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Buying a car to tow 2500KG
I have a 90,000 mile 53 plate Nissan X-Trail with a head gasket on its way out (so I'm told).
I have two small children and two small dogs and regulaly drive to Northern France from London. The replacement car will also need to VERY occassionally tow a horse box with two horses along flat roads, short distances (five miles max) in France.
We don't tend to offroad except an occassional horse track for a couple of hundred metres.
Should I be looking for another 4X4 or would a powerful estate be able to cope? Which style would be better value? If I go for an estate, should I go for a higher millage Volvo, or something with a lower mileage that might be less rugged? I am not image-conscious when it comes to cars!
I have two small children and two small dogs and regulaly drive to Northern France from London. The replacement car will also need to VERY occassionally tow a horse box with two horses along flat roads, short distances (five miles max) in France.
We don't tend to offroad except an occassional horse track for a couple of hundred metres.
Should I be looking for another 4X4 or would a powerful estate be able to cope? Which style would be better value? If I go for an estate, should I go for a higher millage Volvo, or something with a lower mileage that might be less rugged? I am not image-conscious when it comes to cars!
Asked on 13 January 2012 by Richard Corthine
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You cannot legally tow what will probably amount to 2,500kg with any large car. You have to have a 4WD or a pick-up with an appropriate towing capacity. A current model Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 diesel manual or the equivalent KIA Sorento can tow 2,500kg, many pick-ups, including the Isuzu Rodeo can tow 3,000kg, Land Rover Defenders and Discovery III/IV can tow 3,500kg.
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