Tow Car Awards 2025: 1550-1699kg
If you’re looking for a great tow car that will also be enjoyable to drive solo, you need one of our 2025 Tow Car Awards winners. Here we look at the best buy from 1550-1699kg...
Volkswagen Passat 1.5 eTSI Elegance
Kerb weight 1573kg 85% match 1337kg Max towing weight 1600kg Towball limit 90kg
Last year's overall champion continues to impress in its defence of its class win. The most important quality we look for while towing is stability, and the Volkswagen Passat is very reassuring at the legal limit and beyond.
In the emergency lane change test, it steered accurately and stayed composed at all three speeds. If there’s time to slow down rather than swerve to avoid danger, its strong brakes can stop car and caravan from 30mph in just 10.2m.
If there’s a chink in its armour as a tow car, it’s that starting on a steep hill can leave the gearbox’s clutch smelling, although there was no wheelspin or rolling backwards as the automatic parking brake released.
The Passat isn’t especially quick, but this version’s mild hybrid 1.5-litre petrol engine never feels underpowered, and its automatic gearbox changes gear with very little hesitation.
The Passat is quiet and comfortable at speed, with or without a caravan behind it. This is a car that takes long distances in its stride.
In day-to-day use, the Passat is a superb all-rounder. Our test car was fitted with optional adaptive suspension (£1085), which allows the driver to choose a firm and sporty drive or supple comfort. This is money well spent.
As an estate, the Passat has loads of luggage space, with a seats-up capacity of 690 litres. That puts many more expensive rivals to shame. In its higher position, the height-adjustable boot floor is flush with the sill at the entrance (for easy loading or unloading) and has storage space below, or it can be lowered to make the load bay taller. Passenger space is generous, with plenty of head and leg room for tall adults front and rear.
Although the Passat is no longer available with diesel power, this petrol engine can officially average 51.5mpg.
Euro NCAP awarded the Passat a five-star safety rating, and a long list of driver aids is included in the price.
Our ratings
Towing 5/5 Solo driving 5/5 Practicality 4/5 Buying and owning 5/5 Overall 5/5
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