Best Electric Cars for Towing in the UK

Electric cars are now capable tow vehicles. The Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and BMW iX all offer 2,500 kg maximum towing capacity, matching the best diesel alternatives. The catch is range: towing cuts an EV’s range by 40 to 60 per cent in real-world conditions, so you need to buy more battery than you think.

The rule of thumb for EV towing planning: assume you will cover around 100 to 150 miles between charges with a typical caravan or trailer attached. Plan charge stops accordingly. At a 150 kW-plus rapid charger, adding 100 miles of towing range takes around 25 to 35 minutes.

Top electric cars for towing in the UK (2026)

Car	Max Towing	Solo WLTP	Estimated Towing Range	Price From
BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport	2,500 kg	381 miles	~130-165 miles	~£95,000
Kia EV9 Dual Motor	2,500 kg	385 miles	~130-160 miles	~£65,000
Hyundai Ioniq 9	2,500 kg	385 miles	~130-160 miles	~£65,000
Volvo EX90	2,500 kg	~430 miles	~140-175 miles	~£80,000
Audi Q6 e-tron quattro	2,400 kg	381 miles	~125-155 miles	~£60,000
Porsche Macan Electric	2,000 kg	381 miles	~115-145 miles	~£65,000
Tesla Model X Long Range	2,268 kg	~348 miles	~110-145 miles	~£100,000
Tesla Model Y Long Range	1,600 kg	331 miles	~100-130 miles	~£46,990
Kia EV6 Long Range AWD	1,800 kg	347 miles	~100-130 miles	~£53,000
Mercedes EQC 400	1,800 kg	336 miles	~95-130 miles	~£65,000 (used)

Towing range estimates assume a 1,200 to 1,500 kg caravan at UK towing speed limits (maximum 60 mph on dual carriageways). Real-world results depend heavily on caravan weight, frontal area and gradient.

BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport: Towcar of the Year 2026

The BMW iX xDrive60 won the Towcar of the Year 2026 overall award and the caravan-over-2,000-kg category outright. Its 2,500 kg towing capacity, sophisticated air suspension, excellent stability control and driver assistance systems make it the most polished electric tow car experience currently available. At around £95,000, it is expensive, but the performance is genuinely exceptional. Towing range of approximately 130 to 165 miles per charge, with up to 195 kW charging.

Best for: Buyers for whom towing is a primary use case and who want the best possible towing experience regardless of cost.

Kia EV9 Dual Motor: best value 2,500 kg tow car

At around £65,000, the Kia EV9 is the most affordable car on this list with a 2,500 kg towing capacity. Its 110.3 kWh battery provides up to 385 miles solo and approximately 130 to 160 miles towing range. The 233 kW charging speed means charge stops are reasonable. Seven-seat practicality makes it an excellent all-rounder for families who tow and carry passengers.

The EV9 has been independently tested towing caravans on UK routes and returned around 155 miles of real-world range with a 1,500 kg van, consistent with the estimates above.

Best for: Families who need both seven seats and a genuine 2,500 kg tow rating at the lowest possible price.

Hyundai Ioniq 9: 350 kW charging and 2,500 kg towing

The Ioniq 9 matches the EV9 on towing capacity but upgrades the charging capability to 350 kW peak, the highest of any electric SUV currently available. This means that a 10 to 80 per cent top-up on a 350 kW charger takes under 25 minutes, reducing the practical penalty of the more frequent charge stops that towing demands. At around £65,000, it competes directly with the EV9.

Best for: Buyers who do long-distance towing and want the fastest possible charging turnaround.

Volvo EX90: the family touring choice

The Volvo EX90 combines 2,500 kg towing capacity with a 107 kWh battery delivering around 430 miles solo WLTP. The estimated towing range of 140 to 175 miles is the longest in this list, reflecting both the large battery and Volvo’s efficient drivetrain. Seven-seat practicality and Volvo’s reputation for safety and reliability make it a natural choice for family caravanning. Price from around £80,000.

Best for: Families who want maximum towing range on a per-charge basis and value Volvo’s safety systems.

Tesla Model Y: best mid-range towing option

At 1,600 kg maximum towing capacity, the Model Y cannot pull the heaviest UK caravans (over 1,600 kg MTPLM), but for smaller and lighter tourers (1,200 to 1,500 kg MTPLM), it is a capable and practical option. Its towing range of approximately 100 to 130 miles per charge is limited by the lower battery capacity (79 kWh usable) and the 1,600 kg cap itself, but the Supercharger network gives it a significant advantage on long-distance towing journeys. Price from around £46,990.

Best for: Buyers who tow lighter caravans or trailers and prioritise charging infrastructure reliability.

What towing capacity do UK caravans need?

Most UK touring caravans fall into three weight categories:

• Light tourers (MTPLM up to 1,400 kg): A 1,600 kg tow car works. This covers the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 and many smaller EVs.
• Mid-weight tourers (MTPLM 1,400 to 1,800 kg): Need 1,800 to 2,000 kg tow rating. Covered by the Kia EV6 AWD, Audi Q6, Porsche Macan and Tesla Model Y (borderline).
• Large tourers (MTPLM 1,800 to 2,300 kg): Need 2,000 to 2,500 kg rating. Only the EV9, Ioniq 9, BMW iX and Volvo EX90 provide this comfortably.

Always match the tow car’s maximum braked trailer weight to the caravan’s MTPLM with appropriate margin. The 85 per cent rule (where the trailer’s laden weight should not exceed 85 per cent of the tow car’s kerb weight) is the guidance used by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Charging when towing: the practical picture

Towing typically reduces range to 100 to 160 miles per charge on most setups. On a touring day of 200 miles, you will need one or two charge stops. The UK’s motorway service rapid charging network is now adequate for most popular routes, but pre-planning remains essential.

Key tools: Zap-Map shows the locations and current availability of rapid chargers on your planned route. ABRP (A Better Route Planner) calculates towing-adjusted range estimates and places charge stops accordingly.

Are there charging points at caravan parks?

An increasing number of UK caravan parks are installing EV charging. The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s network has been rolling out hook-up points capable of overnight EV charging at many sites. Standard 7 kW slow charging overnight typically adds 200 to 350 miles of solo range (less when towing due to the trip-specific energy draw rather than overnight charging).

For our full discussion of how towing affects EV range in detail, see the towing and range explainer. For the complete long-range EV rankings including non-towing use, see longest range electric cars. More on all aspects of EV range is in the range and performance hub.

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Sources: Towcar of the Year 2026 results from Practical Caravan/Electrifying.com, Arval UK towing range study, EV Database towing capacity data, Caravan and Motorhome Club 85% rule, manufacturer towbar specifications.