On Saturday, April 6, 2013 8:12:22 AM UTC-4, GM wrote:
Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose.

NOOOOOOOOOO !!! ;-) VW does not recommend any towing with vehicles using DSG transmissions.

Regarding DSG, there are numerous reports of people "chipping" their VWs to increase power output and then promptly toasting their DSG transmissions. Not exactly the same strain as towing, but instructive. The DSG have some reputation for self-immolation with normal driving and stock power output, so I tend to agree that towing with a DSG is penny-wise and pound-foolish. The DSG on the Golf TDI is otherwise a real pleasure to drive.

The towing recommendations of different brands cannot be compared because there is no cross manufacturer accepted SAE performance standard for towing. I believe that towing recommendations are largely influenced by marketing.. For pickup trucks and such, towing recommendations are clearly a liar's contest. There is a proposed SAE towing performance standard, but I believe that only Toyota has adopted it.

Curiously, the VW Golf is rated to tow 3000 lbs in Great Britain, but only 1000 lbs in the USA. That may be because towing is longer, steeper, and hotter in the USA or it may be that the Golf is marketed as a youthful and sporty car in the USA and VW does not like the marketing image of youth passing grandpa towing his trailer with Golf at 60 mph. The weight of the Jetta and Golf are nearly the same. The rear axle of the Jetta is farther in front of the tow ball and that would make it less stable for towing.

The VW Golf TDI won "tow car of the year" in GB. Go figure.