TOWING CAPABILITY OF X-TRAIL AND SANTA FE?

C

chasingmytail

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 June 2010
Messages
116
Location
on my way
Visit site
We're thinking of changing to a 4WD (second-hand). We currently have a Ford Galaxy which can tow but of course it's not a 4WD so I only ever carry our horse and am very careful where I go. We can't afford the running costs of a big boy, e.g. Shogun, Izuzu, Discovery so have narrowed it down to the Nissan X-Trail and Hyundai Santa Fe, both of which have very good reliability and are reasonably economical to run. I also like the Kia Sorrento but my OH thinks it's a bit plasticky.

My question is, are they capable of towing a trailer with 2 horses as we would love to offer a lift to a friend occasionally.

I'm always amazed when I see people towing with completely the wrong vehicle - at a show last weekend I saw a Honda CV towing a trailer with 2 large ponies and an Audi estate towing with a 16.2 in the back. I'm pretty sure neither of these are capable of towing those weights?

Thanks.
 
The maximum towing weight for a 2.4 litre Santa Fe is only 1400kg
The maximum towing weight for an X-trail is only 2000kg

If you want to tow with two horses then I would walk away from both of them -

I recently did a search for a towing vehicle to replace my Landrover and Lorry - I have ended up with a Jeep Cherokee 2.8CRD - which around town gives me about 25mpg but is capable of towing up to 3360kg
 
Clannad48 said:
The maximum towing weight for a 2.4 litre Santa Fe is only 1400kg
The maximum towing weight for an X-trail is only 2000kg

If you want to tow with two horses then I would walk away from both of them -

I recently did a search for a towing vehicle to replace my Landrover and Lorry - I have ended up with a Jeep Cherokee 2.8CRD - which around town gives me about 25mpg but is capable of towing up to 3360kg
Click to expand...

I don't have the figures in front of me, but the towing capacity of a Santa Fe is way above 1400kg. I did lots of research before I bought my Santa Fe last year and seem to remember its around 2000kg for the 2 litre TDi. I tow one horse and sometimes a pony as well but wouldn't be happy to tow 2 large horses with it. From what I remember the x-trail towed quite a bit less than the Santa Fe which is why I didn't consider it. Maybe Clannad has quoted these the wrong way round?
Ideally I would have had a Sorrento but the running costs were higher and as I do a 50 mile round trip to work each day it was just too costly to run.
 
Hullabaloo said:
I don't have the figures in front of me, but the towing capacity of a Santa Fe is way above 1400kg. I did lots of research before I bought my Santa Fe last year and seem to remember its around 2000kg for the 2 litre TDi. I tow one horse and sometimes a pony as well but wouldn't be happy to tow 2 large horses with it. From what I remember the x-trail towed quite a bit less than the Santa Fe which is why I didn't consider it. Maybe Clannad has quoted these the wrong way round?
Ideally I would have had a Sorrento but the running costs were higher and as I do a 50 mile round trip to work each day it was just too costly to run.
Click to expand...

Just had a look on the internet and the X-Trail 2.2 can tow 2000kg and the Santa Fe 2.0 is 1870 and the 2.7 is 2300 - so not much in it. Clannad - the Cherokee is far too thirsty for me unfortunately. The other 2 are far more economical so it looks like I won't be offering a lift after all!! Many thanks for your input. There's a big 4WD dealership nearby so I think we'll pay them a visit.
 
I think you may find the best but will be the Kia Sorrento actually. i have no experience of them personally but they get good reviews and i know someone who changed from their freelander to the sorrento and said that the sorrento knocks spots off the freelander.

I have found this site quite informative and useful to get a quick ide of towing capacity (i do not know if they are based on new or older models though)

http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm
 
not of any help I'm afraid but both are very nice vehicles to tow with!

I did my trailer lessons and test in an X Trail and own a Santa Fe (I tow my 15.2 tb in a 505 and you really can't feel it on the back at all!!)

they are both lovely to drive (I prefer my Santa Fe as it is an automatic) but I did find the X Trail marginally easier hitch up with as the tow bar on the santa fe seems to me a little low and a bit of a fiddle to hitch up.

what a lovely decision you have to make!!

V x
 
I got an Xtrail recently. I got an IW single trailer to use with it. It tows my draft horse brilliantly.

I know someone who towed a single horse in a IW 505 with no problems, but I'd rather stick with a single for the weight.

A Sorrento would be a better choice for a double.
 
ladyt25 said:
I think you may find the best but will be the Kia Sorrento actually. i have no experience of them personally but they get good reviews and i know someone who changed from their freelander to the sorrento and said that the sorrento knocks spots off the freelander.

I have found this site quite informative and useful to get a quick ide of towing capacity (i do not know if they are based on new or older models though)

http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm[/QUOTE

Thank you ladyt25, that website's really helpful.
Click to expand...
 
Try looking at some of the crew cabs 3ton towing and mid 30s mpg when not towing that is an isuzu.
 
I'm looking at the moment and out of choice would be a Santa Fe, but not many for sale in my area. Strangely the 2.4 doesn't have as high towing capacity as the 2 litre according to Autotrader, not sure why though.
 
I took my towing lessons with the Sorrento and it was actually pretty nice to be around.
Don't write it off.

I would have thought the Audi estate and 16.2 was more likely to be legal than a Santa Fe with two horses!
 
Hullabaloo said:
I don't have the figures in front of me, but the towing capacity of a Santa Fe is way above 1400kg. I did lots of research before I bought my Santa Fe last year and seem to remember its around 2000kg for the 2 litre TDi. I tow one horse and sometimes a pony as well but wouldn't be happy to tow 2 large horses with it. From what I remember the x-trail towed quite a bit less than the Santa Fe which is why I didn't consider it. Maybe Clannad has quoted these the wrong way round?
Ideally I would have had a Sorrento but the running costs were higher and as I do a 50 mile round trip to work each day it was just too costly to run.
Click to expand...

Sorry but the figures are the right way round for these particular vehicles - I considered a Santa Fe but took advice from several garages including our local Ifor Williams dealer who advised against one.

I know that my Cherokee is a little thirsty but what sold it to my OH was that on the HITCHED Fit to Tow guide I picked up at the BHS stall, the car on the front cover towing a trailer is a Jeep Cherokee (same colour as well).
 
This is great, I am looking for something for the 505 ive just got. No more waggon! I have an Xtrail and I love love love it but I would not tow the loaded trailer with it. I also need a low box because of a steep track where I live and snow, so my options are more limited. I was advised towards the Mitsu Shogun. The Sorrento is also loved by lots, havent looked into these much, but a friends did once start itself up and drive away on its own !! Another friend has the automatic Jeep Cherokee and loves it, but she can afford the fuel.
 
chasingmytail said:
We're thinking of changing to a 4WD (second-hand). We currently have a Ford Galaxy which can tow but of course it's not a 4WD so I only ever carry our horse and am very careful where I go. We can't afford the running costs of a big boy, e.g. Shogun, Izuzu, Discovery so have narrowed it down to the Nissan X-Trail and Hyundai Santa Fe, both of which have very good reliability and are reasonably economical to run. I also like the Kia Sorrento but my OH thinks it's a bit plasticky.

My question is, are they capable of towing a trailer with 2 horses as we would love to offer a lift to a friend occasionally.

I'm always amazed when I see people towing with completely the wrong vehicle - at a show last weekend I saw a Honda CV towing a trailer with 2 large ponies and an Audi estate towing with a 16.2 in the back. I'm pretty sure neither of these are capable of towing those weights?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
If you want to tow 2 horses it needs a proper 4x4 like a shogun discovery cherokee etc there is about 10mpg less than say a X trail sadly most people forget the running costs include deprication and clutches not just the fuel and lose about £2000 a year running a newish small 4x4 whereas £2000 will buy a older big 4x4 and it will still be worth most of that 3 years later if its looked after if you do a big ish mileage a small diesel car and a lorry or old 4x4 is a good bet do lower mileage then the economy dosent make a big difference IMHO ..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top