Some SUVs offer excellent towing capability because they are built on the same platform as their pickup truck counterparts.
Others give you the towing you want without that build. Not all SUVs are equal in what they can do. This area of the automotive market has grown to include vehicles that are barely larger than a hatchback, while others are massive and have room for eight or nine people inside. When you need one of these vehicles to tow, you’ll want to know what you’ll pull and how much it weighs before choosing the SUV that you’ll drive.
When You Need the Most; Grab the Jeep Wagoneer
The Jeep Wagoneer is a name that takes you back to the 1980s, but the older version and the modern model are completely different. In the SUV class, the Wagoneer tows the most. This big and bold SUV arrives with a 10,000-pound tow rating to make it easy for you to pull as much weight as you need to. Of course, to reach this tow rating, you must have a Series I Wagoneer with 4WD and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package.
The Ford Expedition is no Slouch
If you’re looking at SUVs for their towing capabilities, the Ford Expedition offers a number that’s hard to beat. The standard wheelbase version of this big Ford SUV can tow up to 9,300 pounds when properly equipped. If you need the added length of the Expedition Max, the tow rating drops to 9,000 pounds. To pull the most weight, you need to add the heavy-duty trailering package to the mix. This is worth the added cost to go from the standard 6,500 pounds to 9,300 pounds of towing power.
The Nissan Armada has the Highest Standard Towing Capacity
Are you a little turned off by the idea of adding more equipment to increase your tow rating? If so, you’ll love what the Nissan Armada brings to the market. You can tow up to 8,500 pounds with this SUV, and you don’t have to add any extra equipment to reach that number. All you’ve got to do is pick the trim you want, and you’ll have the power desired to pull a heavy load.
The Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon Offer Respectable Numbers
These two GM SUVs offer various towing capacities. You might think that 4WD with the diesel engine is the way to get the most out of them, but that’s not the case. If you want to enjoy 8,400 pounds of towing, you need a 2WD version and the 5.3-liter V8 engine. This seems counterintuitive, but it’s true. Adding 4WD reduces towing to 8,200 pounds, and the 6.2-liter V8 in 4WD only pulls 8,100 pounds. Strangely, the diesel engine only brings you 8,000 pounds of towing capability. The Max Trailering Package is required to reach these towing numbers.
Go Luxury and Pull You Load with the Lexus LX
This big and bold Lexus SUV is one of the few body-on-frame models in the luxury class. With this SUV, you can pull a heavy load and enjoy the comfort of the quality Lexus cabin. The LX is rated to pull 8,000 pounds, and you don’t need to add more equipment to pull this weight. Every model of the LX uses the same powertrain, which means you’ll only need to select your trim to have the Lexus you want to drive.
The Dodge Durango is the Best Towing Midsize SUV
The Dodge Durango has played in a unique area since it first arrived in the market. This SUV isn’t a full-size model, but it has the power of a full-size SUV. The Durango is one of the most powerful SUVs you’ll find, with towing of 8,700 pounds in a midsize build. Even if you don’t want to add the extra power and equipment for this max tow rating, you can pull 6,200 ponds with the base SXT model of the Durango.
The Land Rover Defender is a Strong SUV
We know Land Rover’s reputation for off-road capability, but this impressive luxury model can pull a heavy load as well. This midsize SUV gives you two rows of seats, a short wheelbase, and plenty of power. You have to pick the 5.0-liter V8 engine to reach the max tow rating of 8,201 pounds. Thankfully, you won’t have to add more towing equipment to give this SUV the pulling power desired.
Pull a Heavy Load Behind the Porsche Cayenne
You might not buy the Cayenne to pull your boat or travel trailer, but it can get the job done. This is pretty cool since it plays in the midsize class. The Cayenne is rated to pull up to 7,716 pounds. The sportiness is incredible, and when you see one of these SUVs with a boat or trailer towing behind it, you might laugh a little. What’s extra cool is that you don’t need to add more equipment to reach this towing figure.
The Audi Q7 is a Great Family SUV
Towing might be one of the most important items you look for in your next family vehicle. When you add the impressive qualities of the Audi Q7 interior and the max tow rating of 7,700 pounds, you might have the perfect formula. To reach this number, you must select either the 6-cylinder or V8 engines. If you don’t need this level of towing, the base 4-cylinder engine is rated to pull up to 4,400 pounds for you.
Could the Mercedes-Benz GLE be the Right Luxury SUV for You?
You don’t have to move up to a more powerful engine to reach the max towing level in the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The standard 4-cylinder engine is strong enough to make this one of the best SUVs for towing at a rate of 7,700 pounds. This is certainly a good amount of weight. When coupled with the Mercedes-Benz qualities, you’ll have a vehicle that delivers the drive and the performance you want when it’s time to take the camping gear to your favorite outdoor spot.
Which one of these SUVs could be the right one to fill your towing needs? These ten are the best in their respective classes, giving you plenty of power to pull your boat or trailer wherever you want to go.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.