What Car? has revealed the winners of its 2026 Tow Car Awards, in partnership with the Camping and Caravanning Club.

The awards – now in their 20th year – honour the best cars in seven categories and saw hybrids pick up five prizes.

The BMW 530e Touring – a plug-in hybrid estate with an official electric range of 59 miles – was the class winner for towing more than 1700kg and also took the overall title as Tow Car of the Year 2026.

Meanwhile, this year’s used car champion is the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (2021-2024).

The Volkswagen T-Roc 1.5 eTSI 150 R-Line DSG took the lead for best for towing up to 1300kg, while the Kia Sportage HEV GT-Line S AWD claimed the best up to 1500kg category and the Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 193 Sportline 4×4 DSG triumphed for up to 1700kg.

Other category winners included the Škoda Elroq 85 SE L as the best electric car for towing up to 1400kg and the BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport for towing over 1400kg.

What Car? advised that hybrids are the smart choice for tow car drivers looking to go electric.

Editor Steve Huntingford said: “Rising fuel prices and competitive deals on fully electric vehicles have seen these models take a record share of the new car market in 2026. But the difficulty of recharging while your car is hitched to a caravan or trailer continues to make towing with an EV challenging.

“Fortunately, plug-in hybrids such as the BMW 530e offer zero exhaust emissions for many everyday journeys without the complication of charging while towing.”

In total, 42 cars were tested, with prices ranging from £24,000-£100,000. This included 25 hybrids and 12 fully electric cars, while just five of the models had no form of electrification.

Diesel engines have long been the default choice for towing, but just six of this year’s field were diesel-powered. Three of the six had mild-hybrid assistance for the engine. But just one diesel picked up a trophy: the Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4×4.

Camping and Caravanning Club technical manager Ian Hewlett said: “While diesel still has its place, we’re seeing more and more club members switch to hybrid cars. The only way in which hybrids tend to suffer in comparison with diesels is their towing capacity, which is usually lower, so it’s important that drivers check the towing capacity carefully before making the switch.”

What Car? and the Camping and Caravanning Club also recommend tow car drivers think carefully about which type of hybrid will best suit their needs before choosing one as a tow car.

“Plug-in hybrids offer the lowest running costs, but only if they are recharged regularly,” explained Steve Huntingford.

“This type of hybrid works best for drivers who can install a home charger. Otherwise, a mild or full hybrid makes more sense.

“A plug-in hybrid tow car offers excellent fuel economy with a fully charged battery. We found the BMW 530e Touring returned 38.5mpg. And even with the electric range showing as zero miles, it achieved 24.3mpg while pulling a caravan. It’s a brilliant hybrid and a great tow car.”

Full list of winners:

Best car for towing up to 1300kg: Volkswagen T-Roc 1.5 eTSI 150PS R-Line DSG

Best car for towing up to 1500kg: Kia Sportage HEV GT-Line S AWD

Best car for towing up to 1700kg: Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 193PS Sportline DSG 4×4

Best car for towing more than 1700kg: BMW 530e M Sport Touring

Best Luxury SUV for towing: Land Rover Discovery D350 Gemini

Best electric car for towing up to 1400kg: Škoda Elroq 85 SE L

Best electric car for towing more than 1400kg: BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport

Best used tow car: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI 4×4 (2021-2024)

Overall Tow Car of the Year: BMW 530e M Sport Touring