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Over the years, BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) have been a popular choice of towcar for caravanners and have made their mark in the Towcar of the Year competition - from their first overall win in 1982 with their classic BMW 528i to several class wins in 1997 (528i), 2004 (330d) and 2005 (525).  In Towcar of the Year 2017, the X5 xDrive40d M Sport won its price class and the All Wheel Drive over 1800kg category. 

In Towcar of the Year 2025 the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring won the Caravan Weight Class 1500kg - 1600kg, the Electric Towcar and Luxury Towcar classes.

2025 entrants

BMW-i5-eDrive40-M-Sport-Pro-Touring-driving-10.jpg

BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring

Class winner:
Caravan weight 1500kg - 1600kg

 

Judges' comments:

"A superb performance across the board."

See BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring statistics

Estate, BMW, retractable

Performance

  • Number of motors: 1
  • Total maximum power (kW): 250
  • Power: Rear wheel drive
  • Power (bhp): 335.3
  • Torque (lb/ft: 317
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 11.51s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 5.07s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 46.62m
  • CO2 g/km: 0

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2330
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2790
  • Caravan (kg): 1500
  • Noseweight (kg): 80

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £61,705 - £99,995
  • £ (price as tested) includes £1,200 towing gear charges: £83,855
  • Insurance group: 44
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 3
  • NCAP safety rating: Five stars

Read more about the BMW i5 Touring

Check with your local BMW dealer for the latest prices and availability 

BMW-i5-eDrive40-M-Sport-Pro-Touring-driving-10.jpg

BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring

Class winner:
Electric towcar and Luxury towcar

 

Judges' comments:

"A superb performance across the board."

See BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring statistics

Estate, BMW, retractable

Performance

  • Number of motors: 1
  • Total maximum power (kW): 250
  • Power: Rear wheel drive
  • Power (bhp): 335.3
  • Torque (lb/ft: 317
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 11.51s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 5.07s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 46.62m
  • CO2 g/km: 0

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2330
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2790
  • Caravan (kg): 1500
  • Noseweight (kg): 80

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £61,705 - £99,995
  • £ (price as tested) includes £1,200 towing gear charges: £83,855
  • Insurance group: 44
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 3
  • NCAP safety rating: Five stars

Read more about the BMW i5 Touring

Check with your local BMW dealer for the latest prices and availability 

BMW-X5-xDrive30d-M-Sport-static.jpg

BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport

Class entrant:
Caravan weight over 1800kg

Judges' comments:

"Outstanding performance. The BMW excels almost everywhere and makes a 2000kg caravan feel like a trailer tent."

See BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport statistics

SUV, BMW retractable

Performance

  • Number of cyclinders: 6
  • Size of engine in cc: 2993
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 8, automatic
  • Fuel@ Diesel
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 282 bhp @ 4000 rpm
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 479 lb/ft @ 1500 - 2500 rpm
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 11.81s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 6.01s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 44.06m
  • CO2 g/km: 195

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2295
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2950
  • Caravan (kg): 1951
  • Noseweight (kg): 140

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £66,230 - £87,210
  • £ (price as tested) includes £1,150 towing gear charges: £72,080
  • Insurance group: 46
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 3
  • NCAP safety rating: Five stars

Read more about the BMW X5

Check with your local BMW dealer for the latest prices and availability 

Previous years' winners and entrants

BMW X3 xDrive30d M Sport

5-door SUV, BMW retractable towbar

Entered into the 'Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg' category at Towcar of the Year 2019

 

"A classy contender from BMW, more refined and capable than many larger 4x4s."

Judge's comment

Performance

  • Diesel (48.7mpg solo)
  • 6 cylinder, 2993cc engine
  • 8 gear, automatic
  • All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 261@4000
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 457@2000-2500
  • 40 - 60mph acceleration (towing): 5.8 seconds

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1790
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2500
  • Caravan (kg): 1522
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • From £39,120 to £52,455
  • £48,165 (price as tested) includes £765 towing gear charges
  • Insurance group: 40
  • CO2 g /km: 158
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 1000) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this

BMW 520d xDrive Touring M Sport

5-door estate, BMW retractable towbar

Entered into the 'Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg' category at Towcar of the Year 2019

 

"The 520 is a refined, elegant and more than capable towcar."

Judge's comment

Performance

  • Diesel (55.3mpg solo)
  • 4 cylinder, 1995cc engine
  • 8 gear, automatic
  • All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 188@4,000 
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 295@1,750-2,500
  • 40 - 60mph acceleration (towing): 9.9 seconds

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1810
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2465
  • Caravan (kg): 1539
  • Noseweight (kg): 90

Pricing

  • From £39,005 to £54,775
  • £50,205 (price as tested) includes £855 towing gear charges
  • Insurance group: 31
  • CO2 g /km: 133
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 1035) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this

Towcar of the Year 2018 entrants

BMW 335 xDrive M Sport Touring

5-door estate, Westfalia fitted towbar

Entered into the '£38,000 - £50,000' price class and 'all-wheel drive under 1800kg' category at Towcar of the Year 2018.

Performance

  • Diesel (49.6mpg solo)
  • 6 cylinder, 2993cc engine
  • 8 gear, automatic
  • All-wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm):  308@4000
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm):  465@1500-2500
  • 30 - 60mph acceleration (towing):  6.2 seconds
  • 40 - 60mph acceleration (towing):  4.8 seconds

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg):  1695
  • Gross vehicle (kg):  2320
  • Caravan (kg):  1441
  • Noseweight (kg):  75

Pricing

  • £47,550 (price as tested)
  • Insurance group:  40
  • CO2 g /km:  119
  • Towable with B licence: Yes but B+E needed for caravan/trailer heavier than 1180kg MTPLM

BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport

5-door SUV, ORIS fitted towbar

Entered into the 'over £50,000' price class and 'all-wheel drive over 1800kg' category at Towcar of the Year 2018.

Performance

  • Diesel (47.9 mpg solo)
  • 6 cylinder, 2993cc engine
  • 8 gear, automatic
  • All-wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm):  254@4000
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm):  413@3000
  • Acceleration (towing):  
    30-60mph in 6.2 seconds

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg):  2070
  • Gross vehicle (kg):  2865
  • Caravan (kg):  1760
  • Noseweight (kg):  140

Pricing

  • £62,125 (price as tested)
  • Insurance group:  42
  • CO2 g /km:  158
  • Towable with B licence: B+E licence required for any trailer over 635kg MTPLM

Towcar of the Year 2017 winners

BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport

winners icon towcarClass winner:
Over £45,000
(All-wheel Drive over 1800kg)

Towcar of the Year 2017

See all statistics

Performance

  • Engine: D/6/2993
  • 8 Gear, automatic
  • All-wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 313@4400
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 465@1500-2500
  • 40 - 60mph acceleration (towing): 5.7 seconds

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2185
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2825
  • Caravan weight (kg): 1857
  • Noseweight (kg): 140

Pricing

  • From £59,445
  • Insurance group: 44
  • CO2 g /km: 157
  • Towable with B licence: Unlikely as B+E licence is required for any caravan/trailer over 750kg MTPLM