What are you towing with and is it any good? (2016+)

[Tiddlypom]

@Tiddlypom - if you don't mind my questions - what is the ground clearance like on this please? One of the reasons I like my Volvo is because it's a good cross-over car - not too big or too high, but enough ground clearance not to get stuck on rutted verges with the trailer. Is the Scout pretty good? Obviously I can look up figures but the stated numbers never seem to correspond to the reality!

I haven't got the figures to hand, but the Octavia Scout has a raised ride height which is 1.5" higher than the standard Octavia.

It doesn't have anything like the ground clearance or wading depth of our LWB Shogun, but we live out in the sticks on narrow lanes and have never grounded the Scout despite frequently being forced onto rutted verges by feckwits terrified of getting a bit of mud on their SUVs.

It's a car with a 'can do' attitude

 

[BallyJ]

I always think the more tow the better! So we've got a VW Touareg which can tow 3500kgs!

Another vote for the Touareg! I get <40mpg ad the husband gets closer to 50 + mpg. and they are so nice to drive day to day!

 

[blitznbobs]

I currently tow with a range rover or occasionally (when forced) a defender… the rangy is the king of tow vehicles imo, basically does the whole thing for you, the defender would never let you down but its turning circle is so massive reversing in tight spaces is never fun

 

[sarcasm_queen]

LR discovery sport.

 

[Annagain]

I currently tow with a range rover or occasionally (when forced) a defender… the rangy is the king of tow vehicles imo, basically does the whole thing for you, the defender would never let you down but its turning circle is so massive reversing in tight spaces is never fun

Having towed with many different vehicles over the years, I'm firmly of the (irrelevant in this instance as 2015 were the last ones) opinion that (old) defenders are the best vehicles at actual towing, they're just not great at being everyday cars. I do think that all Land Rovers are the best in their class at towing, so while a Freelander / Discovery Sport won't tow better than a RR or Discovery they will tow better than others of a similar size - my Freelander was head and shoulders above my dad's CRV and my friend's Tiguan in my opinion when it came to towing.

I know some don't like their reliability but having owned about 10 (everything from Freelander to RR) over the years, including a Defender for 10 years, I've had very few issues with them. I haven't towed with a Disco Sport but I did have one as a courtesy car for 2 weeks and did everything else with it. I really liked it and got 50+mpg out of it for normal driving. The right model will tow 2200kg so definitely worth considering in my opinion.

 

[TPO]

No personal experience but my friend bought a discovery sport and had nothing but expensive problems with it. I can't remember the age of it, maybe 2018/19, so not an old car. It spent more time in th4 garage than anywhere else and she traded it in* when the latest wle trial fault was going to be 9k to fix.

*back to garage that sold her it and did all the repairs so they knew what thr whole story was.

She went back to a shogun and loves it.

 

[kdoug]

We had an older Mercedes ML which was a brilliant vehicle, I assume they are still good but don't know emissions

Hi sorry to jump in, but have just posted another thread about these! I’m looking and VW Touareg was high on list (won’t have anything less than 3t capability) but the ML250 has pricked my ears for efficiency / lower tax - was yours the 250 or 350 please? Thanks!

 

[JoA]

I've towed with a Freelander TD4, Ssangyong Korando and now tow with a 2017 Ssangyong Rexton. The Korando had a better ground clearance than the Freelander and a better mpg. Had I not wanted to tow heavier loads I wouldn't have changed it - or I'd have looked at a newer one. Massive boot space too. Worth a look. My Rexton has been 100% reliable, tows 3500kg and isn't too guzzly ( no worse than my Freelander was) Friends Discovery has spent more time in the garage than being driven. I'd recommend a look at Ssangyong. Get lots for your money too.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Nissan Navara pickup used as my daily including city commuting & motorway driving, does 34mpg which I thinks amazing considering what I do with it. ULEZ compliant & super reliable. Just did a few hundred miles towing with it, not rocked at all by lorries passing & made the journey really easy as plenty of power.

 

[ameeyal]

my towing vehicle is a jeep grand Cherokee 5.7 petrol V8 it runs on LPG which isn’t overly to bad on the mileage front , but what a terrific towing car, it can pull any weight and you don’t even know you are towing anything.

 

[BSL2]

2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrack. Love it edited to add, not the cheapest on fuel but works for us, as we have an electric car for other journeys.

 

[BMA2]

Watching this too...

I want a tow car for a HB510. Will sometimes have my 16.2hh plus a 15.2hh so was thinking VW Touareg.

Rexton people...do you have yours beyond ymthe 7 year warranty

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Isuzu DMax, and when it dies it'll be replaced with a Ford Ranger. I've only ever towed with pickups or a Suzuki Vitara, and I dont even know if they make those any more. Pickup all the way (they're so useful). Just the fuel costs these days

Yes they do make Vitaras still but I wouldn't want to tow with one.

 

[lrw0250]

I do like our Ford Ranger for smoothness and comfort but the turning circle isn't great. It probably isn't the most fuel efficient either but as its my company vehicle I get my fuel included as a benefit in kind - bonus!

Our other vehicle is other half's long wheel base Mercedes Sprinter van. He regularly tows all sorts with it and loves it but I find the whole set up too long by the time you put a trailer on the back so would not recommend!