By Matt Robinson
Until recently, electric vehicles (EVs) didn’t make for great tow cars. Due to their relatively high weight and smaller batteries, the maximum braked towing capacity of any of them was typically less than a tonne (1000kg), if the vehicle in question was even rated at all.
But a growth in both battery size, as well as demand for electric cars which can fit into the lifestyles of outdoorsy types, means that more and more electric cars are being rated for towing – be that a caravan, a trailer with another car or a boat on it, or even a horsebox.
Here are the 10 best EV tow cars you can lease with Vanarama right now.
Polestar 2
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1500kg Which Version?: All models
Kicking off our line-up is the Polestar 2, which will haul 1.5 tonnes of braked trailer no matter which specification you go for – single-motor small battery, single-motor large battery or dual-motor large battery. It is the middle of these 3 which has the longest 1-shot driving range of the Polestar 2 family (331 miles) when it is unadorned with a trailer of any kind, so it’s probably that one you’ll want for the most towing range on a single charge. Capable of hauling small- to medium-sized caravans or even light trailers, Polestar will offer a semi-electrically deploying tow bar option for the 2 at ordering time, for a cost of £1100. It comes complete with a 13-pin socket for electrics, too.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1600kg Which Version?: Large-battery models (73kWh)
Moving up to 4 cars all capable of lugging 1.6 tonnes behind them, we begin with the brilliant Hyundai Ioniq 5. A large hatchback with the build and interior roominess of an SUV, this means you get a 527-litre boot into which you can throw all your holiday clobber (or any paraphernalia associated with whatever you’re towing at the back), before hitching up 1600kg of braked trailer. Bear in mind that the 58kWh rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model is not rated to tow anything other than 750kg of unbraked trailer, meaning you need either the 73kWh RWD or the range-topping AWD (which comes with the bigger battery only) in order to access the 1.6-tonne towing capacity. At the time of writing, though, Hyundai apparently does not offer a factory tow-bar option through its UK configurator.
Kia EV6
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1600kg Which Version?: All models
Joining its Korean compatriot on this list with the same maximum towing capacity is the Kia EV6 – the difference here being that Kia doesn’t sell its dramatic EV with anything other than a 77.4kWh battery pack, so all models in the range can take 1600kg behind them; enough, possibly, for a trailer with a smaller car on it if needs be. Kia offers a 13-pin electrical wiring kit for £230 as an option for the EV6, while a detachable towing neck is another £541, meaning a total outlay of £771 at ordering time if you want your Kia electric car to come ready-equipped for towing duties. The rear-wheel-drive model does up to 328 miles on a charge solo, so will probably be the best for longer-distance journeys involving hauling work.
Tesla Model Y
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1600kg Which Version?: All models
Moving on to the first of 2 Teslas on the list, the newer and smaller Model Y SUV can lug 1600kg behind it, with a detachable, lockable tow bar and 13-pin electrical connection costing £1090 at ordering time through Tesla. While it’s not as strong as its Model X big brother, the Model Y is nevertheless more capable than the similar-looking Model 3 saloon, which maxes out at 1000kg of braked trailer in its all-wheel-drive specifications. Not only that, but the taller Model Y’s higher boot – complete with a proper, full-sized opening hatch – will be easier to load with any associated materials to do with the trailer you’re towing than the Model 3 is.
BMW i4
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1600kg Which Version?: All models
Making the list looks even more interesting because it’s a saloon car, rather than an SUV, BMW’s i4 has enough strength to haul 1.6 tonnes of braked trailer, whether you go for the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive eDrive40, or the mighty dual-motor M50 AWD performance model. BMW offers an electrically deploying tow bar as a £1000 option, which is controlled by a button in the boot, and this also comes with a feature which monitors trailer stability while towing to prevent snaking. However, for reasons that aren’t exactly clear, you have to also have the £990 Comfort Pack fitted if you want the towing hitch, meaning it’s almost £2000 to have your i4 with the capability to tow from the factory.
Volvo C40 Recharge Twin
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1800kg Which Version?: C40 dual-motor
This is a bit of an odd one. Both the Volvo XC40 Recharge EV and its coupe spin-off, the C40, have the ability to tow. But it is only the C40 which is rated up to 1800kg; the XC40 maxes out at 1500kg on all models. Nevertheless, the Volvo is a strong tow car, as 1.8 tonnes now allows for larger caravans and trailers to be hitched up behind it. Volvo offers the tow bar package for £30 per month on its deals, which includes an electrically deploying tow hitch controlled from inside the boot, as well as Trailer Stability Assist – which prevents trailer sway at speeds of more than 31mph. Volvo’s so keen on safety that the vehicle even performs a check of the trailer’s lights, to ensure they’re working properly, before you set off towing.
Audi e-tron
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1800kg Which Version?: All models
Pick whichever Audi e-tron lease setup you like – the 50, the 55 or the high-performance S – and either of the body styles (regular SUV or coupe-esque Sportback) and the outcome is the same: you can tow up to 1.8 tonnes of braked trailer. With a giant 660-litre cargo area on the normal SUV, that makes it a practical vehicle for a big holiday ‘rig’ – think a 4-berth caravan on the back and loads of belongings in the boot – but bear in mind no Audi E-Tron goes much more than 250 miles to a charge on its own, so when it’s hauling a trailer or other load, you’re going to have a fairly limited range.
Mercedes EQA/EQC
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 1800kg Which Version?: 4Matic models only (EQA), all models (EQC)
Here you have 2 Mercedes EVs for the price of 1, as both the EQA and EQC SUVs can lug 1800kg of braked trailer behind them – despite the fact the EQC is a lot larger (and stronger of motor) than the EQA. There’s a slight spec disparity too, as the front-wheel-drive EQA 250 is not rated to tow this much, but if you equip the smaller SUV with 4Matic AWD then it can take the maximum 1.8 tonnes; for the EQC, it doesn’t matter which model you get as all can tow 1800kg. Better still, Mercedes only charges £750 for its tow bar kit on the EQA, which comes with Trailer Stability Assist which functions above 40mph to prevent snaking when towing. And the tow bar is exactly the same price if you want it fitted to your EQC, too.https://www.vanarama.com/car-leasing/mercedes-benz/eqa
Tesla Model X
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 2268kg Which Version?: All models
Tesla’s bigger SUV, the Model X – complete with its dramatic Falcon Wing rear doors – is one of the best EV towing machines going. Whether you go for the Long Range or the ridiculous tri-motor Plaid, complete with 1020hp, this large and heavy SUV will drag 2268kg of braked trailer behind it; enough for the biggest of caravans, trailers carrying other cars or even smaller horseboxes. Oddly, while Tesla offers a tow bar as an official accessory on the Model Y, it doesn’t seem to have the same item provided for the Model X. However, get a hitch fitted aftermarket and the Model X should prove to be a near-unbeatable EV towing vehicle.
BMW iX
Maximum Braked Towing Capacity: 2500kg Which Version?: All models
The strongest EV for towing is BMW’s strikingly styled big SUV, the iX. You can choose any model – eDrive40, eDrive50 or even the outrageous M60 – and you will be able to haul 2.5 tonnes of braked trailer behind you; enough for a good-sized horsebox plus, well, a horse, and certainly more than you’ll need for most caravans and other trailers. The icing on the cake? Even if you lease an iX in entry-level Sport specification, it comes with an electrically deploying tow bar as standard, meaning it won’t cost you anything extra if you want to tow with your BMW EV SUV.
Where To Next?
For more articles, you can check out our EV features and guides. Or if you're looking for a brand new vehicle, we've got a huge range of electric cars to lease at unbeatable prices.
