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Can you recommend an economical, reliable 4x4 to tow a horse trailer?

I wonder if you could advise me on the best 4x4 to tow a horse trailer and two ponies? Whatever we buy will have to be used for my work and as our family car, so it needs to be as economical as possible. We live in a very rural area and I drive about 400 miles a month. I currently have a 2003 Mondeo 2.0 l that won't be worth much as a trade in so I'm looking at a used vehicle. I'm not remotely interested in luxury, aspirational badges or looks, just want a reliable workhorse that won't cost a fortune to run. I'd be very grateful for any advice that you can give.

Asked on 18 February 2012 by KS, Ashby Folville

Answered by Honest John
Depending on the weight, it's going to have to be a big one. A Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 R-Type diesel manual can tug 2500kg. An Isuzu Rodeo can pull 3000kg. The latest Ford Ranger can pull 3200kg. A Land Rover Discovery 4, a Range Rover Sport or a Volkswagen Touareg can tug 3500kg.
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