What Tow Car

[Chrisgr31]

I currently tow with a diesel Hyundai Sante Fe however too many short journeys between towing duties mean the DPF causing issues so at some point in the next few months it needs to go.

So I need a car to tow a 1,500kg caravan, the car has to be emission zone compliant, and probably not diesel. Budget probably £20k.

[A500leroy]

Sportage petrol.

[Krikkit]

Cayenne Turbo

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Why not diesel, I know it isn't the petrolheads choice but neither is caravanning and generally speaking diesels make much better tow cars, certainly gives you more options.

If it does have to be petrol, then how about a Kia Stinger as a leftfield choice:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...

Edited by RedWhiteMonkey on Wednesday 16th April 09:24

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Krikkit said:

Cayenne Turbo

A 20K Cayenne Turbo is going to be quite old with pretty high mileage and cost a small fortune to run.

[GAjon]

Jaguar XF 250 estate.

Rear wheel drive, pretty stable tow car.

[anonymous-user]

It will be way outside the budget of 20k but we have a CX-60 diesel and it is fantastic at towing.
Our caravan is 1300kg max and the CX-60 is bottom of the range RWD version and i don't notice the caravan on the back, get 45 mpg when towing and generally it's great.

[Skodillac]

Skoda Superb 2.0 petrol.

[Chrisgr31]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Why not diesel, I know it isn't the petrolheads choice but neither is caravanning and generally speaking diesels make much better tow cars, certainly gives you more options.

If it does have to be petrol, then how about a Kia Stinger as a leftfield choice:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...

Edited by RedWhiteMonkey on Wednesday 16th April 09:24

The issue with diesel is the short journeys to the shops, the station etc which is causing DPF issues.

[haggi]

If you can find one a 3.6 V6 Touareg or Cayenne would be pretty bomb proof

[Mammasaid]

Volvo V90CC T5 or T6, AWD and stylish

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504091...

[dave_s13]

Chrisgr31 said:

The issue with diesel is the short journeys to the shops, the station etc which is causing DPF issues.

I've got a 2017 ford galaxy. 2.0tdci...had it 4 years now. It does lots of short journeys with the a few long trips every year with a caravan in tow. Ours is 1800kg loaded up(ish). I'm not going to say it's a "good" match for that weight because it isn't, it can struggle at times due to lack of power/torque.

One thing I've never had issue with however is anything DPF related.

So I would t discount diesel based just on that assumption.

[AyBee]

Volvo V60 T6 Recharge? Electric for those short journeys and hybrid for towing. Think it's towing capacity is c.1800-2000kg so will be fine with your requirements.

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/volvo-v60...

[velocemitch]

Left field but very pistonheads choice but I use an Alfa Stelvio 2.0tbi pulls the van brilliantly.
Don’t expect much above mid twenties doing it, but it’s a cracking car to drive anyway.

[OutInTheShed]

dave_s13 said:

I've got a 2017 ford galaxy. 2.0tdci...had it 4 years now. It does lots of short journeys with the a few long trips every year with a caravan in tow. Ours is 1800kg loaded up(ish). I'm not going to say it's a "good" match for that weight because it isn't, it can struggle at times due to lack of power/torque.

One thing I've never had issue with however is anything DPF related.

So I would t discount diesel based just on that assumption.

Is that a euro 6 with adblue?
I have heard it said that some newer vehicles are a better bet than euro 4/5 with DPF, for a mix including 'shorter' journeys?

People have varying ideas about what constitutes a 'short' journey.
We try to take 'her' petrol car for trips of less than 30 minutes driving.
5 to 10 miles is a 'short' journey for my car, whereas some people are talking about going to the shop half a mile away to buy a loaf of bread.

[Harfi88]

velocemitch said:

Left field but very pistonheads choice but I use an Alfa Stelvio 2.0tbi pulls the van brilliantly.
Don’t expect much above mid twenties doing it, but it’s a cracking car to drive anyway.

We use a Stelvio petrol too. 280bhp comes in handy with the van on the back, fuel consumption is bad but as you say it’s a great car to drive

[paul_c123]

I'd not discount a diesel, DPF issues are not impossible to resolve and the cost saving of the DPF fix vs the extra fuel and tax (so a double hit) a petrol would incur, would make it better.

Have you tried a manual regen? Or researched DPF cleaning?

[Phunk]

Lexus RX450h, great tow car, bomb proof.

[ZX10R NIN]

DS7 Hybrid:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502189...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504111...

Petrol:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405300...

Kuga Hybrid:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504020...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...

Tucson Premium Hybrid:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501318...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504101...

NX300:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503069...

[dave_s13]

OutInTheShed said:

dave_s13 said:

I've got a 2017 ford galaxy. 2.0tdci...had it 4 years now. It does lots of short journeys with the a few long trips every year with a caravan in tow. Ours is 1800kg loaded up(ish). I'm not going to say it's a "good" match for that weight because it isn't, it can struggle at times due to lack of power/torque.

One thing I've never had issue with however is anything DPF related.

So I would t discount diesel based just on that assumption.

Is that a euro 6 with adblue?
I have heard it said that some newer vehicles are a better bet than euro 4/5 with DPF, for a mix including 'shorter' journeys?

People have varying ideas about what constitutes a 'short' journey.
We try to take 'her' petrol car for trips of less than 30 minutes driving.
5 to 10 miles is a 'short' journey for my car, whereas some people are talking about going to the shop half a mile away to buy a loaf of bread.

Euro 6 without ad blue.

I don't think twice about nipping to the shops or driving 125 miles to a campsite. Just been to Keswick. Towing mpg is st thought...23mpg!