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Large 4x4s are all well and good, but their enormous length is almost offset by a very large price and high running costs.
Added to this is the fact that many of us don’t want a giant vehicle when looking for the most productive caravan trailers.
There are many light cars and small caravans that can be towed by smaller, more affordable and economical cars.
Combining a lighter vehicle and a caravan can make economic sense. Chances are, both halves of the device will be more affordable and a lighter suit will have lower prices, as long as the car’s engine is up to par.
Cars and vans are driven on a country road that is smaller and narrower than a huge SUV designed to tow with a double axle. Also, if you install an awning once you arrive at the venue, you will lose less living space than expected.
Here are five of our favorite cranes.
You want a smooth passenger vehicle if you’re towing it with the Ford Puma – it can only tow more than 1,100kg.
However, if you own a camper or a lightweight camper, such as a Swift Basecamp 2, the Puma is an option.
The Ford is a solid tow vehicle, helped by its corporate and sporty suspension. The engine might have a displacement of just 1. 0 litres, but with the help of a mild hybrid and turbocharger, it’s more agile than its capability suggests. It fits quite well in a soft caravan.
Leave the Tourer behind and find out why the Puma has such a high rating.
It’s a lot of fun to drive on a winding country road, thanks to its very precise steering, balanced handling and extraordinarily abundant grip. However, the counterpart is a trip in company, especially in the city.
Inside, the plastics are perhaps better finished and it is a shame that there are no air vents in the door jambs or between the front seats, to ensure the comfort of the rear passengers.
There’s room for four, but it would be a bit cramped.
We’ve noticed that 2020’s high-mileage cars cost around £12,000, which is a reduced price for such a fun and practical car.
Full review: Ford Puma mHEV ST-Line
Small cranes are no bigger than the Škoda Kamiq. For such a smooth vehicle (weighing less than 1,300 kg, even allowing 75 kg for the driver), the Kamiq is very stable.
There is some movement around trucks and coaches, but nothing alarming.
On country roads, the Kamiq tows with convincing comfort and control.
The only weakness worth mentioning is the hill exits, which require a lot of revs and slides to start on a 1-in-6 incline. Precautions would possibly be mandatory here in rainy weather.
In driving, the Kamiq is a high-performance off-roader. It’s not as fun to drive as a Ford Puma, but it drives more comfortably and is quieter at top speeds.
Considering the Kamiq’s small size, the interior space is strangely generous. Even the rear seats are suitable for adults and you may not want to bring light, thanks to ample space for family luggage.
Reasonably priced as a new car, used examples start at around £11,500 for a high-mileage car.
Seven-seater light cars are rare: the Dacia Jogger is the one we come up with. It is a car with no apparent rival.
It’s also very affordable – £20,000 probably isn’t a huge buy in today’s new car market, but the mid-range Jogger with the Expression trim falls within that price range.
The Dacia probably doesn’t tow much, with a reduced curb weight and a maximum towing weight of 1,200 kg. But as long as your van is smooth enough and you’re not in a hurry, the 110hp engine is up to the task.
You’d think a small seven-seater would be cramped, but there’s plenty of room for adults, even in the third row. Space for passengers comes at the expense of the luggage area: it only has a handful of shopping bags, not much else.
The third row can be folded when in use, freeing up more space for suitcases.
The Jogger’s biggest weakness is safety, with a one-star score from experts at Euro NCAP. This is the only area where Dacia is quite far behind its best-loved competitors.
A used style saves around £2000 on the new price.
*Of which 75 kg for the driver, included in the curb weight published via Dacia
The Hyundai, the heaviest of the light vehicles on this list, makes the scales creak thanks to the added weight of its battery and electric motor. This makes it a suitable selection for a wider variety of passenger cars than the other cars here, even taking into account the modest maximum towing capacity of 1,300 kg.
Combination of engine and engine for respectable performance, although the engine can make noise when towing, not just when accelerating. The automatic transmission forces the engine to maintain maximum revs, even when sailing regularly.
Stability is quite tight for a car of this length and weight, with slight movement around the vehicles.
Anyone familiar with the previous generation of the Kona will be inspired to discover the new model in the passenger area.
The skill has also improved a lot. There are 466 liters with the rear seats folded down.
Overall, the Kona is competent, although it’s hard to get excited. A Ford Puma is more fun on winding roads, while the Škoda Kamiq smooths bumpy surfaces better.
It’s still too early to expect big savings when buying a used example, but I’ve seen almost new models for around £27,000.
*Includes 75kg for the driver, included in the curb weight published through Hyundai.
The T-Cross is a close relative of the Škoda Kamiq and the Seat Arona and, like them, is a light and high-performance tractor car.
Here, we’ve opted for the 1. 0-liter engine per variety and to keep the price low, but if you need more pulling power, you can opt for the 1. 5-liter gasoline.
Not to forget the 1. 0-liter engine with 115 hp. It exceeds its small displacement and the engine is up to the task of towing a caravan with criteria.
With a towing limit of 1,100 kg, you will be looking at a very light passenger car.
It takes a little patience to tow up to 60 mph (the most sensible speed limit when towing a camper), but once there, the T-Cross is recovered. There is movement around heavy trucks or with crosswinds, but this is component. of the territory if towed with a very smooth car.
Inside, it’s a shame that the car is better finished – there are too many hard plastics. But the VW is practical for its size.
If you’re looking for a used T-Cross with this engine and gearbox, costs start at just under £15,000. This will allow you to buy a 2019 or 2020 car with about 40,000 miles on the clock.
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Davidmotton