Passat Hybrid Gte Tow Car
Just started my caravan adventures and bought an Ace Morning Star 2006 and after some enquires with Westfalia for the Tow Hitch for my new Passat Estate Gte.
I was first alarmed at the response from the Market leading and Vw Supplier saying that Hybrids cannot tow
Where in fact the Passat can TOW 1625KGS comfortably and over the mountain range over the Beacons from Aberbach site this weekend achieving 37mpg after charging from my caravans outside plug overnight on a 10 amp setting.
The Hybrid tows quiet comfortable on pure electric or if you need Power just put in GTE MODE or Hybrid.
Once you have used the electric from the battery's and the overnight charge the car will make its own electricity and still be able to use GTE MODE 220bhp.
So don't believe all the old school that Hybrids cannot Tow .
FOSSIL FUEL WONT LAST FOREVER PLUS BIK SO MUCH BETTER FOR THE TIME BEING
For Reference detach-able Tow Hitch Supplied and fitted By RETRO in Neuanton inc software and Vehicle specific electrics total £570, much cheaper than local prices of £770.
Moderator Comment - Taff I have moved this to Towcars in the Discussion Area as I think more people will see it there.
Comments
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Tests have shown some hybrids can tow but others are badly short of power. It does seem to depend on the power available after the electricity in the battery has gone. I would assume as the newer models come out the performance will get better but for longer tows most do look expensive on fuel.
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"The GTE is powered by a refined, punchy-feeling 1.4-litre TSI turbo teamed with an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It can travel up to 31 miles in pure electric mode, although once it reverts to petrol power its economy drops significantly. As with all hybrids, this can dent real-world efficiency."
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31 miles on electric alone my a**e. I have just got rid of my two year old GTE, one of the most horrible cars I have owned. Around town it only averaged 20 to 25 miles on electricity alone even with a light right foot. Turn on the heater or aircon and down it goes even further.
It was such a 'nanny state' car as well. It didn't just beep at you if, for example you dare have the keys in the ignition and open the door. It SHOUTED at you. And as for the proximity alert that SCREAMED at you so as to make you almost crash should you get even close to another car, well those were experiences best forgotten. Adaptive cruise control that applies the brakes should the vehicle you are following dare to take a left on a slip road ahead of you and a 'GTE' mode that, when you consider the weight of the vehicle, really is not that quick, all adds up to a vehicle best forgotten. Electric and hybrid cars have a long way to go.
Get a VW transporter converted as a campervan. Much more fun for days out and a superb towing vehicle for the same price as a GTE!
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It needs clarifying that many hybrids are not type approved for towing and often those that are, have reduced maximum towing weight. The Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid has a maximum tow weight of 1500kg. The now defunct diesel version is much higher and our local dealer recommended the diesel for towing. I still await a long term review of a like for like petrol/hybrid versus diesel towing comparison over a year and several thousand miles of mixed towing and solo use. The VW dealer I use for servicing admits off the record the hybrid golf barely manages 15-18 miles on battery in real world use. Most sales are to business simply to get the BIK benefits.
Lutz on this forum used to have a Lexus hybrid and I believe now tows with a diesel.......
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I had an interesting time yesterday afternoon - visiting first Mitsubishi then Volvo, Kia, Lexus and Nissan. The lack of knowledge and the fibbing was quite interesting! Mitsubishi have a nearly new Outlander with 1200 miles on the clock and tow bar silly minus point for me is that it's black but why would anyone put a towbar on and then only go that distance? I have enjoyed almost 3 years of towing with my top of the range diesel Outlander and as far as I can see diesel isn't yet defunct.
Progressed to Volvo and felt very claustrophobic in the driving seat - the Outlander is nice and high for my old bones to get in and out off plus it has far more windscreen to see out of too. Obviously personal choice there. The Kia Sorento was good except the running board would take getting used to. Lexus and the Sorento I think I should test drive and possibly the Xtrail but that might be under powered for my tastes too. I had some confusing statements about Hybrids - "our hybrid is a false hybrid". I think all of them stated the car could tow 2 ton and I gave up trying to explain that wasn't the point exactly!
I am leaning heavily towards keeping my Outlander as long as the MOT goes OK and sadly it was registered a couple of months before they extended the warranty to 5 years from 3. The nearly new Outlander was black and I have had a "thing" about the trend towards cars looking like hearses (very unfortunate and untrendy of me I know) and not a country lane friendly colour. Plus I remember the enormous pleasure my mother had when she first had a choice of colour for her new car!
Again thank you everyone who contributed it has been really helpful.
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Dear fellow caravaners just reading the blogs re Hybrid, I am awaiting the delivery Sept 2018 of a brand new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the 2019 model now has the new 2.4 petrol engine and trading in my 2015 Ford Kuga, I have been assured the car although the max all up towing weight is still 1500kgs is a reasonable towing vehicle. I would like to know if anyone has any other views on this, also in the brochure it says that the car can also provide 240v electrical power does this mean I could power the electrical internals to my caravan via a connection, again does anybody have or know of this.
My wife and I go away most other weekends and have a few weeks away to further flung places a couple of weeks a year so realistically we use the car 85% of the time to go to work shop and ferry grandkids about so the hybrid will come into it own doing just this function.
As one previous blogger stated things are going to change and manufactures are not going to give 2 hoots about caravaners and supply vehicles powerful enough to tow but also fuel efficient for day to day motoring..
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also in the brochure it says that the car can also provide 240v electrical power does this mean I could power the electrical internals to my caravan via a connection, again does anybody have or know of this.
Could you point that bit out in the brochure 'howdoo', I can't find it.
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howdoo - I think I would urge caution - I have just been speaking to my local dealer - and they are offering me a demo vehicle complete with tow bar - true they may want to part with it - BUT I said what about me waiting for the New PHEV - "oh no that won't tow anything like as well". I know they all lie - and this guy was in a slight muddle with his 80% rule. Maybe he wanted to get rid of the demo car - but surely he would get more commission if I went for the new one? I have a couple of hours to make up my mind as they have a big promotion weekend on from tomorrow. Getting rid of excess stock perhaps? However a decent deal on my slightly battered Outlander plus 3 free services on the demo vehicle makes a fair bit of sense to me! Especially as my warranty is at an end and it's due the MOT.
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I would say the question we should ask is can the hybrid tow a caravan on it's existing petrol bit and how economically? If it can tow on petrol economically and powerfully enough all well and good. However the information I have received recently has been that none of them Tow well on petrol. Personally I would disregard the battery except for short journeys at home. For me this could work out reasonably well as I have solar power - so free plug ins on a decent day? But I would also need a reasonably good mpg and oomph when towing - and it seems this is not achievable at the moment.
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I think you may find that hybrid vehicles can tow
however very few have been approved, Mitsubishi Outland has been but only too 1500 kg
I would check v5
None of the bmw range have been tested
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The diesel Outlander has almost certainly been pre-registered to beat the new economy regs which came into force on 1st September, along with tens of thousands of cars last month hence the 24% spike in alleged ‘sales’. The salesman will be on a target bonus or possibly a spot bonus to clear stock albeit he is for once correct about the PHEVs towing capability. The only hybrids I would look at are diesel which do exist albeit now mostly used. However at the end of the day it is depreciation which is the biggest cost of car ownership, especially new. Changing car to save a few mpg or possible MOT costs is financially barmy.
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They will use the battery very quickly but more than enough power.But I use the GTE MODE and it stiffens the suspension/
This week I went touring in Tal y bont and on my return journey 44 miles with lots of hills and a big diversion returned 33mpg .
Full battery at the start and no battery when finished.I charged the vehicle overnight on a 5 amp setting.
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I didn't say I get 31miles towing on electric but over the last 10 weeks i have only put in £200 petrol and out of the 3800 miles I have travelled in that time I average 74mpg.
Just given my thoughts and truth to how much I get while towing but some people you will never change.
I start towing with full electric and then change over to the GTE MODE on hills this week 44 miles return towing around 30/33mpg towing.
I get 25 miles on a full charge electric seats.
I had a x5 2018 3.0d m sport before this and each mth i put in £400 plus the BIK THROUGH THE ROOF.
But the cost of diesel and petrol flying up.
Really a no brainer when compared to a Van. But if you are going to get a van get a real Van Nissan Elgrand 3500 350Z Engine.
Years ahead of the transporter,
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Taff - I am looking at new company car. Seriously considering the Passat GTE 1.4 either saloon or estate with factory fit towbar. We travel to Europe a lot with van, from your experience any issues with recommending the GTE? we have a swift Challenger with a MiRO of 1380kg and MTPLM of 1550kg...well within the plated weight but does it perform?
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