Towing a caravan with a PHEV

No idea on towing abilities,

2021 passat 1.4 phev has 215 bhp and 1650kg kerb weight,

2018 530e has 249 bhp nearly 1800 kerb weight,

add your caravan are you not getting close to 3500 kg limit for your driving license?

Most modern caravans come with brakes and depending on the model of the car, this can increase the towing capacity
 BYD U seal AWD version has a braked towing capacity of 1500 but the RWD version can only tow 750kg

https://dt16c8g6jis9k.cloudfront.net/byd/seal/2025/towing

VW Tayron PHEV can supposedly do 2,500kg.

Close to 60k though

It's not a license restriction per se. You can tow a trailer over 750kg on a B license if the total weight (car and trailer) is less than 3500kg.

But a trailer > 750kg MUST be braked.

If I was to synopsise it for you.

On a B licence, you can tow a caravan > 750kg if the caravan is braked and your total weight is < 3500kg.

Most cars capable of towing are around the 2000kg mark, which means you could easily tow a caravan (braked) of 1000kg or more.

Tayron is 1800kg PHEV, 2,000kg FWD TDI and 2,500kg 4Motion. 4Motion not available in Ireland.

I have a RaV4 PHEV, yes it can tow 1.5t, but I’m not convinced it’s a good idea to use a PHEV for towing at all… there is a lot going on with the drive train, and maybe not with a caravan, the chances of overloading a flatbed or cattle/horse box is high.

I echo the views above that a diesel is the only show in town for a tow car; and it probably should be a Landcruiser.

Rav4 PHEV towcar test

https://youtu.be/m_heLTEE3WQ?si=ExNw8Tv9cZIwQA4B

Just to add to this many EVs can tow. You will be limited to 80km/h by law so range will be relatively good compared to 120km/H without caravan comparing efficiency of both. Still looking at stopping every 200km or so for 40 minutes unless you can charge at destination.

Main roads between cities tend to have good charging infrastructure with a few designed for pull in spaces. If charging port is in front of car it will be easier or possibly park sideways blocking multiple bays.

If you intend going on very rural routes such as wild Atlantic way multiple camping sites you may need to plan stops or park somewhere inconvenient during the day or unhitch caravan and move car to nearby town to charge. Very few campsites have specific EV chargers. While EVs can in theory charge from blue power sockets at campsites many sites have tiny restrictions before the breakers trip. Many have 5 amp breakers so even electric kettles trip them. So cookers, space heating all need to be gas bottle powered. Part of the reason for this is at peak times caravan sites may have hundreds of caravans and total power draw could mean massive upgrades to site power. Also normally the electricity fee is a fixed price and they don't want people running electric heaters all night. They may allow you to plug your car in the main building on an ordinary household outlet but this can take 24/36/48 hours to fill up EV from empty.

As EVs are a bit heavier it's most likely you will hit the 3500kG total weight of car+ caravan limit where you need to sit a special trailer test. The test it a bit if a pain, theory test, provisional trailer licence, lessons, driving test, so avoid if you can.

I can’t see why a PHEV would be any less reliable than a diesel when towing. The engine will just have to start up more, or constantly. Similar to driving up a hill.

I’m pretty sure they were talking about the mechanicals of the car. I imagine most towbars out there are aftermarket. Nothing wrong with them.