Tow Car Awards 2026: How we decided the winners

Pulling an extra tonne – or even two – asks difficult questions of a car’s engine, gearbox, brakes and handling. So, the top choices for everyday use aren’t necessarily the ones that stack up best if you want to tow a caravan, a trailer tent, a horsebox, a racing car trailer or a boat

That's why we've been running the annual What Car? Tow Car Awards in partnership with the Camping and Caravanning Club for 20 years.

During our annual test week, we bring together a selection of new models and pit them against our reigning champions at the Horiba-MIRA test track so we can name the best tow cars on sale.

This year we had 42 models, ranging from small hatchbacks to luxury SUVs. Some of them were fully electric, but we also tested a wide variety of hybrids, petrols and diesels.

Prices range from less than £25,000 to more than £100,000. And because we realise that not everyone buys new, we’ve also chosen a used car champion from cars which performed well in previous years.

How we test tow cars

As ever, we combined forces with the experts at the Camping and Caravanning Club. And this year marks the club’s 125th anniversary, so it's safe to say its towing instructors and technical team know everything there is to know about towing.

Our tests take place at the Horiba-MIRA proving ground in Warwickshire, using a fleet of new caravans provided by the Swift Group. The models range from lightweight two-berths to large and luxurious twin-axle tourers.

The cars are divided into four classes, based on the weight of caravan the vehicles are suitable for towing. This is decided using either the official capacity or the 85% match figure, whichever is lower.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term ‘85% match’, the Camping and Caravanning Club recommends towing no more than 85% of the kerb weight of the tow car for the sake of stability, especially for drivers who are new to towing.

Some of the heaviest cars have 85% figures beyond the permitted weight of our largest caravans, so they tow caravans at their maximum weight instead.

The 12 electric tow cars are in their own classes, one for EVs suitable for towing up to 1400kg and one for cars that can tow above this figure.

Whether electric, hybrid, or fossil-fuel-powered, each car and caravan combination go through the same series of tests.

The most extreme manoeuvres are carried out by our senior reviewer, Dan Jones (below). These include each car and caravan being taken through an emergency lane change at increasing speeds and being assessed for straight-line stability at 60mph (the legal motorway limit while towing) and 70mph.

In addition, we record 30-60mph acceleration times and conduct a 30-0mph braking test. Meanwhile, experienced caravanners and towing instructors for the club complete a different test route that includes a low-speed slalom and a hill-start on a 1-in-6 slope.

Alongside the dynamic tests, practicality testers from the club assess each car’s suitability for towing. They look for a boot with space for a full load of camping gear, a healthy maximum tow bar download, puncture repair provision that’s suitable for use while towing, and well installed towing gear.

There’s little point in owning a car that tows well but is hopeless at everything else. So, each car is also reviewed as an everyday drive by What Car?’s reviews team. And there’s a buying and owning score to take account of value, equipment, safety and reliability.

Only cars with strong scores across the board are in the running for an award. It takes an incredible all-rounder to be our overall winner.

Thank you

Thanks to Swift Caravans for the tourers used in our testing. We’re also grateful to Al-Ko and Milenco for their help in preparing for the tests. And finally, a huge thank you to the Camping and Caravanning Club’s volunteers; without their enthusiasm and hard work the tests would not be possible.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

See the Tow Car Awards 2024 winners >>