VW makes the Golf a surprisingly versatile towcar

Towing is one of the biggest barriers to buying a caravan. And finding a car which can tow many caravans can be a challenge.

VW aims to make towing a caravan easier with combination of its popular Golf model and its ‘Trailer Assist’.

With the optional, foldaway towbar fitted to a VW Golf, and the Golf’s electronic stabilisation system, which includes the trailer stabilisation ‘Trailer Assist’, VW has a platform which the company believes is a winner for caravan owners. And, with a mid-range kerbweight, the spectrum of VW Golf models means you can tow a wider selection of caravans than you might expect.

Reversing your car with a caravan attached is a nightmare for some owners. Unless you have a motor mover fitted so you can manoeuvre your caravan without a car onto your pitch, reversing often puts people off buying a van.

VW, however, has a solution, namely ‘Trailer Assist’, its reversing system which makes it easier to reverse your caravan. With Trailer Assist you set the angle of the rear view mirror before you reverse. The system then measures the angle of the car relative to the hitch, and controls the angle of the caravan.

VW claims ‘Trailer Assist’ will help you position your caravan perfectly every time. We’ve yet to test the system. But, if VW’s Trailer Assist is as good as they say, it could make owning and towing a caravan more accessible for more drivers.

To find out which caravans you can tow with a VW Golf, use our FREE Towmatch service online: caravan.ma/towmatch

Go to the online version of this article to VW’s Trailer Assist in action here: caravan.ma/vwtrailerassist