Whatever you’re pulling, choosing your ideal tow car is about more than just how much weight it’ll haul. You need a towing car that offers smooth power delivery, plentiful torque, perfect stability and composed road manners.

And with an ever-expanding list of tow vehicles to consider, we’re here to help you narrow-down your list of leasing options.

Key things to consider if you're looking for a tow car:

Maximum Weight

What will you be towing and what is the maximum weight of the thing you’re pulling? And don’t forget to include the weight of the contents of the trailer, caravan or horsebox.

Preferred Engine Type

Diesel engines traditionally offer lots of torque while also returning great fuel efficiency, a winning formula that makes them great for towing. But the modern breed of electrified powertrains - including fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles - are also blessed with plenty of torque and will return even greater fuel savings.

Read our fuel guide!

Towing Capability

There’s lots to consider here, from the stability of all-wheel drive to whether or not a vehicle is fitted with cutting-edge electronic safety aids like Trailer Sway Control. Check the list of equipment that’s fitted as standard to the vehicle you’re looking to lease. And if you’re unsure, talk to one of our trained leasing consultants by calling 0118 3048 688.

Overall Lifestyle

Think about day-to-day life with your car when you’re NOT towing something behind you. Will it still offer you everything you need? Remember that cars like the electric Skoda Enyaq iV not only make great towers, you can access power of 265 bhp - making them a whole heap of fun when you’re not on the pull.

What Makes a Good Tow Vehicle?

You don’t simply have to choose an estate or SUV to enjoy a great towing vehicle - you can also pick from large family hatchbacks, pick-ups, crossovers, and the very latest all-electric vehicles, too.

And the thing you’re looking for above all else is stability. Electronic aids, such as Trailer Stability Assist or Trailer Sway Control, can help enormously when you’re on the move, so look for vehicles that have this tech. You’ll also want to consider an engine with lots of torque for optimum pulling power, as well as the surefootedness of having all-wheel drive.

What Else Do You Need To Consider?

If you plan to tow a caravan, the UK’s Camping and Caravanning Club recommends that you should NOT hitch anything that weighs more than 85% of your car’s kerbweight. It’s called the ‘85%’ rule, and it’s one you should pay attention to.

You’ll also need to know your chosen lease vehicle’s maximum legal towing capacity. You can find the maximum ‘Braked’ and ‘Unbraked’ towing weights of a Select Car Leasing lease vehicle by clicking on a deal and then selecting the ‘Tech Data’ tab, which you can find just to the right of the ‘Std Equipment’ tab.

If you’re confused or unsure about any aspect of leasing a car, give the Select Car Leasing team a call: 0118 920 5130

Do Electric Vehicles Make Good Tow Cars?

Absolutely - electric cars can make for fantastic towing vehicles. Because of the way that electric motors work, drivers can get instant access to the powertrain’s maximum amount of torque, ensuring a smooth and predictable towing style.

Battery-powered cars like the Volkswagen ID.5, Skoda Enyaq iV, Volvo XC40 Recharge Electric and the Polestar 2 have all been singled-out for praise at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards. Plug-in hybrids like the Porsche Cayenne and the Volvo V90 Recharge estate are also safe bets as tow cars.

Meanwhile the affordable, traditionally-fuelled, medium-sized Skoda Karoq SUV has also proved to be a dependable tow car when you choose its 4x4 variant.

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