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Kyungsung Precision Industry, widely known as Kia, was founded in 1944 in Seoul.  

Kia’s Sorento is one of the most popular Towcar of the Year winners amongst members, particularly their 2.5 CRDi model.  The Sorento has received five Towcar of the Year awards over the years.

2026 entrants

Kia Sorento ‘2’ 2.2 CRDi DCT

Class entrant:
Caravan weight 1700kg - 1800kg
Large family towcar

Judges' comments:

"The Sorento has good visibility, it’s easy to reverse and pitch."

SUV, Horizon Global Germany, retractable

Performance

  • Number of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 2151
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 8 / automatic DCT 
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Drive Train: All Wheel Drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 190 @ 3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 440 @ 2750
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 19.44s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 11.48s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 52.85m
  • CO2 g/km: 170

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (including driver) (kg): 2004
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2500
  • Caravan (kg): 1703
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £43,505 - £56,105
  • £ (price as tested) includes £956 towing gear charges: £43,631
  • Insurance group: 30
  • ISOFIX Mountings: Four
  • NCAP safety rating: Not yet tested

Read more about the Kia Sorento ‘2’ 2.2 CRDi DCT

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

Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD

Class entrant:
Caravan weight over 2000kg
Electric towcar | Large family towcar

Judges' comments:

"Superb towcar, virtually unaffected by the presence of the caravan. Also it has indicator blind spot cameras to help with towing around corners."

SUV, Brink, detachable

Performance

  • Number of motors: 2
  • Total maximum power (kW): 318
  • Drive Train: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp): 378
  • Torque (lb/ft: 516
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 9.13s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 47.66m                  
  • CO2 g/km: 0

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (including driver) (kg): 2664
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 3240
  • Caravan (kg): 2264
  • Noseweight (kg): 125

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £65,985 - £77,985
  • £ (price as tested) includes £990 towing gear charges: £74,975
  • Insurance group: 50E
  • ISOFIX Mountings: Two
  • NCAP safety rating: Five stars

Read more about the Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD

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

2025 entrants

Kia-Sorento-Diesel-‘3’-2.2-litre-CRDi-8-speed-DCT-static.jpg

Kia Sorento Diesel ‘3’ 2.2-litre CRDi 8-speed DCT

Class entrant:
Caravan weight 1700kg - 1800kg

Judges' comments:

"Easy to see why the Sorento is a caravanners favourite, stable and sure-footed."

SUV, Horizon Global Germany detachable

Performance

  • Number of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 2151
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 8, automatic
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 190 @ 3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 440 @ 2750
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 20.01s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 14.4s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 53.2m
  • CO2 g/km: 174

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2004
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2600
  • Caravan (kg): 1703
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £41,995 - £51,370
  • £ (price as tested) includes £956 towing gear charges: £47,151
  • Insurance group: 31D
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 4

Read more about the Kia Sorento

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

Kia-EV9-GT-Line-AWD-static-2000x1125.jpg

Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD

Class entrant:
Caravan weight over 1800kg

Judges' comments:

"A big vehicle with plenty of room for the caravanner."

SUV, Horizon Global Germany, detachable

Performance

  • Number of motors: 2
  • Total maximum power (kW): 318
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp): 380
  • Torque (lb/ft): 516
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 9.46s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 4.37s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 46.48m
  • CO2 g/km: 0

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2739
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 3240
  • Caravan (kg): 2328
  • Noseweight (kg): 125

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £65,025 - £78,775
  • £ (price as tested) includes £990 towing gear charges: £74,265
  • Insurance group: 50E
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 4
  • NCAP safety rating: Five stars

Read more about the Kia EV9

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

2024 entrants

Kia Sorento Edition CRDi 2.2 Diesel

Class entrant:
Caravan weight over 1700kg

Judges' comments:

"Excellent motorway stability, truly very safe on the motorway."

SUV, Horizon Global, Germany Retractable

Performance

  • Number of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 2151
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 8 / DCT
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 190 @ 3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 440 @ 1750-2750
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 17.9
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 11.8
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 47.7m
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-30mph: 10.4m
  • CO2 g/km: 173

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2029
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2600
  • Caravan (kg): 1725
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £49,590-£56,995
  • £ (price as tested) includes £1,879 towing gear equipment: £51,469
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £2,180
  • Insurance group: 31D
  • ISOFIX Mountings: Four

Read more about the Kia Sorento Edition CRDi 2.2 Diesel

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

2023 entrants

 

Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 'GT-Line S' HEV Auto AWD

Class entrant:
Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg and Family Towcars

Judges' comments:

"An excellent compact SUV with lively performance in sport mode and very reassuring road manners. Plenty of grip and composure with a real quality feel. A credible alternative to a bigger capacity pure diesel."

SUV, Kia retractable

Performance

  • Number of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 1598
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 6 / Auto
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 226 @ 5500
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 350 @ 1500-4500
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph:14.5s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 7.9s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 51.7m
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-30mph: 12.25m
  • CO2 g/km: 146

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1780
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2245
  • Caravan (kg): 1522
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £27,250 - £44,550
  • £ (price as tested): £42,707
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £1270
  • Insurance group: 25E
  • ISOFIX Mountings: Two
  • NCAP safety rating: Five

Read more about the Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 'GT-Line S' HEV Auto AWD

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

Previous years' entrants

Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi '3'

Class entrant:
Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg

Judges' comments:

"Looks imposing. Engine feels punchy and is twinned with an excellent gearbox."

SUV, Horizon Global retractable

Performance

  • Number of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 2151
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 8 / CVT
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 199 @ 3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 324.5 @ 1750 - 2750
  • Towing acceleration 0-60mph: 16.2s
  • Towing acceleration 40-60mph: 9.55s
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-0: 70.75m
  • Towing deceleration 60mph-30mph: 18.65m
  • Fuel with mpg range solo: 42.2
  • CO2 g/km: 176

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1954
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2600
  • Caravan (kg): 1661
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £39,360 - £47,610
  • £ (price as tested) includes £1615 towing gear charges: £43,135
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £2890
  • Insurance group: 31D
  • Towable with B licence: B licence possible (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 900kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: Four
  • NCAP safety rating: Five

Previous years' winners and entrants

Kia All-New Sorento 1.6 T-GDi HEV ‘4’

Class entrant:
Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg

Judges' comments:

"Capable of towing a sizable caravan, but with hybrid tech to enhance economy, especially when not towing"

5 door SUV, Horizon Global fixed towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Petrol hybrid (38.2 (WLTP) mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 1598cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: 6-speed automatic
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 226@5500
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 350@1500-4500

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 2006
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2610
  • Caravan (kg): 1650
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £37,655 - £45,755
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £47,609.50 includes £664 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £820 (vehicle cost exceeds £40,000)
  • Insurance group: 32
  • CO2 g /km: 168
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 890kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 there are ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer seats of the second row and top tether points for all three second row seats.

Kia All-New Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’

Class entrant:
Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg

Judges' comments:

"At over £40k this is no longer the cheap towcar it was, but still extremely capable and desirable"

5 door SUV, Horizon Global fixed towbar

Performance

  • Fuel with mpg range solo: Diesel (42.2 (WLTP) mpg)
  • No of cylinders: 4
  • Size of engine in cc: 2151cc
  • Number of gears, gearbox: Automatic DCT
  • Power: All wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 199@3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 440@1750–2750

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1954
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2600
  • Caravan (kg): 1661
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • Price range of vehicle: £37,655 - £45,755
  • Price as tested includes towing gear charges: £41,909.50 includes £664 towing gear
  • charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £2800
  • Insurance group: 31
  • CO2 g /km: 166
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 900kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this
  • ISOFIX Mountings: 2 there are ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer seats of the second row and top tether points for all three second row seats.

Kia Sorento 2.2CRDI KX-3 Auto (7 seats)

Class entrant:
Caravan Weight 1500kg - 1700kg

Towcar of the Year 2020

5-door, 7 seater SUV, Mobis detachable towbar

Performance

  • Diesel (46.3 mpg solo)
  • 4 cylinders, 2199cc engine
  • 8 gears, automatic
  • All-wheel drive
  • Power (bhp@rpm): 194@3800
  • Torque (lb/ft@rpm): 325@1750 - 2750
  • 40 - 60mph acceleration (towing): 11.4 seconds

Weights for towing

  • Kerbweight (kg): 1949
  • Gross vehicle (kg): 2620
  • Caravan (kg): 1657
  • Noseweight (kg): 100

Pricing

  • From £30,250 - £42,950
  • £41,201 (price as tested) includes £916 towing gear charges
  • Total of first three years’ car tax: £1,785
  • Insurance group: 27
  • CO2 g /km: 161
  • Towable with B licence: B licence unlikely (max caravan/trailer MTPLM 880kg) but B+E required for caravan/trailer heavier than this