Towing cars!

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Welshie95

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Looking to exchange my Q5 for a more efficient car (anything to beat 21mpg!!) and am swaying towards a BMW X3 (diesel and pref manual). Trailer is an Ifor 506 (920kg) and horse is (rounded up) 600kg and only tavels on his own. I have a B&E license. Any reviews on this car or advances on anything better? We live in a hilly area and this car would also be an every day vehicle so needs to perform over short distances.
 
Is your Q5 doing 21mpg everywhere or just while towing?

My Discovery 4 generally averages around 30mpg everywhere, but never really measured it while towing.

There is no way you will beat a Discovery for towing, or boot space/practicality. Its just a question of whether you want 30mpg everywhere.
 
I'm not sure about the X3 but I know the X5 has not been a popular tow car for horsey purposes due to it being absolutely terrible off road, even a bit of damp grass has been known to scupper it. I'd maybe look into some reviews of it before you take the plunge.

Friends with smaller 4x4 vehicles have been pleased with their X-trails, CRVs and Freelanders in terms of their towing ability. I've driven a Freelander on a proper Landrover off road course and was very surprised how good it was so if you've got a lot of hills or go to a lot of places where you've got to drive across fields or pot holey / gravelly car parks if might be worth considering. I've towed my 510 and big 700kg horse with one in an emergency and it was fine, even up the steep single track road to our yard so even going slowly it had enough to pull a lot more than you need to.
 
A BMW would be low on list of tow vehicles.

I've got a Mitsibushi Outlander. It's getting in the 35-40mpg non towing and around 25mpg when towing. I tow a set up of approx 1.5-1.6T with it
 
It depends how often you want to tow and on what sort of ground I would say. I have the BMW X1 and tow an Ifor 510 with 600kg horse. Never had a problem, tows really well. I have been to events on fields with wet grass and slightly muddy gateways etc. Never had a problem with grip. However, I would hesitate to pull up hills off road or on properly muddy fields.

Get 46mpg on daily commute and 25-30 whilst towing, (mainly flat around me so could be lower if hilly).
 
My old X3 had terrible fuel consumption so do check that out before you buy one. It was a petrol manual. Some friends of mine tow with one (a boat rather than a horse) and it's good for that.

For just one horse, a Freelander would probably be quite good. They get bad press but are actually very good off-road cars. I had two older ones and really liked them even though they are lightweight in Land Rover terms. And the MPG is good.
 
The Nissan NP300 is really economical. I average 42 around the doors and I've had between 28 and 33 towing a large warmblood in a 511. I'm delighted with it.
 
Welshie95 said:
Looking to exchange my Q5 for a more efficient car (anything to beat 21mpg!!) and am swaying towards a BMW X3 (diesel and pref manual). Trailer is an Ifor 506 (920kg) and horse is (rounded up) 600kg and only tavels on his own. I have a B&E license. Any reviews on this car or advances on anything better? We live in a hilly area and this car would also be an every day vehicle so needs to perform over short distances.
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My daughters Q5 averages 48mpg. Maybe time to have someone look at yours?
I have a discovery,averages 28mpg, but tows without you even being aware you are pulling anything. Can't fault it, but I hate towing!
 
My husband had a Volvo XC60 which is a great car and would easily tow that combo (I have a shogun as my car, so never towed with his. The xc60 is nearly 54mpg.
 
annagain said:
I'm not sure about the X3 but I know the X5 has not been a popular tow car for horsey purposes due to it being absolutely terrible off road, even a bit of damp grass has been known to scupper it. I'd maybe look into some reviews of it before you take the plunge.

Friends with smaller 4x4 vehicles have been pleased with their X-trails, CRVs and Freelanders in terms of their towing ability. I've driven a Freelander on a proper Landrover off road course and was very surprised how good it was so if you've got a lot of hills or go to a lot of places where you've got to drive across fields or pot holey / gravelly car parks if might be worth considering. I've towed my 510 and big 700kg horse with one in an emergency and it was fine, even up the steep single track road to our yard so even going slowly it had enough to pull a lot more than you need to.
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We used to have an X5 for towing and I really rated it. Never got stuck anywhere. Now have a newish VW Touareg, which is good too (couldn't afford a newish X5!)
 
Spottyappy said:
My daughters Q5 averages 48mpg. Maybe time to have someone look at yours?
I have a discovery,averages 28mpg, but tows without you even being aware you are pulling anything. Can't fault it, but I hate towing!
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I took it back to the dealership and they were very dismissive of me (typical blonde 21 year old female cant drive the car properly) and basically said that's what you get.. :(
 
MuddyTB said:
It depends how often you want to tow and on what sort of ground I would say. I have the BMW X1 and tow an Ifor 510 with 600kg horse. Never had a problem, tows really well. I have been to events on fields with wet grass and slightly muddy gateways etc. Never had a problem with grip. However, I would hesitate to pull up hills off road or on properly muddy fields.

Get 46mpg on daily commute and 25-30 whilst towing, (mainly flat around me so could be lower if hilly).
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Max 3-4 times a month and mostly on road, some (flat) fields and beach in summer so dry ground. I am very careful and would rather unload horse before getting stuck in gateways.
 
My Kia Sorento averages 40mpg normal driving, I can get 50 on the motorway and it does 25-30 when towing.

Easily tows 2 horses in an ifor 510 (2500KG limit).

I'd recommend :)

Or the Sportage can tow 2000kg if you're only towing 1 and I would imagine MPG is even better.
 
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