Built To Tow Or Just For Show?
An SUV's towing rating tells you what it’s really built for. The strongest 2025 models can haul over 7,000 pounds with ease, handling boats and campers on steep grades. Many rugged-looking SUVs, however, struggle with anything substantial. Buyers often learn this the hard way, after investing in both vehicle and trailer. We’ll start by looking at the SUVs that can actually handle serious towing before moving on to those better suited for everyday driving.
1. Jeep Wagoneer
Jeep’s comeback story hits hard with the 2025 Wagoneer. After three decades away, it returns as a true full-size heavyweight, which combines plush eight-passenger comfort with serious muscle. Offering an incredible 10,000-pound towing capacity, it blends rugged power and refined luxury like few SUVs can.
2. Chevrolet Tahoe
The 2025 Tahoe doesn’t just look tough—it proves it. With three powertrain options, including two V8s and a Duramax diesel, it tows up to 8,400 pounds. An Advanced Trailering System simplifies every haul, while the refreshed interior makes towing feel downright comfortable.
3. GMC Yukon
Luxury and muscle come together in the 2025 Yukon. Sharing its base with the Tahoe, it adds Denali-level sophistication with real wood trim, tech galore, and bold styling. Available in standard or XL form, it confidently pulls up to 8,400 pounds with ease and elegance.
4. Infiniti QX80
The 2025 QX80 proves luxury and power can coexist beautifully. With quilted leather, open-pore wood, and premium craftsmanship, it’s pure comfort inside. But its Dynamic Digital Suspension and 8,500-pound towing capacity remind everyone that the SUV wasn’t just built for looks.
5. Toyota Sequoia
Toyota’s Sequoia draws its strength straight from the Tundra pickup. Built on a fully boxed frame, it’s no stranger to tough jobs. Thanks to its i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, the Sequoia SR5 can tow an impressive 9,520 pounds without breaking a sweat or losing refinement.
6. Lincoln Navigator
Refined strength defines the 2025 Navigator. It tows 8,700 pounds yet pampers passengers with massaging seats, a world-class Revel audio system, and a cabin that feels like a lounge. The Black Label trim adds custom design themes that make towing feel downright indulgent.
7. Lexus LX600
The 2025 LX600 proves power can still feel polished. With twin-turbo V6 performance rooted in Land Cruiser toughness, it tows up to 8,000 pounds. Inside, every surface feels first-class, making it as capable on the trail as it is calm on the highway.
8. Land Rover Range Rover
Luxury rarely comes this capable. The 2025 Range Rover tows 7,716 pounds while pampering passengers in lavish comfort. Its intelligent Terrain Response system and powerful engine lineup—featuring both turbocharged sixes and twin-turbo V8s—keep it confident in mud or sand.
9. BMW X7
BMW’s largest SUV balances elegance and force with surprising precision. The 2025 X7 offers up to 523 horsepower and a 7,500-pound towing capacity. Its three-row cabin and sleek digital cockpit make towing a boat or trailer feel as smooth as a Sunday drive.
10. Dodge Durango
The 2025 Durango fully embraces its identity as a muscle-bound SUV, no disguises or compromises. Standard V8 models tow up to 7,400 pounds, and the R/T Tow N Go package ups the ante with performance tuning that brings track-level excitement to towing duty.
Now, let’s look at the ones that can’t pull their weight.
1. Hyundai Kona
SUVs usually mean muscle, though the 2025 Kona plays a different tune. The gas model pulls 2,866 pounds, while the electric version handles only 1,653. It’s clearly built for errands and daily drives rather than weekends hauling campers across the highway.
2. Mazda CX-30
The CX-30 may look athletic, yet Mazda insists it never tows a thing. Even with a turbocharged engine capable of 2,000 pounds, the company’s official specs forbid trailer use entirely. Drivers get a fun commute instead of heavy-duty hauling.
3. Honda HR-V
Honda’s smallest SUV takes towing completely off the table. The 2025 HR-V isn’t rated to pull even a small trailer and focuses instead on fuel economy and passenger space. It’s just a practical urban companion.
4. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid keeps things light. With a 1,750-pound towing limit, it can manage a small trailer or bikes; nothing too serious. It prioritizes smooth efficiency and daily practicality, proving not every hybrid has to double as a weekend hauler.
5. Kia Niro EV
Drivers drawn to clean commuting will love the Niro EV’s 253-mile range. Towing maxes at 1,653 pounds, which keeps it in the lightweight category. It’s a smart, quiet traveler focused on daily mobility.
6. Volkswagen Taos
Volkswagen’s Taos looks sporty on the surface, though its towing numbers stay modest. With less than 2,000 pounds of pull, it favors light errands over labor. Drivers who crave smooth handling and comfort will find it more suited to weekday routines.
7. Nissan Kicks
The 2025 Nissan Kicks might look ready for adventure, but it’s not towing anything substantial. Nissan doesn’t rate it for hauling, instead emphasizing fuel efficiency and maneuverability. It shines in traffic and parking garages, not on campsites or marinas.
8. Chevrolet Trax
This car embraces its city roots with no apologies. The automaker openly states that towing isn’t part of the plan. Rather, the compact SUV focuses on agility, affordability, and ease of use—three things that matter more in traffic than towing strength.
9. Buick Envista
Here’s one SUV that truly skips towing altogether. The 2025 Buick Envista has a zero-pound rating—yes, zero. Designed strictly for city cruising, it prioritizes sleek looks and comfort over hauling. Attach a trailer, and you’re instantly voiding the warranty.
10. Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
Quiet, efficient, and commuter-focused, the 2025 Escape Plug-In Hybrid trades brawn for brains. It’s front-wheel drive only, with a modest 1,500-pound towing limit. Perfect for urban living and weekend errands, but it’s not joining any cross-country towing convoy soon.
