M1008008_The mother dog having lost leg asked me to care for her puppy and t..._part2

Which SUVs Can Tow at Least 5,000 Pounds?

2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail, towing front angle | Cars.com photo by Matt Barnes

There are lots of choices among the cheaper-to-buy-and-drive mid-size SUVs that, when properly configured, can safely tow at least 5,000 pounds. That’s enough to haul a modest trailer for your toys (such as a bass boat, camper trailer, ATVs or Jet Skis) or just a box trailer to haul your kid’s stuff to college. Below you’ll find all the SUVs available that meet or exceed this 5,000-pound minimum. (If you need an SUV for serious towing, we have a better list for you here that’s dominated by hefty truck-based SUVs with equally hefty appetites for fuel.)

lexus lx 700h overtrail 2025 01 exterior towing front angle jpg

The maximum ratings in the list below are for the top-rated configuration of the SUV and may require options such as a tow package or trailer braking for the top rating. All of the SUVs have versions with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds or more. The maximum might be less — even substantially less — for versions with other available powertrains, trim levels, options, or even tire and wheel combinations. Be sure to verify the specific configuration you are considering if towing capacity is a priority.

2025 SUVs That Tow 5,000 Pounds or More

2025 Nissan Armada Pro-4X | Cars.com photo by Leslie Cunningham

Below are SUVs from the 2025 model year with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds or more.

Acura: MDX
Aston Martin: DBX
Audi: Q7/SQ7, Q8/SQ8/RS Q8
BMW: X5, X5 PHEV, X6, X7
Buick: Enclave
Cadillac: Escalade/Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ
Chevrolet: Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse
Dodge: Durango
Ford: Expedition/Expedition Max, Explorer
Genesis: GV80
GMC: Acadia, Hummer EV SUV, Yukon/Yukon XL
Honda: Passport, Pilot
Hyundai: Palisade
Ineos: Grenadier Station Wagon
Infiniti: QX60, QX80
Jeep: Grand Cherokee/Grand Cherokee L, Grand Cherokee 4xe, Grand Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer L, Wagoneer/Wagoneer L, Wrangler
Kia: EV9, Telluride
Lamborghini: Urus
Land Rover: Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar
Lexus: GX 550, LX
Lincoln: Aviator, Navigator/Navigator L
Mazda: CX-70, CX-90
Mercedes-Benz: G-Class, GLE/GLE Coupe, GLS
Nissan: Armada, Pathfinder
Porsche: Cayenne/Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid/Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe
Rivian: R1S
Subaru: Ascent
Tesla: Model X
Toyota: 4Runner, 4Runner Hybrid, Grand Highlander, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia
Volkswagen: Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport
Volvo: XC90, XC90 Plug-in Hybrid

What Should You Consider When Towing With an SUV?

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser | Cars.com photo by Matt Barnes

There are a few things you should take into account before you hook up a trailer to your SUV’s tow hitch, including:

Maximum tow rating
Maximum payload rating
Gross combined vehicle weight rating
Type of hitch

The weight that you can safely tow can be lowered by the load onboard your SUV. Tow ratings are calculated under the SAE International J2807 performance standard for safe vehicle performance, trailer stability and load on the vehicle’s mechanical systems. The standard assumes ideal towing conditions: a minimal load of people and cargo, only common optional equipment and a trailer tongue weight (pounds the trailer is putting on the hitch) of about 10% of the trailer weight. Loading up the SUV can reduce the safe trailer weight.

Trailer weight is not the only safety limit that matters: You also must not exceed the vehicle’s maximum payload weight (people and cargo plus tongue weight) and gross combined vehicle weight rating (total loaded vehicle plus the trailer). These limits can be found on the information plate that’s typically located on the driver-side door or door frame. You can read more about calculating how much your SUV can safely pull in our towing coverage, including “How Much Can My Truck Tow?” and “Why Weight Capacities Are Important.”

With careful weight planning — and perhaps spending for extra towing accessories, such as an electronic brake controller — you can safely push the envelope in a mid-size SUV, as Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman did with people and gear in a Ford Explorer (rated to tow 5,000 pounds) while pulling a 4,200-pound, 22-foot Airstream travel trailer. Bragman notes, however, that adding a bracket-style weight distribution hitch would have made his rig more stable in some situations. Some vehicles even require them for maximum towing, but others — particularly unibody SUVs that don’t have a separate frame — recommend against or even ban such a hitch, so you’ll need to check your owner’s manual to learn more.

More From Cars.com:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.