9 three-row SUVs that seat eight and still tow at least 5,000 pounds

Three-row SUVs are supposed to trade cargo room for towing muscle, but a few full-size and mid-size models refuse to choose between the two. Each entry below carries a factory tow rating of at least 5,000 pounds while seating eight across three rows, whether the platform rides on a truck frame or a stretched unibody. Here are nine SUVs that pull a trailer and still bring the whole family along.

1. Chevrolet Tahoe: Nine Seats And Serious Towing Muscle

The full-size Tahoe seats up to nine with a front bench, and its max trailering package pushes tow capacity well past 8,000 pounds. That figure comes from a truck-based frame shared with GM’s pickups, which adds the stiffness a loaded trailer needs and lets buyers choose engines and axle ratios built for hauling.

For a family towing a travel trailer or a boat, that reserve matters more than the sticker number, since real-world loads rarely reach the rated maximum once passengers and hitch gear are added. Shoppers chasing the top figure should confirm trim and axle ratio, since base models fall short of it.

2. Ford Expedition: Eight Seats Meet A Heavy-Duty Hitch

Ford’s largest SUV holds eight across three rows and, when fitted with the available heavy-duty tow package, is rated to pull more than 9,000 pounds. The independent rear suspension that most trucks skip gives the Expedition a smoother ride without sacrificing the frame strength a loaded trailer needs.

Families cross-shopping the Expedition against stiffer-riding rivals get comfort without giving up capability, since the tow figure sits near the top of the class. Buyers should still weigh payload against passenger count, because filling all three rows with adults and gear can eat into the margin the tow rating implies.

3. GMC Yukon: GM’s Luxury Take On Heavy Hauling

The Yukon shares its bones with the Tahoe but adds adaptive suspension and extra sound insulation, while still offering a max trailering package rated near 8,400 pounds on properly equipped four-wheel-drive models. That truck-derived frame, per GMC’s own specifications, carries the load without the flex a unibody crossover would show.

Buyers who want three-row space and a heavy tow rating without the plainer cabin of the Tahoe pay a premium for it, but they keep the same running gear underneath. The Denali trims push that comfort further while the tow rating stays essentially unchanged from the base model’s hardware.

4. Toyota Sequoia: A Hybrid Powertrain That Still Tows Big

Toyota’s rebuilt Sequoia pairs a standard twin-turbo hybrid V6 with a tow rating that tops 9,000 pounds on the properly equipped TRD Pro and Capstone trims, according to Toyota’s published specifications. That number puts the electrified SUV ahead of the V8-powered rivals it replaced in the lineup.

Fuel economy improves over the old V8 without giving up towing headroom, which matters for owners who split time between commuting and hauling a camper or boat. Base trims carry a lower rating, so shoppers focused on the top number need to confirm the specific trim and hitch package before assuming it applies.

5. Jeep Grand Cherokee L: The Stretched Jeep With A Third Row

Jeep stretched the Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase to add a genuine third row, and the six-cylinder version, per Jeep’s factory ratings, tows more than 7,000 pounds when equipped with the trailer-tow package. Independent front and rear suspension keeps the ride car-like despite the added length and the extra hitch capacity.

That combination lets owners tow a modest trailer without stepping up to a full-size, truck-based SUV, though the plug-in hybrid variant trades some of that rating for electric range. Anyone cross-shopping trims should compare the tow figures directly, since they vary more between engines here than on most three-row rivals.

6. Dodge Durango: A Muscle-Car Engine In A Family Hauler

Durango’s available Hemi V8 lineup pushes towing capacity up to 8,700 pounds, a figure Dodge lists among the highest of any three-row SUV built on a unibody platform, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. That rating comes from a chassis shared with the Grand Cherokee L but tuned with a heavier-duty cooling and hitch setup.

That capacity makes the Durango a rare pick for buyers who want V8 towing muscle without moving up to a body-on-frame SUV. Fuel economy suffers with the larger engines, so shoppers who rarely tow near the maximum may find the six-cylinder version a better everyday match.

7. Kia Telluride: A Value Pick That Still Tows Five Thousand

Kia’s Telluride seats eight and, when fitted with the tow package, is rated for 5,000 pounds according to Kia’s published specifications, matching or beating several pricier three-row rivals. The unibody platform trades some outright capacity for a smoother ride and better fuel economy than the truck-based SUVs above it on this list.

That balance makes the Telluride a fit for owners who tow a small camper or a boat but do not need the heavier-duty capacity of a full-size SUV. It regularly earns top marks in reliability surveys, which matters to buyers weighing years of ownership against the towing spec sheet.

8. Hyundai Palisade: The Sibling Ship With Matching Numbers

Built alongside the Telluride on shared underpinnings, the Palisade carries the same 5,000-pound tow rating and eight-passenger layout once fitted with the optional towing hardware, per Hyundai’s own specification sheet. The corporate relationship means both SUVs draw from the same engine and drivetrain parts bin.

Shoppers usually pick between the two on styling and dealer pricing rather than capability, since the mechanical specs land in the same place. Anyone who needs more than the shared 5,000-pound ceiling should look further up this list toward the truck-based options instead.

9. Nissan Armada: The Last Body-On-Frame Bargain

The Armada rides on a truck-derived platform shared with Nissan’s pickup, and its properly equipped tow rating clears 8,000 pounds according to Nissan’s specification page. That frame gives it the same structural advantage as the Tahoe and Expedition above it, just at a lower typical transaction price.

Buyers who want body-on-frame durability without paying luxury-badge prices gravitate toward the Armada for exactly that reason, though its interior technology trails newer unibody rivals. A refresh is overdue, so shoppers should weigh the older cabin against the towing and payload advantage before deciding.