Top 10 best electric cars for towing

Max towing weight: 2500kg
WLTP range: 257-382 miles

There's no denying BMW has gone big with its EV flagship. The challengingly styled iX boasts the sort of Top Trumps-style stats that would trash much of its opposition, particularly in range-topping xDrive50 guise. 

Not only does it offer plenty of muscle (516bhp and a rippling 564lb ft of torque) but it will also travel a claimed 380 miles on a charge thanks to its 80.7kW battery. 

However, the number that interests us most here is the 2500kg towing limit, which is as much as some fairly heavyweight ICE machines. 

More importantly, you get the same towing ability with the less costly 321bhp xDrive40 model. Both also feature twin-motor four-wheel drive, meaning excellent traction even when pulling a trailer out of a slippery field.

Max towing weight: 2268kg
WLTP range: 337-369 miles

The Tesla Model X can cope with pulling up to 2268kg, rivalling many large diesel-engined SUVs. 

This impressive figure means that it's easily possible to hitch up a large twin-axle caravan, even if doing so is likely to significantly eat into the Long Range variant's claimed 369-mile range. 

That said, with north of 800lb ft of instant torque, this SUV's performance is unlikely to be greatly affected by hauling a heavy load. Plus the Model X has air springs as standard, making it easier to hitch a trailer or caravan by raising or lowering the ride height as required and keep an even keel while on the move. 

A large boot and seven-seat capability further boost its practical tow car credentials. Its gullwing rear doors will cause a stir at the campsite, although the patchy build quality and inert driving dynamics mean it's not without its compromises. Worth remembering that while you can buy them new, they are left-hand drive.

Max towing weight: 1588kg
WLTP range: 283-331 miles

The Tesla Model Y is a much smaller, more European-focused version of the Model X above. And one that comes in right-hand drive.

The Falcon doors are replaced with traditional ones, and there’s no silly Plaid model – what you’ll find instead is a much more sensible mid-size SUV with a brilliant real-world range and good towing capabilities.

Stumping up for the Tow Package gets you a towbar, as you might expect, but it also gets you Tow Mode software. You can still tow without this, but the software helps things out by disabling steering interventions, lowering automatic emergency braking force and increasing the distance on automatic cruise control.

What Car? testing revealed that the Model Y would typically lose around 57% of its range when towing. Which is on the low side compared with rivals.

Max towing weight: 1800kg
WLTP range: 273-328 miles

It may be pricier than the closely related Hyundai Ioniq 5, but the Kia EV6 receives more power as standard and a maximu towing weight increase of 200kg.

Every version of the slinky coupé-inspired Kia features a large, 77.4kWh battery, while power ranges from 225bhp in the rear-wheel-drive base car through to the 577bhp in the GT. As with all the cars here, towing a large load will make a significant dent in the range.

But on the plus side, an 800V charging system means that, where they're available, ultra-rapid chargers can replenish the EV6's cells from 10-80% in as little as 18 minutes. 

Based on the E-GMP platform, the EV6 shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and, in GT trim, has a claimed 0-62mph sprint time of 3.5sec and standard limited-slip differential.

Max towing weight: 1600kg
WLTP range: 258-366 miles

Surprisingly, while BMW has given the rugged iX3 SUV a lowly 750kg towing limit, the sleek i4 can pull 1600kg.

This figure is the same for both the eDrive40 and 536bhp M50 xDrive, which is no surprise given that even the least powerful version of the two delivers a muscular 317lb ft from zero revs. 

There's also a usefully large 470-litre boot with a practical hatchback opening for easy storage of all your camping and caravanning bits and bobs. And when you're not lugging a large load, the BMW benefits from strong performance, excellent refinement and typically crisp and engaging handling.

This car may not have the best outright figure in terms of towing capacity, but according to What Car? it typically only loses around 56% of its total range while towing a caravan – making it one of the better cars it tested.

Max towing weight: 1800kg
WLTP range: 363-364 miles

As the name suggests, this is essentially a high-riding, off-road-inspired version of the EQS saloon.

It’s based on the same advanced EVA2 platform designed specifically for battery-powered vehicles. The EQS SUV is available in single-motor rear-wheel-drive guise or with twin-motor 4Matic all-wheel drive – the latter proving handy when you’re pulling a caravan or horsebox out of a muddy field. 

The entry-level 450 gets 355bhp, but the double-motor variant increases torque from 419lb ft to 590lb ft.

At the top of the range is the rapid 536bhp 580 version that will zip from standstill to 62mph in 4.6sec. All versions get a 108kWh battery for a claimed range of up to 365 miles and standard air suspension ensures a level ride height even when hauling the heaviest loads.

Max towing weight: 1800kg
WLTP range: 283-333 miles

Audi is rather proud of the Q8 E-tron's towing capability, using a 402bhp 55 Quattro version to haul a hefty 1800kg trailer containing a GM EV1 (remember that lead-acid-battery-powered 1990s coupé?) on a publicity-drenched 500-mile US trip from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Austin, Texas.

Yet while it managed to crack a 60mph average for the journey, this figure didn't include the time it needed to stop and recharge because, like all our EVs here, hauling a load will take a toll on range. 

In the case of the Audi SUV, that meant its claimed range of 252 miles was slashed by more than half to just over 100 miles. 

On the plus side, if you're not doing big distances, the Q8 E-tron in all its guises (496bhp S, swoopy Sportback and entry-level 50) have the same 1800kg capacity, while all-round air suspension keeps everything on the level. 

The standard Q8 E-tron also has a 660-litre boot for all that caravanning and camping overflow.

Max towing weight: 1800kg
WLTP range: 260-346 miles

Mercedes' entry-point into electric motoring delivers an impressive towing capacity that matches its much larger sibling, the EQC.

In entry-level, single-motor EQA 250 guise, the compact SUV can pull 750kg, but upgrade to the twin-motor four-wheel-drive EQA 300 4Matic or EQA 350 4Matic and the maximum capacity increases to a very impressive 1800kg. 

That's easily enough for a large caravan or even a car and trailer combination if you're planning on hauling a track car to circuits. 

Currently, all versions of the EQA are available with a factory-fitted powered towbar (touch a button in the boot and it drops down from behind the rear bumper) for £750, while a Trailer Assist function for the electronic stability programme is also standard. 

At speeds above 40mph, this system can gently apply individual brakes on the car to reduce any potentially dangerous swaying of the trailer, plus it can reduce motor torque and employ stronger braking force in extreme situations.