SUV towing capacity in 2026 runs from 1,500 pounds on the smallest crossovers to a full 10,000 pounds on the Jeep Wagoneer — enough spread to either tow your travel trailer confidently or leave you stranded halfway up a grade with overheated brakes. The difference is rarely obvious from the outside: two SUVs with identical body styles can be rated 4,000 pounds apart depending on engine, drivetrain, and whether a $500 tow package was ticked on the order sheet.
This guide is the data reference: what each size class can actually tow in 2026, what common trailers weigh, and how to read the fine print that separates a real-world rating from a brochure number. If you already know your target weight and want ranked recommendations instead, our 8 best SUVs for towing covers the pick list.
Quick answer:
- Most any SUV can tow in 2026: Jeep Wagoneer & Grand Wagoneer — 10,000 lbs
- Compact SUVs: 1,500–3,500 lbs (turbo engines unlock the top figure)
- Midsize SUVs: typically 5,000–6,200 lbs; Lexus GX 550 is the outlier at 9,096 lbs
- Full-size SUVs: 8,200–10,000 lbs
- Electric SUVs: 3,500–7,700 lbs (Rivian R1S leads) — but expect the range to drop sharply
SUV Towing Capacity by Class: 2026 at a Glance
| Class | Typical Range | 2026 Class Leader | What That Handles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcompact | 1,500–2,000 lbs | Crosstrek Wilderness — 3,500 lbs | Jet skis, small utility trailers |
| Compact | 1,500–3,500 lbs | RAV4 / CX-50 Turbo / Outback XT — 3,500 lbs | Pop-up campers, small boats |
| Midsize | 5,000–6,200 lbs | Lexus GX 550 — 9,096 lbs | Mid travel trailers, bowriders, 2-horse trailers |
| Full-size | 8,200–10,000 lbs | Jeep Wagoneer — 10,000 lbs | Large campers, car haulers, big boats |
| Electric | 3,500–7,700 lbs | Rivian R1S — 7,700 lbs | Most trailers — with range planning |
What Does Your Trailer Actually Weigh?
Before shopping capacities, know your load — loaded, not empty. Manufacturers advertise dry weights, but water tanks, propane, gear, and the trailer itself add up fast. These are realistic loaded ranges:
| What You’re Towing | Loaded Weight | Minimum SUV Class |
|---|---|---|
| Bike trailer, kayaks, single jet ski | 500–1,600 lbs | Any SUV with a hitch |
| Loaded utility trailer | 1,000–2,500 lbs | Compact (2,000+ lbs rating) |
| Pop-up camper | 2,000–3,000 lbs | Compact with turbo/tow package |
| Small fishing boat + trailer | 2,500–3,500 lbs | Compact at its 3,500-lb max |
| 20–24 ft bowrider or pontoon | 4,000–6,000 lbs | Midsize |
| Travel trailer, 22–26 ft | 4,500–7,000 lbs | Midsize (upper) or full-size |
| Two-horse trailer, loaded | 4,500–7,000 lbs | Midsize (upper) or full-size |
| Large travel trailer, 27–33 ft | 6,500–9,500 lbs | Full-size |
| Car on a hauler | 5,500–7,500 lbs | Full-size |
The golden rule: keep your loaded trailer at or below 80% of the SUV’s maximum rating. That headroom is what keeps transmissions cool on long grades and gives you braking margin when a lane change goes wrong at 65 mph.
Full-Size SUV Towing Capacity (2026)
| Model | Max Towing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wagoneer / Grand Wagoneer | 10,000 lbs | Best of any gas SUV; L versions 9,860 |
| Ford Expedition | 9,600 lbs | 4×4 + Heavy-Duty Tow Package; MAX 9,000 |
| Toyota Sequoia | 9,520 lbs | Hybrid standard; 4WD rates 9,120 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 8,700 lbs | The luxury tow rig |
| Dodge Durango | 8,700 lbs | Midsize footprint, full-size rating |
| Nissan Armada / Infiniti QX80 | 8,500 lbs | New twin-turbo V6 generation |
| Chevrolet Tahoe / GMC Yukon | 8,400 lbs | Diesel option for range; Suburban ~8,300 |
| Land Rover Range Rover | 8,200 lbs | Air suspension helps with leveling |
Two details worth knowing before you assume “full-size = tows anything.” First, drivetrain matters more than badge: a rear-drive Expedition is rated 6,000 pounds — the 9,600 figure requires 4×4 and the tow package. Second, big wheels quietly cut ratings; the Expedition’s 24-inch wheel option and heavy top trims eat capacity on most of these models. If your trailer lives at the top of these numbers, you may belong in our guide to SUVs with low-range 4WD — low range is what saves you on steep boat ramps and soft ground.
Midsize SUV Towing Capacity (2026)
| Model | Max Towing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lexus GX 550 | 9,096 lbs | The midsize outlier — truck frame underneath |
| Land Rover Defender | 8,200 lbs | Serious hardware in a midsize body |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 6,200 lbs | New 2026 generation, 2.0L Hurricane turbo |
| Toyota 4Runner / Land Cruiser | 6,000 lbs | Heaviest hybrid trims rate 5,800 |
| Ford Explorer | 5,000 lbs | With tow package |
| Toyota Highlander / Grand Highlander | 5,000 lbs | Includes hybrid MAX versions |
| Honda Pilot / Passport | 5,000 lbs | AWD models; FWD Pilot rates 3,500 |
| Mazda CX-90 | 5,000 lbs | Inline-six turbo |
The pattern to notice: nearly every unibody three-row lands at exactly 5,000 pounds — enough for a mid-size travel trailer or a decent boat, and precisely why this class is America’s family default. The exceptions are body-on-frame holdouts (GX 550, 4Runner, Defender) that tow like trucks because structurally they are trucks. If you need three rows of seats and serious towing, that short list — plus the full-sizers above — is your menu; our best 7-seater SUVs guide sorts them by family duty.
Compact and Small SUV Towing Capacity (2026)
| Model | Max Towing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 | 3,500 lbs | Most AWD trims; base LE rates 1,750 |
| Mazda CX-50 Turbo | 3,500 lbs | Non-turbo rates 2,000 |
| Subaru Outback XT / Wilderness | 3,500 lbs | Base 2.5L rates 2,700 |
| Ford Escape 2.0T | 3,500 lbs | Turbo required |
| Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness | 3,500 lbs | Other Crosstreks rate 1,500 |
| Kia Sportage | 2,500 lbs | 2.5L with trailer brakes |
| Hyundai Tucson | 2,000 lbs | With trailer brakes |
| Honda CR-V / Subaru Forester | 1,500 lbs | Forester Wilderness raises it to 3,000 |
In the compact class, the engine choice is the towing decision. The same CX-50 is rated 2,000 or 3,500 pounds depending on whether you bought the turbo; a Crosstrek more than doubles its rating in Wilderness trim. If a pop-up camper or a small boat is in your plans, spec the stronger engine up front — you cannot add capacity later, and hitch hardware alone does not change the rating.
Electric SUV Towing Capacity (2026)
| Model | Max Towing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Hummer EV SUV | 10,300 lbs | Highest of any 2026 SUV, gas or electric |
| Rivian R1S | 7,700 lbs | All motor/battery configs; built-in brake controller |
| Kia EV9 / Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 5,000 lbs | AWD with tow package |
| Tesla Model X | 5,000 lbs | Drops to 3,500 with 22-inch wheels |
| Tesla Model Y | 3,500 lbs | Requires the factory tow package |
Electric SUVs tow beautifully — instant torque makes pulling away with a load effortless — but be honest about range. Aerodynamic drag from a trailer can cut highway range by a quarter or more, and independent tests of a Model Y with a loaded utility trailer have measured real-world highway range near 100 miles. For local boat launches and short hauls, an EV is genuinely great; for cross-country camper trips, plan charging stops around half your normal range.
Reading the Fine Print: What “Properly Equipped” Means
Every maximum rating in this guide assumes the manufacturer’s towing configuration. Four things to check before you trust a number:
- The tow package is not optional equipment for max ratings. It typically adds a transmission cooler, wiring harness, a stronger hitch receiver, and sometimes a different axle ratio. Without it, the same SUV often carries half the rating.
- Tongue weight: plan for 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight pressing down on the hitch — and that weight counts against the SUV’s payload, along with every passenger and bag on board. A family of five with luggage can quietly use up the margin the tow rating assumed.
- GCWR is the real ceiling: the gross combined weight rating covers SUV + occupants + cargo + trailer together. Heavy options and passengers reduce what’s left over for the trailer.
- Trailer brakes: most states require them above 1,500–3,000 pounds of trailer weight. Check whether your SUV includes an integrated brake controller (the Wagoneer and R1S do) or budget for one.
| Hitch Class | Rated Up To | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | 2,000 lbs | Bike racks, small utility trailers |
| Class II | 3,500 lbs | Compact SUVs at their max |
| Class III | 5,000–8,000 lbs | Midsize SUVs, most travel trailers |
| Class IV | 10,000 lbs | Full-size SUVs at max ratings |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which SUVs can tow 5,000 pounds?
Essentially every 2026 midsize three-row with AWD: Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot and Passport, Ford Explorer, Mazda CX-90 — plus the electric Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. Anything rated above that (Grand Cherokee at 6,200, 4Runner at 6,000) gives you useful headroom at the same size.
What SUV has the highest towing capacity in 2026?
Among gas SUVs, the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer at 10,000 pounds, followed by the Ford Expedition at 9,600 and Toyota Sequoia at 9,520. Counting electrics, the GMC Hummer EV SUV tops everything at 10,300 pounds.
Can an SUV tow a travel trailer or camper?
Yes — the match just has to be honest. Use the trailer’s GVWR (its maximum loaded weight), not the advertised dry weight, and keep that figure under 80% of the SUV’s rating. In practice: pop-ups suit compacts, 22–26 ft travel trailers need a midsize at minimum, and anything approaching 30 ft belongs behind a full-size SUV.
Do I need a tow package to tow at all?
For light loads within the base rating, a properly installed hitch is enough. But maximum ratings almost always require the factory tow package, and it is far cheaper ordered with the vehicle than retrofitted. If you know a boat or camper is coming, order it — the transmission cooler alone is worth it.
Can hybrid SUVs tow?
Better than ever. The hybrid-standard Toyota Sequoia is rated at 9,520 pounds, the 4Runner’s hybrid trims handle 5,800–6,000, and the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX pulls the same 5,000 pounds as gas rivals. The old “hybrids can’t tow” rule is dead; only the small hybrid crossovers (CR-V, base Forester) remain light-duty.
The Bottom Line
Start from the trailer, not the truck: weigh your actual loaded rig, add 20% margin, and buy the class that covers it. A compact turbo handles weekend toys, a midsize covers most family campers at 5,000–6,200 pounds, and the full-size class exists for everything bigger — topped by the Wagoneer’s 10,000-pound rating. For ranked picks with pricing and trim advice, see our best SUVs for towing, browse the biggest SUVs you can buy if maximum size is the point, or rent a full-size SUV for the one trip a year that actually needs all that muscle.
Written by Jake Ryder
Jake Ryder is the founder and lead reviewer at Road SUV. He has spent more than a decade behind the wheel of everything from subcompact crossovers to full-size 4x4s, logging thousands of highway and off-road miles across the United States. His reviews focus on what actually matters to real drivers: cargo space you can use, safety features that work, and honest talk about fuel economy and pricing.
