Top 10 SUVs With the Best Towing Capacity
Heavy-duty pickups are the towing leaders by a long shot. A workhorse like the new 2023 Ford Super Duty, with up to 1,200 lb-ft. of torque, can pull massive loads weighing up to 40,000 lbs. Incredible.
Of course, not everyone wants or needs a pickup. Most families prefer SUVs. If that’s your case and you must tow a large camping trailer, a boat or maybe a horse trailer, check out the top 10 SUVs with the best towing capacity in 2023.
Note: All towing ratings are achieved with the proper equipment and were accurate at the time of writing.
10. 2023 Cadillac Escalade – 8,000 lbs
The Escalade offers a choice of two body styles and two powertrain options. Max towing capacity ranges from 7,000-8,000 lbs. To get the most, you need the 6.2-litre V8.
9. 2023 Lexus LX and 2024 GX – 8,000 lbs
Sharing several components including a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6, these two Japanese luxury SUVs can tow up to 8,000 lbs. The LX is more upscale and more spacious, of course. The next-gen 2024 GX will arrive early in 2024.
8. 2023 Land Rover Defender and Discovery – 8,200 lbs
Land Rover is famous for its amazingly capable off-roaders, but the Defender and Discovery shine in the towing department, as well. Both can pull up to 8,200 lbs, the former using a 5.0-litre V8.
7. 2023 Lincoln Navigator – 8,300 lbs
Lincoln’s full-size SUV, the Navigator, relies solely on a turbocharged 3.5-litre V6. However, it boasts a max towing capacity of 8,300 lbs. The rating drops to 8,100 lbs with the long-wheelbase Navigator L.
6. 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon – 8,400 lbs
As The Car Guide’s Best Buy award winners in the full-size SUV segment, the Tahoe and Yukon stand out with powerful V8 engines. The 6.2-litre unit can tow up to 8,400 lbs. The long-wheelbase Suburban and Yukon XL can pull 100 fewer pounds.
5. 2023 Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80 – 8,500 lbs
These two models are built on the same platform and use the same 5.6-litre V8, so naturally they have similar towing capacity. Both the Armada and QX80 are rated at 8,500 lbs.
4. 2023 Dodge Durango – 8,700 lbs
The Durango is a three-row midsize SUV with bigger engines than its direct competitors, including naturally aspirated 5.7- and 6.4-litre V8 engines. Don’t forget the supercharged 6.2-litre Hellcat V8. How does 8,700 lbs of towing sound to you?
3. 2023 Toyota Sequoia – 9,000 lbs
The bronze medalist of towing is the Sequoia, which was completely redesigned for 2023 and now features a hybrid powertrain exclusively, based on a twin-turbo V6. It can tow up to 9,000 lbs.
2. 2023 Ford Expedition – 9,200 lbs
Here’s further proof you don’t necessarily need a V8 to pull heavy loads. Equipped with a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 generating up to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft. of torque, the Expedition has a max towing rating of 9,200 lbs. Subtract 200 lbs with the long-wheelbase Expedition MAX.
1. 2023 Jeep Wagoneer – 10,000 lbs
Yes, you can tow as much as 10,000 lbs with an SUV. Jeep’s Wagoneer is what you need, either with the 5.7-litre V8 or the new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine nicknamed “Hurricane.” By the way, the more luxurious Grand Wagoneer tops at 9,850 lbs.
Electric SUVs – Tesla Model X
Finally, when it comes to electric SUVs, towing is not recommended with many of them. Among those that can tow, none is better than the Model X with a max rating of 5,000 lbs.