Towing capacity separates the family hauler from the real workhorse, and the gap is larger than many shoppers expect. A handful of full-size and mid-size SUVs now rate well above 8,000 pounds, with an electric model at the very top. Here are ten SUVs ranked by the most they are rated to tow.
AI, explained every day: The Deep View is the go-to daily newsletter for 600,000+ founders, knowledge workers and professionals who want to stay up to date with artificial intelligence.
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
1. GMC Hummer EV SUV: Tops The Tow Chart
Max towing on the GMC Hummer EV SUV has been lifted to 10,300 pounds for 2026, according to a Cars.com towing ranking. That figure puts the electric model at the top of the list, ahead of every gas and hybrid rival that follows, and it is the only rating here above 10,000 pounds.
The rating shows that battery power no longer rules out heavy hauling for a big SUV. It is a manufacturer maximum, though, so anyone planning to pull that much weight would still need to confirm the exact configuration and equipment before hitching up a trailer.
2. Jeep Wagoneer: Large-SUV Tow Leader
The Jeep Wagoneer is named the best large SUV for towing, with a 10,000-pound maximum towing capacity, in an iSeeCars towing analysis. It holds second place on this list, only 300 pounds behind the electric Hummer.
That makes the Wagoneer the strongest large SUV in the ranking and a natural pick for buyers who want a roomy family vehicle that can still handle a serious trailer. As with any maximum rating, the number assumes the vehicle is equipped to reach it.
3. Ford Expedition: Four-Wheel-Drive Hauler
Ford’s Expedition can tow up to 9,600 pounds in 4WD form, according to the Cars.com list. That ranks it third among the SUVs on the list, comfortably above the 9,000-pound mark and just 400 pounds shy of the Wagoneer.
The detail worth noting is the drivetrain. The 9,600-pound figure belongs to the four-wheel-drive version, so shoppers eyeing a different Expedition configuration should not assume the same rating carries over without checking the trim they actually plan to buy. That matters for anyone comparing trims.
4. Toyota Sequoia: Hybrid Towing Champ
The Toyota Sequoia hybrid ranks first among hybrid SUVs for towing at 9,500 pounds, per an iSeeCars ranking. Few buyers expect a hybrid powertrain to compete with the heaviest-hauling SUVs, yet this one lands fourth overall on the list.
The result shows how far electrified drivetrains have come in everyday capability. At 9,500 pounds, the Sequoia sits just 100 pounds below the Expedition while offering the efficiency benefits that come with a hybrid system, which is a rare pairing in this class.
5. Lexus GX 550: Luxury With Real Grunt
Towing capacity for the Lexus GX 550 peaks at 9,096 pounds, a number reported in a Cars.com towing guide. That fifth-place rating sits close to the Sequoia hybrid and well above the 8,500 to 8,700 pounds managed by several larger-looking rivals.
The oddly precise figure suggests a rating calculated to the pound rather than rounded to the nearest hundred. It also shows that a luxury SUV can keep pace with, and even outrank, models that offer considerably more passenger space.
6. Lincoln Navigator: Heavy-Duty Package Required
Navigators with 4WD and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package can tow up to 8,700 pounds, according to an Edmunds towing roundup published by WTOP. The big Lincoln sits in the middle of the ranking and shares its rating with the Dodge Durango.
The key phrase is the equipment list. The 8,700-pound maximum depends on both four-wheel drive and the heavy-duty trailer package, so a Navigator without them should be expected to tow less. Buyers who want the full number need to order the package on purpose.
7. Dodge Durango: Crossover With Muscle
The Dodge Durango is the best crossover SUV for towing, at 8,700 pounds of maximum towing capacity, based on an iSeeCars crossover ranking. That matches the Lincoln Navigator, a vehicle from a much more expensive luxury brand.
A tie like this is notable in a class where size and price often decide capacity. The Durango reaches the figure while staying a crossover. The label reflects a category winner, so its place in the ranking comes down to the number alone.
8. Nissan Armada: Full-Size Value Play
The Nissan Armada can tow up to 8,500 pounds, a figure from a Cars.com towing list. It lands eighth among the SUVs ranked, only 200 pounds behind the Durango and Navigator, and 1,000 pounds below the Toyota Sequoia hybrid.
The rating makes the Armada a credible full-size alternative to the Ford and Toyota models higher up. Its position also shows how tightly packed the middle of the field is, with small differences in pounds separating several nameplates from one another.
9. Cadillac Escalade IQ: Electric Runner-Up
The Cadillac Escalade IQ is the best electric SUV for towing, at 8,000 pounds of maximum towing capacity, according to an iSeeCars electric ranking. It is the second electric entry on the list, trailing the Hummer EV by 2,300 pounds.
The figure is a category result, so it reflects the strongest electric SUV that iSeeCars found rather than a universal rating. Even so, for a luxury electric SUV, 8,000 pounds is a substantial number and shows that electric luxury SUVs can handle sizable trailers.
10. Nissan Pathfinder: Entry To The Club
When properly equipped, the Nissan Pathfinder carries a tow rating of 6,000 pounds, per an Edmunds towing roundup carried by WTOP. That is the lowest figure on the list and about 4,300 pounds under the Hummer EV.
Even so, 6,000 pounds is a respectable number for a three-row family SUV, and it still earns a place in the top ten. The qualifier matters, because the rating applies only when the vehicle is properly equipped, so a base model may fall short.
AI, explained every day: Get The Deep View →
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
More from Morning Overview
- Doctors warn a silent liver disease now affects one in three American adults
- The FBI told the rest of ShinyHunters to surrender after a 24-year-old was arrested
- Two passengers died at an Ohio toll plaza, and the NTSB now wants the cash lanes shut
- Long use of a common prostate pill is tied to a higher chance of glaucoma
