Tow car information

trevtp
trevtp Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited June 2018 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi All

I am in the process of deciding which tow car to buy. Due to the changes in emissions etc most manufacturers seem to be reducing there diesel engine choices and reducing them to 150bhp. Does anyone tow with a 150bhp car e.g. one we were thinking of is the VW Sharan, is it up to the job or do you find them under powered. I tow an Elddis Osprey approx 1400Kg.

Another question. Does anyone tow with a Kia Sorento. This seems like the ideal car but I am interested in the fuel consumption especially solo every day use and are you happy with the towing capabilities. Thanks in anticipation.

Comments

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 665 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #2

    The Sorento is an excellent tow car. Do a Google search and you will find many positive reviews and comments. 

    Towing a twin axle 1800 mptlm caravan I get around 20-25 mpg. Solo I can get 35-40 on a long motorway journey and 30-35 around town.

    Get one with self leveling suspension for the best towing experience. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a sister model and mechanically the same.

  • trevtp
    trevtp Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited June 2018 #3

    Thanks for that Simon. Yes I have read favourable reports on them. Sounds like fuel consumption only a little worse than my Sportage best ever is 42mpg on quiet single carriageway long run. Self levelling suspension sounds good.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #4

    we have and tow with a Sorento, and we tow an approx just over 1500Kg van.

    It has a powerful 200 hp engine and tows with ease up motorways and gradients, its quite fast solo as well. Solo on combined journeys I can get over 40mpg if you take it steady, drive faster and I get under 36. Towing last week was about around 30mpg door to site. It is a big car mind and not very easy for parking around town. 

    All apart from the base model get self levelling suspension, and the second model in the range the KX2 has all you could want, heated seats, sensors, reversing camera...

    We have found the inside quite versatile, we normally have the third row folded down and it's an enormous boot. Actually my favourite bit is the space under the boot for the rear boot parcel bind accessed from the boot floor, remove that and move the second row seats forward and have the backrests vertical gives even more space. See carwow.co.uk for reviews, we used them to get the best prices as well.   

    I'm really happy with it. Also the on demand AWD was excellent during the bad snows, kept the car moving when others were stopped.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2018 #5

    I used to tow a 1350Kg Abbey, so only fractionally lighter than your van. My tug was a 134BHP Kuga and was more than adequate. Towing generally gave around 32/33mpg, Solo long runs about 45/46mpg. During the eight years of ownership, average consumption was 40mpg.

     

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited June 2018 #6

    Over the years i have had 4 sorentos of which the latest (2015 KX3 auto) is proving to be the best as regards fuel consumption ,handling and "toys".The previous 2010 kx3 needed stiffer springs for towing (no self levelling) . fuel consumption on the latest is around 23 mpg towing and anywhere between 34 and 40 mpg solo.previous models were around 18/20 mpg towing and 27/28 solo.In my opinion they are a really good buy secondhand.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #7

    yes, as the 7 year warranty means that a 1/2 year old will have years left

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited June 2018 #8

    If buying used check service history!Kia warranty is supposed to be very good but I have never had cause to use it!(touch wood!!!!!)laughing

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2018 #9

    yes, sorry meant if buying second hand from a Kia dealer.

    and same here, I passed on my Hyundai Getz to my daughter at 120,000 miles after 10 years, the engine never let me down once, two interior switches broke at 7 years. 

  • brightstar2
    brightstar2 Forum Participant Posts: 128
    100 Comments
    edited June 2018 #10

    I use Honda CR-V .... 1.6 ltr. Diesel - 160 bhp and tows my Adria Adiva weighing in at 1485kg a treat. 9 speed auto with manual flappy paddles if you want to play with .

    Solo - 45-48mpg - pure towing home to site 32 average

    Combined total over 2500 miles mixed solo and towing 35/36 mpg.

    What's not to like !!

  • trevtp
    trevtp Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited July 2018 #11

    Thanks to everyone who contributed information for me. I think it's going to have to be the Sorento. I've now test driven one and enjoyed it. Fuel consumption better than expected, according to the gauge of course. I may look at the Hyundai Santa Fe but at the moment can't find any mention of self levelling suspension.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2018 #12

    "what's not to like"  Well the words Honda and Adria. sealed

  • Wallywal’s Bob
    Wallywal’s Bob Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited March 2019 #13

    Does anyone have experience of towing with a Jaguar E Pace?

    Thank you

  • LeTouriste
    LeTouriste Forum Participant Posts: 348
    edited March 2019 #14

    I have recently changed to a 2017 VW Caravelle diesel. It is 150 bhp and tows our 1436 MPTLM caravan effortlessly.  It has a Euro 6 engine with ad blue emission treatment and is exempt from all the emission zone restrictions, both in the UK and France.

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