Best Towing SUVs Reviews & Ratings

Towing SUVs are typically truck-based vehicles that have a sturdy body-on-frame chassis. They can be mid-size SUVs that can tow between 5,000 and 7,000 pounds or full-size SUVs which have greater towing capacities to nearly that of a pickup truck and can tow the equivalent of a large boat or sizable camper trailer. Usually an optional towing package is required in order to achieve these maximum ratings.

Towing SUVs tend to include more powerful engines with greater horsepower and torque ratings and are also all-wheel drive vehicles. However, due to these powerful engines as well as the all-wheel drive, fuel economy for these vehicles is typically at the lower end of the spectrum. Another feature of towing SUVs is having an automatic transmission which facilitates smooth shifting from one gear to another.

One the best towing SUVs is the Ford Expedition, a full-size vehicle with a truck-based design that seats eight and has excellent cargo and towing. It is powered by a 5.4-liter V8 engine that can produce 310 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission with optional four-wheel drive. With the proper equipment, the Expedition can tow 9,200 pounds.

The Toyota Sequoia is another of the best towing SUVs, a full-size vehicle weighing in at three tons, with a 4.6 liter V8 engine that can produce 310 horsepower and 327 pound-feet of torque combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, it can tow up to 7,400 pounds. Fuel economy is low, rated at 14 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg combined.

The Audi Q5 is a smaller towing SUV with a turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 engine that can produce 355 horsepower. A standard eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive aid in its towing capabilities of 4,400 pounds which is above average for a vehicle of its size. These features make the towing capacity what it is but at the cost of fuel economy which is rated at 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined.

The Mercury Mountaineer is another of the traditional body-on-frame towing SUVs with a 4.6 liter V8 that can produce 292 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque. Options include a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. Its towing capacity can reach over 7,200 pounds which is comparable to many pickup trucks. It is well-designed for towing trailers or boats on a regular basis.

The GMC Yukon Hybrid is one the best towing SUV that combines a 6.0 liter V8 engine with two 60-kilowatt electric motors to produce enough muscle for 332 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. Four-wheel drive is an option for this vehicle. Properly equipped, it can tow nearly 6,200 pounds. Unlike other vehicles in its class, because of the hybrid engine, fuel economy is higher, rated at 20 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined.

Another of the smaller towing SUVs is the Mercury Mariner that has an excellent towing capability for its class of 3,500 pounds in conjunction with the 3.0 liter V6 that can produce 240 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque. Standard on the vehicle is a six-speed automatic transmission and a choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The Mazda Tribute is another smaller towing SUV with a 3.0-liter V6 that can produce 240 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. This engine is available in a Grand Touring model which also includes a towing prep package and all-wheel drive. For a vehicle for its size, the Mazda Tribute can tow up to 2,000 pounds and its fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined.

The Ford Escape is another smaller sized towing SUV, available in all-wheel drive with a 3.0-liter V6 engine that can produce 240 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with this engine and when properly equipped, the vehicle tow up to 3,500 pounds. Fuel economy is similar to that of vehicles with good towing capabilities at 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined.

Although the Audi Q5 Hybrid is a crossover vehicle, it is considered to be a towing SUV due to its towing capacity of 4,400 pounds which is above average for a vehicle of its size. This is made possible by a combination of a 2.0-liter four cylinder engine in combination with a 44 horsepower electric motor that can produce 354 pound-feet of torque.

A mid-size towing SUV is the Volkswagen Touareg with a 3.6-liter V6 that can produce 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. For a vehicle of its size, it has a remarkable towing capacity of 7,700 pounds due not only to its engine but an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. This features make for a below average fuel economy of 14 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg combined.