Top 10: Cars for towing

If you want the best cars for towing, we've found those that can pull a hefty 3500kg. So whether you're pulling a big caravan, horsebox or a heavy trailer, if you want the most capable tow cars, look no further...

1

Land Rover Discovery

It's all change for this generation of the Land Rover Discovery. For starters, gone is the traditional boxy shape. Then there's the introduction of a 2.0-litre diesel engine alongside the existing 3.0-litre Td6. Go for the more powerful 240PS version and it can tow the same 3500kg as the larger diesel and the 3.0 Si supercharged petrol.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2155kg - 2230kg

2

Audi Q7

We waited a long wait for the second-generation Audi Q7. Fortunately it has been worth the wait with the Q7 one of the best big 4x4s on the market with incredible refinement and a wonderful interior. Not all versions are able to tow 3500kg, you have to have the adaptive air suspension fitted - Q7 e-tron included. 

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2330kg

3

SsangYong Rexton

With a good quality cabin, hugely spacious interior and genuine off-road capability, the SsangYong Rexton has a lot going for it. It has a selectable four-wheel drive mode and a low-range mode, with hill descent control. You'll need to go for the automatic to get the maximum towing ability, although the manual can still haul up to 3200kg.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2175kg - 2350kg

4

Range Rover

If you want a luxury 4x4, no other car can quite match the Range Rover. Of course this doesn't come cheap. But this is the ultimate four-wheel drive vehicle and feels worth every penny. As you'd expect, it excels at towing with pretty much all versions able to tow the maximum 3500kg, with the exception of the 2.0 PHEV which pulls 2500kg.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2160kg - 2526kg

5

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche wouldn't be the first name that comes to mind when you think about towing, but in fact every version of the latest Cayenne can pull 3500kg making this a very capable, if not obvious, towing car. While it may not look that different on the outside, the inside has been redesigned with a far more modern and less cluttered look.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2040kg - 2350kg

6

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

With a ladder-type frame, three differential locks and low range gearbox, the G-Class is still a proper off-roader. It also gets a new feature called G-Mode which adapts the adjustable damping, steering, gearchanges and accelerator characteristics. Both the G 350 d and the slightly bonkers AMG G 63 can pull 3500kg.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2451kg - 2612kg

7

BMW X5

With huge road presence and aggressive styling, the latest BMW X5 is no shrinking violet. But get past the looks and you'll discover that this is a very refined and serene SUV which is ideal for covering long distances in. The towing capacity is engine dependant though. If you want the max 3.5t you need to go for a 40d or a 50i model. Oddly, the 50d pulls less at 2700kg.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2185kg - 2250kg

8

Range Rover Sport

It may be the smaller counterpart to the Range Rover, but the Sport is no less capable off-road and just as good when it comes to towing. Plus of course, it costs considerably less to buy. The most popular engine choice in the Sport is the 3.0-litre V6 diesel which is capable of pulling 3500kg. The newer SD4 engine can tow the same.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2144kg - 2434kg

9

Volkswagen Touareg

All versions of the latest Touareg are capable of towing 3.5 tonnes when hooked to a braked trailer and the ball neck of the towing bracket smartly extends and retracts from the vehicle floor at the push of a button. A full suite of off-road driving programmes are also fitted as standard, which means horsebox owners and caravaners can tackle wet or muddy fields.

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2020kg - 2070kg

10

Mitsubishi Shogun LWB

The Shogun is one of the more affordable cars here with list prices starting at around £35k. It's no spring chicken, in fact it's pretty ancient now and based on a design that goes back to 1999. But what it does offer is reliability, strong build quality and plenty of towing power. The 3.2 Di-DC can pull up to 3500kg and is pretty much bullet-proof. 

Braked towing weight: 3500kg

Kerbweight: 2375kg