Towing: How much can my large SUV tow?

One reason SUVs are so popular is the additional practicality they offer – and a big part of that practicality equation is how many kilos they can tow behind them.

While the following list shows the maximum towing capacities of different SUVs, it’s worth knowing that this doesn’t necessarily mean that is the actual weight you can tow as there are several other factors including the gross vehicle weight and maximum tow-ball weight.

Our story, Towing weights explained, covers this in more detail.

As a rule, if you want to tow anything bigger than a camper trailer, you’d want a vehicle with at least 2000kg braked towing capacity, which is the maximum towing weight with a trailer or caravan that has its own brakes.

As a guide, the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, a common choice among those who tow heavy loads, can lug up to 3000kg. Most dual-cab utes, like the Ford Ranger, can tow up to 3500kg braked.

Got a model in mind? Jump ahead!

• Ford Everest
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Isuzu MU-X
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Kia Sorento
• Mazda CX-8
• Mazda CX-9
• Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
• Nissan Pathfinder
• Nissan Patrol
• Subaru Outback
• Toyota Fortuner
• Toyota Kluger
• Toyota LandCruiser Prado
• Toyota LandCruiser 300
• Genesis GV80
• BMW X5
• BMW X6
• BMW X7
• BMW iX
• Audi Q7
• Audi Q8
• Mercedes-Benz GLE
• Mercedes G-Class
• Volvo XC90
• Land Rover Defender
• Land Rover Discovery Sport
• Land Rover Discovery
• Range Rover
• LDV D90
• Ineos Grenadier

So how do the popular mainstream family SUVs stack up?

Ford Everest

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2023 Ford Everest Platinum

With a new Ranger comes a new Everest and a whole new set of figures. The rear-wheel drive Trend, all-wheel drive Trend and Sport are powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four with a ten-speed automatic. The thrifty four pumps out 154kW and 500Nm.

Stepping up to the Platinum you'll find a 3.2-litre turbodiesel V6 (replacing the five-cylinder), also with a ten-speed automatic. The big banger spins up 184kW and 600Nm.

Either will tow 3500kg braked (up from 3000kg) while a trailer without brakes should max out at 750kg. The difference between the two is the slightly higher payload figure and therefore higher GVM and GCM of the six.

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Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai’s seven-seat large SUV has a 2500kg braked towing capacity for both the 3.5-litre petrol V6 and 2.2-litre turbodiesel versions. The maximum towball down load is 200kg.

Isuzu MU-X

Like most other ladder-chassis ute-based SUVs, the MU-X can tow up to 3500kg in both 4x4 and 4x2 guises and comes standard with trailer stability control.

Maximum towball down load is 350kg.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The new Grand Cherokee L is exclusively powered by a 3.5-litre Pentastar petrol V6. All grades except the Summit Reserve can pull 2800kg with a braked strailer. The top-of-the-range has air suspension so towing is down to 2240kg. Both will tow 750kg with an unbraked trailer.

With the release of the new Grand Cherokee L, the diesel motor has been dropped.

All versions have a maximum towball down load of 281kg.

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Kia Sorento

All versions of the seven-seat Kia Sorento have a 2000kg braked towing capacity regardless of petrol or diesel drivetrains.

The Sorento's maximum towball down load is 200kg.

Mazda CX-8

The diesel seven-seater has a 2000kg towing capacity and trailer stability control. The 2.5-litre petrol is slightly less capable at 1800kg.

Maximum towball down load measures 150kg for the diesel and 150kg for the petrol.

Mazda CX-9

Like the CX-8, Mazda’s SUV flagship has a 2000kg towing capacity and trailer stability control.

The towball download figure is 150kg and all figures are the same for the two and all-wheel drive versions.

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Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The Triton-ute based Pajero Sport has an excellent 3100kg braked towing capacity and trailer stability control.

The maximum towball download number is 310kg.

Nissan Pathfinder

The incoming new 2022 V6 petrol Pathfinders have a 2700kg braked towing capacity, and we're yet to see a hybrid in the new car.

The towball down load maximum is 270kg.

Nissan Patrol

Nissan big 4X4 SUV has a 3500kg braked towing capacity, with pulling large loads made easier thanks to its big 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine. The highest load you should put on the towball is 350kg.

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Subaru Outback

The car-based four-cylinder petrol Outbacks can tow 2000kg, up 500kg on the recently-replaced version. This figure is also 300kg more than the now-discontinued flat-six.

The maximum towball down load rating is 200kg.

Toyota Fortuner

The Hilux-based 4x4 now has a 3100kg braked towing capacity that’s handy but falls short of its main rivals such as the Ford Everest but matches the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Trailer stability control is standard.

The maximum towball down load figure is 280kg.

Toyota Kluger

Toyota’s new-generation family-sized SUV has a choice of a four-cylinder hybrid AWD or 3.5-litre six-cylinder in both two and all-wheel drive. All versions have a 2000kg braked towing capacity.

The Kluger's towball down load maximum is 200kg.

Why such a modest capacity for such a large vehicle? Put it down to the Kluger’s unibody construction, which can’t handle as much load as a more rugged ladder-frame chassis. Thankfully, Toyota has more tow-happy alternatives that fit the bill...

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Toyota LandCruiser Prado

Australia’s biggest selling large SUV has braked towing capacities of 2500kg and 3000kg for the manual and automatic versions respectively, with towing made safer with trailer stability control.

The maximum towball downball limit is 250kg for the manual and 300kg for the automatic.

Toyota LandCruiser 300

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Like its main rival the Nissan Patrol, the Landcruiser 300 wagons are rated to tow a 3500kg braked trailer. Unlike the petrol-only Patrol, the 300-series Landcruiser can be had with a grunty – yet thrifty – turbo diesel V6 for even better long-distance towing capability.

The 300's maximum towball down load limit is 350kg.

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Genesis GV80

Hyundai's premium brand Genesis includes a large SUV called the GV80. The twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, 3.0-litre turbodiesel and 2.5-litre turbo four will each pull 2722kg.

The maximum towball down load is 182kg.

BMW X5

BMW's first SAV - sport activity vehicle – the X5 is still going strong. The big Beemer can tow 2800kg braked with a maximum towball down load of 140kg. These figures apply to all versions.

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BMW X6

The X6 mirrors the X5's 2800kg towing capacity with a towball download of 140kg.

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BMW X7

Munich's biggest SUV, the X7, has a 2800kg towing capacity and a maximum towball down load of 100kg in petrol M50i form.

Step down to the xDrive30d and braked towing drops to 2200kg and towball down load rises to 140kg.

BMW iX

The first electric car to arrive on this list, the BMW iX can haul 2500kg with a maximum towball download of 100kg.

Audi Q7

Audi's second-generation Q7 can haul 3500kg in 45TDI, 50TDI, 55 TFSI and SQ7 versions. Each has a towball down load maximum of 350kg.

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Audi Q8

The luxurious Q8 SUV can tow the same 3500kg as the Q7, with an identical maximum towball down load of 350kg.

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Benz's huge GLE class can move 2700kg of braked trailer load with a maximum towball down load of 216kg.

Mercedes G-Class

The iconic G-Class – or Geldanewagen – can tow 3500kg of braked trailer in petrol and diesel versions.

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Volvo XC90

Sweden's answer to the X5, GLE and Q7 can move 2400kg with a braked trailer and have a maximum towball down load of 110kg.

Land Rover Defender

It's hard to believe, but the classic Defender nameplate is only now in its second-generation. The modern machine can tow 3500kg with a braked trailer.

The Defender's maximim towball down load is 350kg.

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

LR's Disco Sport as it's affectionately known can tow up 2000kg in with a braked trailer and boasts a 100kg towball down load.

Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover's second nameplate, the Discovery, is now in its fifth generation and can tow 3500kg with a maximum towball down load of 350kg.

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Range Rover

Land Rover's posh boi, the Range Rover, comes in about 1500 variants and can tow 2500kg with a towball download of 250kg.

LDV D90

LDV's biggest SUV, the D90, can tow 2000kg. The LDC spec sheet does not include a towball down load figure.

Ineos Grenadier

The brainchild of a billionaire petro-chemicals boss, the Grenadier puts its BMW engines to good use in a body shell inspired by the original Land Rover Defender (never proved in court) to tow up to 3500kg. The towball download figure is 350kg.

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Any questions? Let us know below and we'll work to either update this story, or explore some new story ideas to help you make the right decision!

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