Thread: Can anyone explain Australian Passenger Car Towing Capacities to Me Please ?

Greetings,

I own a 2011 MC Ford Mondeo Hatchback with the Diesel engine and the six speed Automated Manual Gearbox. The Owner's Manual states that the maximum towing capacity, for a trailer fitted with brakes) is 1,600 kg. I regularly tow a friend's small van that weighs about 1550kg loaded, and the car does it quite well, no doubt helped along by a six speed gearbox and plenty of Diesel torque.

However, on a trip to the UK last year, I visited some friends and found that they have exactly the same model car, same diesel engine, and same automated manual gearbox. They also own a caravan that is a lot bigger that the little one that I regularly tow. So I asked him what his caravan weighed. It weighs 2,400 Kg, and in the UK, and in Europe, the Owner's Manuals for the same model car as mine states that the car can tow a trailer that is fitted with brakes weighing up to a maximum of 2,500 Kg. I helped them relocate their van to a new storage facility, and had a chance to drive the Mondeo with the much bigger van. It felt great, and the car definitely seemed to handle the load well.

Can anyone who understands the Australian laws (or maybe it's individual state laws) covering this area, please explain to me why a a particular car can legally tow a maximum of 2,500 kg in the UK and Europe (and who knows where else around the world), whilst in Australia that same model car is limited to towing only 1,600 kg ?

The reason for asking is that I am looking to buy a Van soon, but don't want to upgrade the car yet, so want the biggest van I can tow with this car.

Thanks,

RoyG