The best used cars for towing

Whether you need to move a tiny trailer, a huge motorhome, a boat, or a stable, choosing the best towing vehicle isn't just a matter of comfort. It's also a security issue. 

Choosing the right car will allow you to get the best of both worlds - comfort with safety. You need a car big enough and powerful enough to handle what you're towing, but that doesn't mean it has to be a huge SUV. 

Every car has what is called a maximum towing capacity, which is the total weight it can legally pull. You can find this in your vehicle owner's manual or brochure. If you're not very experienced with towing, it's best to keep your towing weight within 85% of your vehicle's maximum towing capacity, just to be on the safe side.

Here's our guide to the top 10 used towing vehicles, with choices to suit different budgets and needs.    

1. Skoda Superb

Towing a trailer can make the journey long and stressful, so it's a good start to make sure your car is comfortable and relaxing. Few vehicles fit this description better than Skoda Superb. This makes for a really smooth ride over even the bumpiest of roads, and the seats feel like comfy recliners. It's quiet, it's got plenty of interior space, and you get plenty of high-tech features to keep you comfortable and entertained on your journey. 

The Superb is available in both hatchback and station wagon body styles, both of which have huge trunks. You can choose from a wide range of models with petrol or diesel engines, manual or automatic transmission and front or all-wheel drive. Each provides good tractive effort with an official maximum payload of 1,800 kg to 2,200 kg, depending on the model.

Read our Skoda Superb review.

2. BMW 5 Series Touring

local version BMW a great family car is a great alternative to the Skoda Superb. It's just as comfortable, but more enjoyable to drive when you're not towing, and its interior looks more upmarket. It costs more to buy, but each version is powerful and very well equipped.

The 5 Series Touring has plenty of passenger space and a large trunk. It also has a smart "self-leveling" suspension that keeps the car balanced when the rear wheels are carrying a lot of weight. There are many petrol and diesel engines to choose from, with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, and most versions have an automatic transmission as standard. BMW specifies a maximum load capacity of 1,800 to 2,000 kg.

Read our review of the BMW 5 Series

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3. Seat Atek

seat Ateca is one of the best mid-sized SUVs – big enough to have plenty of room for passengers and trunk, yet compact enough to fit in most parking spaces. On the motorway, it feels safe and stable, and when you're not towing, you can enjoy its responsive steering and cornering agility. 

There is a wide range of models, all well equipped and very reasonably priced. The least powerful options are really only suitable for towing small trailers, but the most powerful engines can easily handle a medium-sized caravan. Some engines are available with automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Seat specifies a maximum load capacity of 1,500 to 2,100 kg.

Read our Seat Ateca review

4. Dacia Duster

Dacia Duster is the cheapest family SUV - it costs less than any other SUV of any size when new. While it doesn't feel as luxurious as its more expensive rivals, it's comfortable and quiet enough for long rides. It is also extremely durable and practical, and the high-spec models are well-equipped. It's impressive that Dacia manages to make such a good car for such little money.

The Duster is available with petrol or diesel engines, as well as front-wheel drive, as well as all-wheel drive models that are surprisingly capable of tackling off-road. You can only buy a Duster with a manual transmission, and Dacia lists a maximum payload of 1,300 to 1,500kg, so the Duster is best suited for small caravans or trailers.

Read our Dacia Duster review

5. Land Rover Discovery

When it comes to versatile SUVs, the seven-seat Land Rover Discovery is one of the best. It is very spacious - adults can fit in all seven seats, and the trunk is huge. You will also find that the luxurious interior is incredibly comfortable and the driving experience is fantastic. It's almost unbeatable off-road thanks to sophisticated electronics that keep the wheels spinning no matter how rough the terrain. On the other hand, its size means that its purchase or use is not the most cost-effective.

There is a choice of powerful petrol and diesel engines, all of which have an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Land Rover specifies a maximum load capacity of 3,000 to 3,500 kg.

Read our Land Rover Discovery review

6. Volvo XC40

Often featured in reviews of the best family cars. XC40 is a practical mid-size SUV with a high-tech and comfortable interior, which at the same time costs a lot of money. It's comfortable and quiet and feels very upmarket. You have room inside for a family of four, and the trunk will hold a couple of weeks of holiday gear. Driving around the city is easy, and on the motorway it is solid as a rock.

Gasoline, diesel and hybrid options are available, as well as manual and automatic transmissions, as well as front- or all-wheel drive. There's even an electric version that can tow up to 1,500kg, although that will reduce battery range. Non-electric versions can pull between 1,500 and 2,100 kg, depending on the engine.

Read our Volvo XC40 review

7. Skoda Octavia

Second Skoda on our list has a lower maximum payload than the first, but is still almost as capable of towing a car as the larger Superb. Really, Octavia shares many of the Superb's qualities - it's quiet, comfortable, spacious and well-equipped. Skodas are full of smart and useful features, like a parking ticket clip on the windshield, a removable flashlight in the trunk, and an ice scraper under the fuel filler flap.

The Octavia is available in both hatchback and station wagon body styles, each with the largest trunk in its class. There is a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines, most of which are available with automatic transmission. Some of the more powerful models have all-wheel drive. Skoda lists a towing capacity of 1,300kg to 1,600kg for "regular" Octavia models and says the Octavia Scout, which has higher ground clearance and some SUV-style design additions, can tow up to 2,000kg.

Read our Skoda Octavia review.

8. Peugeot 5008

Peugeot 5008 is a seven-seater family car that combines the practicality of a minivan with the looks of an SUV. If you regularly make day trips with the whole family and have a van or boat in tow, this is a great vehicle to consider. 

The centerpiece of the Peugeot 5008's appeal as a tractor is the fact that it's available with a smart electronic system called Grip Control that helps the car move over slippery surfaces. This makes it ideal for towing a horse trailer on muddy roads or a boat on wet sand.

The 5008 has enough room for even the tallest passengers, making it one of the best family cars out there, and it comes with child seat Isofix points on all three seats in the middle row. It's also versatile, with seats that fold and slide individually, while the interior has a futuristic, premium feel and the suspension makes for a very smooth ride. Peugeot specifies a maximum load capacity of 1,200 to 1,800 kg.

Read our Peugeot 5008 review.

9. Ford C-Max

The Ford S-Max is one of the best seven-seat minivans you can buy, with room for adults in all seven. It can carry a lot of luggage and, given its boxy shape, looks great. On the road, it's comfortable, quiet, and one of the few minivans that's really fun on a winding road. It is worth paying attention to the top models of Vignale because of their luxurious interior.

There are several petrol and diesel engines to choose from. Manual and automatic transmissions are available, and some models have all-wheel drive. Ford lists a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 kg.

Read our Ford S-MAX review

10 Jeep Wrangler

Stormy Jeep Wrangler The SUV is practically the only vehicle that can match or even surpass the Land Rover Discovery for off-road driving. This makes it ideal if you regularly tow your trailer or motorhome through muddy fields.

It has a rugged exterior inspired by the Wrangler heritage as a World War II Jeep, and the interior is roomy for a family of four. The trunk is a good size, and you can choose between a petrol or diesel engine - both have an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Jeep claims a maximum towable weight of 2,500kg.

These are our favorite used tow trucks. You will find them among the range quality used cars available at Cazoo. Use search function to find the one you like, buy it online with delivery to your door or pick it up at your nearest Cazoo customer service center.

We are constantly updating and expanding our range. If you can't find one today, check back later to see what's available or set up promotional alerts to be the first to know when we have vehicles that suit your needs.