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Which large automatic SUV is capable of towing?

My wife and I own a Passat turbo diesel estate and a diesel Shogun, both of which we are very pleased with. We are now retired and wish to only have one vehicle. We live on an un-adopted road, which is never cleared of snow, and having had 4WDs since 1959, we like the higher access and vision. My wife suffers from arthritis and needs an automatic. Our local main dealers is Volkswagen and we are interested in the new Tiguan. We are looking at the new purchase as probably our last car, so we want durability, reliability, the ability to tow and a bit of fun to drive, and reasonable economy. We shall probably tow 4-5000 miles out of 15,000 miles per annum. Please would you advise on the Tiguan or any alternative?

Asked on 24 March 2012 by TG, Fakenham

Answered by Honest John
I have experienced DSG delay and received a lot of reports of it from readers, so I would not tow with anything fitted with a twin clutch DSG type automatic transmission. Better a torque converter automatic, such as a Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 diesel 6 speed auto, or the KIA Sorento equivalent. Maximum tow with them is 2000kg (the manuals can tow 2500kg). Unless you go to a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, the best towers of all are Land Rover Discovery IV 3.0V6 diesel, Range Rover Sport 3.0V6 diesel or Volkswagen Tuareg 3.0V6 diesel, all of which can tug 3500kg.
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