Best electric cars for towing: the 10 EVs with the greatest towing capacity
From Kia and Porsche to Audi and Tesla, these are the best EVs for towing a trailer or caravan
When you think of towing a trailer or caravan, it’s fair to say that until now diesel has probably been most people’s first choice.
Historically, electric cars have struggled to match the pulling power of a big oil-burner. Despite having plenty of torque, many car makers have not encouraged towing due to concerns around the combined weight of a heavy EV and a heavy caravan, and the inevitable impact on range.
However, that’s starting to change and a growing number of EVs are being offered with tow bar options and the ability to haul heavy loads. With most caravans weighing between 1,000kg and 2,000kg, there are now plenty of electric cars capable of towing even the most luxurious models, or a laden trailer.
Below we’ve gathered the 10 EVs with the biggest towing capacities that are available to order in the UK right now, with one exception. The Tesla Model X has a maximum towing capacity of 2,250kg but since you can only order left-hand-drive models from its European stock, we don’t imagine it’s going to be a realistic choice for many drivers.
We also recognise that most of the models on our top 10 list are very high-end, very expensive models, so read on to the end for some more affordable honourable mentions.
Kia EV9 – 2,500kg
The Kia EV9 is one of our favourite cars of the last 12 months. It is a phenomenally practical seven-seat SUV that has all the space, comfort and technology a family could ask for. Its three rows of seats are spacious enough to carry seven adults and the boot is a massive 828 litres in five-seat configuration. In GT Line specification with twin motors, the EV9 produces 378bhp and 516lb ft, allowing it to pull up to 2,500kg.
BMW iX – 2,500kg
The BMW iX is a challenging thing to look at but it makes up for its peculiar looks with some impressive pulling power. Whether you opt for the range-topping 611bhp M60 variant or the lesser xDrive 40 or 50, it’s capable of towing 2,500kg. And without a trailer attached, it offers impressive performance in every guise and a range in excess of 300 miles. There’s also plenty of comfort and one of the most high-tech interiors around.
Audi Q6 e-tron – 2,400kg
The Q6 e-tron is Audi’s follow-up to its first EV, the Q8 e-tron, and despite sitting below it in the Audi range, improves on it in virtually every way. From range and power to tech and charging speeds, the Q6 is a leap forward and its towing capacity knocks the larger Q8 into a cocked hat, too. While rear-wheel-drive models can tow an impressive 2,000kg, the more powerful quattro variants can haul up to 2,400kg.
Lotus Eletre – 2,250kg
Add this to the list of things we never thought we’d see, it’s a Lotus that can tow a massive caravan. Thanks to the brand’s reinvention as a maker of large, wildly powerful luxury cars, the Norfolk firm can now offer something that handles like a Lotus but tows like a Land Rover. The Eletre comes with between 595bhp and 893bhp depending on the spec, allowing it to get from 0-62mph in as little as 2.95 seconds. However, if you’ve got a Coachman Laser XL to haul, it’ll manage that too, with a towing limit of 2,250kg.
Volvo EX90 – 2,200kg
Volvo’s new flagship EV hasn’t had an easy ride to production but it’s finally here (albeit missing some features). Like most of the cars on our list, it’s a big luxurious SUV with a premium interior, loads of creature comforts and two motors that produce heaps of power and torque. That’s great for towing, with the ability to haul up to 2,200kg behind it.
Polestar 3 – 2,200kg
After years of getting by with just one model, Polestar is rapidly expanding and both its newest models bring impressive towing along with other highlights. The Polestar 3 is a large premium SUV targeting the likes of the Porsche Cayenne with a blend of performance – 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds – range (up to 403 miles) and a high-tech, high-quality cabin. Designed with long-distance driving in mind, it’s also capable of hauling plenty of weight as you go if you opt for a two-motor version.
Audi A6 e-tron – 2,100kg
The A6 e-tron is based on the same Audi/Porsche PPE platform as the Q6 e-tron and the Porsche Macan, so it’s no surprise that it has a decent towing ability too. It’s a sleek saloon or estate car for those who don’t want or need a high-riding SUV. Like the Q6, it’s bristling with new technology, including 320kW charging for its 95kWh battery. Unlike the Q6, even two-wheel-drive models can haul up to 2,100kg, although the quattro-powered S6 is the only one to offer 0-62mph in under 4 seconds.
BMW i5 M60 xDrive – 2,000kg
The i5 M60 is a massively impressive machine even before you consider its towing ability. Effectively, an electric M car, its 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds and razor-sharp handling continue BMW’s reputation for building premium, driver-focused. And it brings much of the cutting-edge technology of the larger i7 to its beautifully finished interior. While the M60 is mostly about driving thrills, there’s a practical side too, with up to 315 miles of range and an impressive two-tonne towing limit.
Porsche Macan– 2,000kg
Porsche’s smaller SUV isn’t an immediately obvious towing choice but the latest electric model has the chops to tow a decent-sized trailer or caravan if necessary. Even the entry-level Macan – a single-motor version with 340bhp and 563lb ft – delivers typical Porsche pace but also provides plenty of pulling power. Four-wheel-drive models add more punch but no more towing capacity. There’s also the usual Porsche appeal of sharp looks, a high-tech luxurious interior and the potential to spend a fortune personalising the car to your heart’s content.
Polestar 4 – 2,000kg
The Polestar 4 is another car we can’t imagine seeing with a caravan slung out the back, but it’s perfectly capable of towing if you ask it. A sleeker, smaller, cheaper sibling to the Polestar 3, the 4 is more of a rival to the Macan. It uses a 94kWh battery good for up to 367 miles of range in the 536bhp two-motor setup. That’s the only one that can tow two tonnes, with the single-motor variant limited to 1,500kg. Perhaps its most notable feature is the complete lack of rear windscreen, so if you are towing, you’ll be relying on a rear-facing camera to keep an eye on your load.
Honourable mentions
If your budget can’t stretch to the £70,000 or so commanded by most of our top 10, these five models offer some of the best towing capabilities for under £50,000
Kia EV6 – 1,800kg
The smaller sibling to the EV9 is a massively impressive car in its own right, with plenty of space for five, a range of up to 261 miles and some of the fastest charging around, as well as enough pulling power for most family caravans.
Volvo EC40/EX40 – 1,800kg
Whether you go for the SUV-shaped EX40 or the coupe-roofed EX40, Volvo’s first EV offers decent towing ability to go with its sharp Scandinavian design. To get the full 1,800kg capacity, you’ll need the two-motor variant which, when not towing, should manage 340 miles on a charge.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 – 1,600kg
The Ioniq 5’s retro-futuristic styling is an opinion-splitter but there’s no arguing about its spacious, well-equipped interior, impressive range or solid towing capability. Like the related EV6, it’s just been updated with more tech, a new battery and faster charging, too.
Smart #1 – 1,600kg
The Smart is the smallest car here but can still hold its own in the towing stakes. It’s a funky premium SUV that will tow an average caravan whether you go for the regular Pro or Premium models or the wild, all-wheel-drive Brabus version.
Tesla Model Y – 1,600kg
The Model Y can’t tow quite as much as most of our other picks but 1,600kg is still pretty decent. With Tesla’s famous efficiency, range and charging network, it’s a solid pick for those with lighter towing requirements, especially as it features a special towing mode that modifies the driver aids to account for the extra mass behind the car.
