SUVs make great tow cars – their extra mass means higher towing capacities and more stability when pulling a trailer.
That's not all – modern SUVs are usually just as good on the road as their hatchback, saloon and estate counterparts. That's before you consider that most come with powerful engines and the option of four-wheel drive to keep you moving when the going gets tough.
Here are our 10 favourite SUVs for towing – starting with the brawny and building up to the heaviest haulers you can buy – all available either as new or used cars.
Nissan X-Trail
- Towing capacity – up to 2,000kg
To call the Nissan X-Trail a jack-of-all-trades is to damn it with faint praise. It may not be the most stylish, nor the most luxurious SUV, but it represents strong value for money when you consider its practicality and pulling power. Versions with the 1.7-litre diesel engine and manual gearbox can pull 2,000kg and, as a used buy, usually undercut most other seven-seater SUVs by a few thousand pounds. The new X-Trail launched in 2022 and, if outfitted with the 1.5-litre VC-Turbo petrol and five-seat interior, is still able to pull 2,000kg.
Check out used Nissan X-Trail cars
SsangYong Korando
- Towing capacity – up to 2,000kg
You might not have considered the SsangYong Korando as a tow car – you might not have even heard of it – but this Korean competitor weighs in with a brawny towing capacity and strong value for money. Petrol models can pull 1,500kg but it's the diesel's 2,000kg figure that's of more interest to us here – plus its extra low-down torque makes it feel a little more relaxing to drive. Equipment levels for diesel cars are typically quite generous, too, with heated seats, air conditioning, cruise control and an infotainment system coming as standard.
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Ford Kuga
- Towing capacity – up to 2,100kg
The Ford Kuga is a spacious five-seater SUV that's been sprinkled with the brand's 'special sauce'. As a result, it rides and handles better than most rivals in this class, with intuitive, accurate controls and excellent body control over bumps. The spacious five-seat cabin makes the Kuga an easygoing family car, and the square boot makes it easy to load bulky items. Cars equipped with the 150hp 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine can pull 1,900kg or, if you choose the range-topping 190hp diesel with four-wheel drive, this figure jumps to 2,100kg.
View used Ford Kuga cars or read our Ford Kuga review.
Mazda CX-5
- Towing capacity – up to 2,100kg
Considering it's a practical family SUV, the Mazda CX-5 has no right looking this good – especially in the brand's signature 'Soul Red' colour. Backing up the sculpted looks is the CX-5's driving experience, with excellent road holding and more agility than you might expect from a tall SUV. Space is good for passengers – even for the fifth seat occupant – and the boot can easily handle holiday luggage or a portly pooch. Most versions apart from the entry-level model can pull 2,000kg, while the range-topping auto diesel can muster 2,100kg.
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Skoda Kodiaq
- Towing capacity – up to 2,300kg
The Skoda Kodiaq feels like the ultimate expression of the brand's core philosophy. For starters, it's supremely practical with the option of seven seats and a cathedral-like cargo area if you fold the rear seats down. Then, it follows up by being incredibly easy to use, with simple dashboard controls – including real knobs and buttons for important functions – and clean, fuss-free graphics for the infotainment system. Most diesel Kodiaqs can pull a 2,000kg braked trailer, although four-wheel-drive SE models with five seats can pull 2,300kg.
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Mercedes GLC
- Towing capacity – up to 2,500kg
If you want a luxury tow car, you could do a lot worse than the Mercedes GLC. It can't match the larger GLE and GLS SUVs' ratings but, considering both of those easily cross into six-figure prices, the GLC represents much better value for money if you want the full-size Mercedes experience. Despite the on-paper deficit, the GLC still has a stout 2,500kg towing capacity when equipped with the 220d or 300d diesel engines. These also provide powerful-yet-relaxed performance when you're not pulling a load, making the GLC a pleasure to drive.
Take a look at used Mercedes GLC cars
Audi Q7
- Towing capacity – up to 3,500kg
It's hard to think of an area where the Audi Q7 underperforms – perhaps its premium price is the only thing holding it back from true greatness. If your budget can stretch to the brand's big seven-seater, however, you won't regret the investment. It's easy to drive and cruises with grace and sophistication, and there's acres of room inside, with space for adults in all seven seats. Equip it with one of the muscly 3.0-litre diesel engines and you can pull up to three-and-a-half tonnes – the maximum permitted by regular UK driving licences.
See a selection of used Audi Q7 cars for sale
BMW X5
- Towing capacity – up to 3,500kg
The BMW X5 scales up the brand's typical user experience into a spacious, practical SUV format. That means you get physics-defying handling that masks the X5's significant mass, while maintaining a well-judged ride quality that tunes out road bumps without upsetting the car's stability. Interior quality is excellent and recent models get the brand's latest iDrive infotainment system, which looks bang up to date and comes stocked with functions. Torquey diesel engines give the X5 a towing capacity of up to 3,500kg.
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Range Rover Sport
- Towing capacity – up to 3,500kg
If it's kudos you want in a tow car, there aren't many rivals that can match the impact of rocking up in a Range Rover Sport. It gets the same 3.5-tonne tow capacity as the full-fat Range Rover but is more affordable with scarcely any noticeable drop in quality. On the move, the Sport feels like a true luxury car with a floaty ride quality that smothers any attempt by the road surface to spoil your comfort. The cabin doubles down on this impression with plush leather and expensive-looking styling details lifting it above rivals.
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Volkswagen Touareg
- Towing capacity – up to 3,500kg
Under the skin, the Volkswagen Touareg shares engines and parts with the Audi Q7 but, by omitting the four-ringed badge, you have a lower purchase price and better value for money. There's little sacrifice in capability, either, with the Touareg still offering an excess of space for passengers and a huge boot. In fact, the only downside is that the big Volkswagen misses out on the Audi's seven-seat cabin layout. That won't matter when towing, however, with a maximum capacity of 3,500kg when outfitted with the punchy 3.0-litre diesel engine.
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Load-lugging power without the price tag
Motorpoint has an enormous choice of used SUVs, all with warranty cover. If you want to tow while cutting your environmental footprint, check out our picks for the best electric 4x4s.
