TOWING THE LINE
A couple of weeks ago I undertook one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life, I retook my driving test. This was nothing to do with a brush with the law but rather to do with the rules around towing a trailer. To cut a long story short, if you passed your test on or after 1st January 1997 there are some additional restrictions as to the weight you can legally tow with a normal car. It’s hard to convey in words the effort needed, after such a long time falling into bad habits, of habitually checking the mirrors at regular intervals, looking over your shoulder before moving off and dare I say it, staying within the legal speed limit at all times. Anyway, I passed and all is well with the world so it seems a good time to review what makes a good car for towing and look at the options on the market.
VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON Not an obvious choice is the Sporty Saloon from Volkswagen but it was voted Tow Car of the Year 2019 and as such I thought it deserved further investigation. Being the direct descendent of the Passat CC, the Arteon has the sleek lines of a coupe but with a four door configuration.
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I’ve always been a fan of the Passat for its demure and low key presence and the Arteon carries on that tradition nicely. Inside, the cabin feels modern and spacious, just like its cousin the Audi A5, from which this car, as you may expect, borrows heavily.
VOLVO XC60
It was the 2.0 TDi 150 variant which won the award and that seems logical as this power plant offers a good balance of economy and most important to towing – torque. Official figures are that the Arteon in this spec will tow up to 2000kg but remember that official guidance says that your trailer should never exceed 85% of the weight of the car.
Our friends at the caravan club also praised the handling as being “fun”. Now, don’t get me wrong, for the size, weight and height of the XC60 it handles admirably well but to call it fun would be somewhat of a push. On the motorway, however, the VW feels planted and road noise is well insulated from the cabin. The higher seating position of the Volvo gives a better field of vision, in my view which adds to confidence, especially when you a towing a load behind.
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Fitting the more traditional shape of a tow car, the Volvo XC60 picked up the 2019 Tow Car of the Year award from the Caravan Club, picking up praise for its acceleration, stability and braking prowess whilst towing.
