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Best Cars for Towing 2026

Whether you're towing a caravan on holiday or transporting a trailer or horse trailer, we're highlighting their towing capacities, key towing features, and answering your frequently asked questions to help you find the right vehicle for your towing needs.

Best Cars for Towing 2026
Daisy Cliff

Published: 19 September 2024

Updated: 14 April 2026

Read time: 7 minutes

When it comes to towing, whether that be a trailer, caravan or horsebox, the vehicle you choose makes all the difference. The right car ensures a smooth and safe towing experience.

Choosing a vehicle with the appropriate towing capacity and features can prevent unnecessary strain on your vehicle and give you greater peace of mind while travelling.

Best Cars for Towing a Trailer

Selecting the right car for towing a trailer involves considering key features such as towing capacity, engine power, and stability. A vehicle with a high towing capacity and a strong engine will handle the load effectively, while good suspension and braking systems ensure a smooth and safe ride.

In this section, we’ll highlight top vehicles that excel in these areas, making your towing experience easier and more secure.

Volkswagen Touareg

The Volkswagen Touareg combines a 3.0-litre V6 engine with four-wheel drive, giving strong, stable performance and confidence when towing. Winning Best Car for Towing in 2021 at the Auto Trader New Car Awards proves just how confident and capable the VW Touareg is in towing.

Additionally, the Volkswagen Touareg can also be fitted with an optional Trailer Assist, a system that helps guide the trailer when reversing, making manoeuvring much simpler and more controlled.

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500kg

Volkswagen Touareg
Audi Q5

Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is one of those cars that gives you the best of both worlds. It’s more than capable when you need to tow a trailer, with strong grip from its quattro all-wheel drive helping it stay steady and controlled.

At the same time, it’s great for everyday driving. Offering the perfect balance of being useful when you need it but never feeling like a hassle when you don’t.

Towing Capacity: Up to 2,400kg

Mercedes-Benz GLC

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a great choice if you’re looking for a car that can tow confidently. It's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system helps keep everything feeling stable and secure, giving you extra confidence when you’ve got a trailer attached. You feel in control even when carrying extra weight.

If towing is the top priority, the diesel engines, especially the 220d and 300d, are the best options, offering strong low-down torque.

Towing Capacity: Up to 2,500kg

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e

Best Cars for Towing a Caravan

When selecting a car for towing a caravan, several key features are crucial to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience. Choosing a vehicle with a high towing capacity to handle the weight of the caravan, and a powerful engine to manage long motorway journeys and steep inclines with ease, is extremely important. Stability and control are also important for smooth driving, particularly when manoeuvring into campsites or navigating uneven terrain.

In this section, we’ll highlight the top cars that perform well in these areas, making them ideal for towing a caravan.

Kia EV9

Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 is an excellent electric option for towing a caravan, with a towing capacity of up to 2,500 kg, which is more than needed for most caravans. The minimum towing capacity for a caravan should be at least 85% of the loaded caravan weight.

While towing does reduce the EV9’s driving range, the vehicle’s large battery and ultra-fast charging capabilities help manage longer trips effectively. Additionally, the EV9's spacious interior provides great comfort for all passengers while you charge, making your stops more enjoyable and relaxing.

Towing Capacity: Up to 2,500kg for AWD (All-Wheel Drive) Models

Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 is an excellent choice for towing a caravan due to its impressive towing capacity of up to 3,500 kg, one of the highest in the premium SUV class. This makes it more than capable of handling most caravan setups with ease and stability.

It is equipped with powerful engine options and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, which delivers strong traction and control by distributing power to all four wheels. This is especially useful when towing, helping the Q7 remain stable.

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500kg

Audi Q7
BMW X5

BMW X5

The BMW X5 is a great choice for towing a trailer, especially when it comes to stability. It feels solid and well-balanced on the road, which makes a big difference when you’ve got a trailer behind you.

What also makes it stand out is that it still feels quick and responsive, even when towing, so it never feels slow or heavy; you still get the performance BMW is known for, even with a trailer attached.

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500kg

Best Cars for Towing a Horse Trailer

When towing a horsebox, it’s important to choose a vehicle with a strong towing capacity and a powerful engine to handle the load efficiently. Stability is crucial, especially on uneven or muddy surfaces, making off-road vehicles or 4x4s a great choice. Additionally, effective braking and cooling systems are essential for safe towing. In this section, we’ll highlight the top cars that excel in these key areas for towing a horsebox.

Volkswagen Amarok

Volkswagen Amarok

The Volkswagen Amarok is well-suited for towing a horsebox thanks to its TDI engine, which delivers strong power for handling heavy loads up to 3,500 kg. The vehicle has 4MOTION all-wheel drive, helping to improve traction by distributing power to all four wheels. This is especially useful when driving on slippery or uneven surfaces, such as muddy fields or steep inclines.

Additionally, the Amarok has a 1.13-tonne loading bay for extra luggage and gear if needed. Not forgetting, the Amarok has up to 6 driving modes, which can adapt to various driving conditions, ensuring a smooth and controlled towing experience.

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500kg

Mercedes-Benz GLE

The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a very strong choice for towing a horse trailer because it combines serious pulling power with real stability on the road. Most versions offer a towing capacity of up to 3,500 kg, which is more than enough for a fully loaded horsebox.

Its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system helps keep grip and control in all conditions, while the self-levelling AIRMATIC air suspension automatically adjusts to keep the vehicle level when towing.

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500kg

Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV
Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne

The Porsche Cayenne is a great option for those who are looking for a luxury towing experience and a comfortable journey. The Cayenne is also available in various models, which means you are guaranteed a powerful engine that pulls loads effortlessly.

Additionally, you can expect advanced safety features such as cruise control and lane assist, which helps ensure a safe and comfortable towing experience.

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500kg

Car Towing laws in the UK

When towing a trailer, caravan or horsebox in the UK, it’s crucial to be familiar with the regulations. The rules regarding driving licences, weight limits, and tow bar specifications can vary based on when you received your driving licence and the type of vehicle you’re driving. Understanding these requirements will ensure you’re prepared for safe towing.

  • Licences issued before 1997: If you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, you are permitted to tow a vehicle and trailer combination with a maximum authorised mass of up to 8,250 kg. This includes both the weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer combined.
  • Licences issued after 1997: For those who passed their driving test on or after 1 January 1997, the rules are more restrictive. You can tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg.

FAQ's

Do I need a license to tow?

As of December 2021, UK regulations no longer require drivers to hold a specific towing license to tow a trailer or caravan, but it’s important to note that weight limits still apply.

What are the requirements to tow?

Your vehicle must be equipped with a tow bar that is legally approved and suitable for the weight of the trailer or caravan you plan to tow. The tow bar should be fitted correctly and meet safety standards to ensure secure and stable towing. It’s important to check that the tow bar is compatible with your vehicle and has the appropriate capacity for the load.

What is the speed limit for a car towing a trailer, caravan or horsebox?

When towing a trailer, caravan or horsebox in the UK, speed limits are specifically restricted to ensure safety. The maximum speed limit for a car towing a trailer is 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. On single-carriageways, the speed limit is reduced to 50 mph. These limits help maintain stability and control while towing, especially given the added weight, potentially impacting braking and manoeuvring.

At JCT600, we sell a wide range of vehicles that are well-equipped for towing. Visit our website to explore the range of cars and vans we sell, or get in touch with a member of our team, and we will be happy to help you find the ideal vehicle for your needs.

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