The cheapest train vehicles: high trailer load at a low price

Towing vehicles, such as those used to tow a caravan, need a high towing capacity. But are the powerhouses also available at a low price? An overview of powerful cars, all of which cost less than 30,000 euros.

Camping trips have recently won more and more friends. Sales of mobile homes and caravans have risen sharply - also supported by the Corona crisis. If you want to buy a caravan, you also need a suitable towing vehicle - and of course that should cost as little as possible.

Trailer load, vertical load, permissible total weight

There are a few things to consider when purchasing the towing vehicle. The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded, and the nose weight and the permissible total weight of the towing vehicle must also be observed.

Ideal towing vehicles are large cars with powerful diesel engines, automatic converters and all-wheel drive - but they demand a high price. Because especially with heavy trailers with a permissible total weight of more than 2.5 t, only cars from the upper middle class and upper class are considered as towing vehicles.

However, there are also caravans that offer less than 1.5 t gross vehicle weight enough space for four people and thus for the average family. And since an average family can rarely afford an expensive SUV, suitable towing vehicles in the lower price range up to a maximum of 30,000 euros are presented here - filtered according to special selection criteria. Positive: Even around 20,000 euros, there are many cars that are allowed to tow trailers weighing 1.2 to 1.5 t and are therefore in principle also suitable for a camping holiday with four people.

Towing vehicles between 20,000 and 30,000 euros

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Train cars up to 20,000 euros: Dacia Duster, Nissan Micra & Co.

The Dacia Duster and the Fiat Tipo are approved for trailer loads of up to 1500 kg - and that at an entry-level price of well under 20,000 euros for a new car. Other very cheap cars with a towing capacity of at least 1200 kg are the Nissan Micra and the Dacia Lodgy. The latter also offers a huge trunk and is therefore ideal for family holidays.

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The Opel Corsa and the Peugeot 208 are also interesting in the cheapest price range, because compared to almost all other small cars, the two ordinary small cars are available with both a powerful diesel engine and an eight-speed automatic converter ( petrol only). For most of the models mentioned here, the starting price including trailer hitch and other recommended extras should rise to just over 20,000 euros.

Train cars up to 25,000 euros: Suzuki Jimny, Renault Captur & Co.

The price range up to 25,000 euros offers a significantly larger selection of towing vehicles. The selection even includes a genuine off-road vehicle – the Suzuki Jimny: the ideal car if you live off the beaten track, work as a hunter on the side, or simply drive off-road for sheer joy. However, the rear seat is more suitable as an emergency seat and is not suitable for longer journeys.

Cars of the lower middle class that are more comfort-oriented are suitable for this, such as the Renault Mégane (up to 1650 kg trailer load!), Hyundai i30, Opel Astra, Ford Focus or Seat Leon - these are also available for an additional charge to have than spacious station wagons. If significantly more cargo space is needed, we recommend the high-roof station wagons such as the Citroën Berlingo or Peugeot Rifter, which can tow up to 1500 kg.

Train cars up to 30,000 euros: VW T-Roc, Kia Ceed & Co.

The greater the financial leeway, the greater the choice: in the price range of up to 30,000 euros, there are various body variants and cars from different vehicle classes. With the Jeep Renegade even a small car is represented. After all, the Italian-American is allowed to hook 1500 kg, which is a high value for a car in this vehicle class.

It's all a matter of practice: driving with a team

Especially beginners often feel unsafe with a team. Safety and sovereignty when driving a trailer can be practiced at the ADAC driving safety training course for caravans.

In addition to "normal" lower mid-range cars such as the VW Golf or the Kia Ceed, there are numerous SUVs and even a van. As a van, the Renault Scénic offers plenty of storage space and a pleasant sense of space - a good combination for a holiday trip. If it is a really heavy trailer, the Isuzu D-Max and the Toyota Hilux are the right towing vehicles for less than 30,000 euros.

If you want it to be a bit classier, then the Škoda Superb is recommended. The upper middle class sedan is good for a stylish appearance and also offers a surprising amount of space. There is even more space at a similarly low price in the technology brother Škoda Kodiaq.

Towing vehicles: How the selection came about

Only newly available cars from the ADAC car database are listed that offer at least an optional trailer hitch and at least 1200 kg permissible trailer load. The prices given are the gross list prices.

Because trailer hitches are usually optional equipment, at least around 1000 euros must be added to the prices given. We also recommend extras such as an automatic transmission and ideally even all-wheel drive.

Electric cars with a relevant trailer load in the price range of up to 30,000 euros unfortunately do not yet exist - and they are probably not in sight in the near future either .

Professional advice: Maximilian Bauer