven’t had a chance to tow with the current Tourneo Custom, the previous generation was a very stable tow car. We found it coped well with the disturbed air around HGVs and continued to tow straight and true.
Just don’t expect the kind of acceleration offered by the other cars featured here. With 150hp and 288 lb ft of torque, you will need a heavy right foot and plenty of patience to tow a big twin-axle tourer with the Tourneo Connect.
If that doesn’t put you off, you get an awful lot of car for the money, offering more passenger space than many more expensive vehicles.
In everyday driving the Ford is very comfortable, and the high-up driving position gives an excellent view out. We’ve found that fuel economy of 38-40mpg is achievable.
Checking the online classifieds, we spotted a 2023 car with 46,000 miles offered for £23,495.
Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI 286PS 4Motion Final Edition
- Price: £72,655
- Kerbweight: 2122kg
- 85% match: 1804kg
- Towing limit: 3500kg
Get your skates on if the VW Touareg appeals to you – it will soon be off sale with no direct replacement.
Pick up a run-out model, and you’ll own a heavyweight SUV that’s often underestimated. Under the skin it’s closely related to the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, which
both cost more.
Whatever the badge on the bonnet or the price in the window, few big SUVs tow better than the Touareg. Its stability at speed is remarkable.
The 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel is the kind of engine which won’t be around much longer, and tow car drivers will miss it when it’s gone. It pulls like a train, even with
the weight of a big twin-axle caravan to contend with.
Inside, the VW’s finish is good rather than great – something that puts off some prestige car buyers.
The VW Touareg is also a five-seater when some of the alternatives have a third row of seats. But on the plus side, that leaves plenty of room for a big boot.
Being less upmarket than an Audi or Merc but posher than a Hyundai or Kia means the VW falls between two stools on the used market. That makes for keen prices: we’ve seen a 2023 car with 52,000 miles for £32,500.
Don’t miss our tips on how to make towing a caravan more affordable either.
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