15 of the Best Towing Vehicles That Aren’t Trucks

August 1, 2020

Need to tow stuff but don’t want a pickup? Here are a few of our favorites

Trucks are great for towing, but not everyone wants or needs a body-on-frame truck in their driveway. SUVs are a great alternative for those who need to tow a small trailer or a boat every now and again. They’re often feature-packed, easy to drive, and more than capable of hauling your jet skis to the lake twice a year. But even though the SUV is the go-to non-truck choice, there are other options out there that could fill your towing needs. Here are the 15 best towing vehicles that aren’t trucks—some of which can tow just as much as a full-size pickup.

Subaru Outback XT – 3,500 lbs

The Subaru Outback has been a perennial favorite here at MotorTrend. The Outback comes with Subaru‘s classic AWD system and a suite of safety tech like Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering and Pre-Collision Braking—not to mention its five-star crash safety rating—as standard. If driven gingerly, the Outback can also return up to 33 mpg on the highway, but if you’re towing the maximum 3,500 pounds, you can likely expect to do worse than that. The Outback XT starts at $38,775, making it one of the more affordable non-truck vehicles that can tow.

Volvo V90 Cross Country – 3,500 lbs

The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a lifted, off-road-ready version of the sleek-looking V90 wagon. Like the Subaru, it comes with a host of safety features and AWD as standard, but throws in sweet luxury features like adaptive headlights and leather memory seats as standard, too. But that extra luxury does also mean the V90 XC also starts at $56,190, almost $20,000 more than the Outback XT.

Chrysler Pacifica – 3,600 lbs

You might not think of a minivan when shopping for vehicles that can tow, but those trusty people movers can also move a fair amount of trailer weight when properly equipped. The Chrysler Pacifica, for example, is a surprising vehicle that can tow a hefty 3,600 pounds, but only after it’s been specified with the optional trailer tow package. The equipment group brings a 220-amp alternator, “heavy duty” radiator, tow hitch with a 2-inch receiver, brake-actuated trailer sway damping tech, and trailer wiring harnesses all for $995. The tow package isn’t available on the two lower trims of the Pacifica, the L and LX models, however.

Mercedes-Benz Metris – 5,000 lbs

We can’t remember the last time a Mercedes Benz was the least expensive option on a list like this, but then again we are talking about the Metris commercial van. Though it’s more at home in a fleet of work trucks than in your garage, there’s no doubt the Metris is both capable and affordable. Not only that, if you’re creative enough the Metris isn’t just a van, but a blank canvas ready to be customized to the nines. Don’t believe us? Check out these sweet custom Mercedes Vans. #VanLife, baby!

BMW X7 – 7,500 lbs

If you’re looking for the best towing vehicles that aren’t trucks, you’re mostly going to be looking at SUVs. And if you want to tow in the lap of luxury, the X7 might be the best option on this list. If selected, the tow hitch increases the towing capacity of any X7, regardless of engine choice, to 7,500 pounds. Unfortunately, because the tow hitch goes where a specific sensor sits in the rump of the X7, the added functionality of the kick-actuated tailgate is lost.

Mercedes-Benz GLE – 7,700 lbs

We like the 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE at MotorTrend. Online editor Kelly Lin said the new GLE’s “confidence-inspiring ride, quick and smooth power delivery, and superior creature comforts make it a desirable pick in the midsize luxury SUV segment.” We think it’s another great alternative vehicle that can tow. The GLE has a max tow rating of 7,700 lbs, regardless of which engine or drivetrain configuration you specify.

Porsche Cayenne – 7,700 lbs

The Cayenne has been Porsche‘s best-selling car for years now, and that’s because it’s comfortable, sporty, and capable. Porsche says it replaced the PDK double-clutch gearbox from the second-gen car with the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic for the new car to help with towing. As a result, even the base Cayenne will tow up to 7,700 pounds—more than enough to haul a Cayman GT4 Clubsport and multiple sets of tires to your local track.

Toyota Land Cruiser – 8,100 lbs

Rumor has it the Toyota Land Cruiser will be pulled from the U.S. market after 2020, so this year could be your last chance to own this automotive icon. Though expensive—it’s the most expensive Toyota you can buy and starts at more than $85,000—the Land Cruiser is extremely capable, and can tow up to 8,100 pounds, more than any of the midsize pickup trucks on the market today. With the Land Cruiser, you don’t just get one of the best towing vehicles that isn’t a truck, you also get one of the best off-roaders. Period.

Land Rover Discovery – 8,201 lbs

If you can get past the polarizing looks—the asymmetrical rear tailgate in particular—the Land Rover Discovery is fully capable of transporting your family of up to seven, a load of cargo, and 8,200 pounds on a trailer almost anywhere you’d like to go. To prove the Discovery’s towing potential, the softly proportioned Disco towed a 121-ton road train a few years ago, and despite the massive weight out back the Land Rover handled the task with relative ease.

Nissan Armada – 8,500 lbs

Known as the Patrol in other markets, a brand-new version was just unveiled by Nissan and likely foreshadows the coming of a new Armada for the U.S. market. But even if the current Armada is getting old, that doesn’t mean it’s not still a solid SUV. Its seven-passenger capacity, available AWD, and stand-out towing capacity make it a great option, especially when considering its starting price of $48,495.

Infiniti QX80 – 8,500 lbs

Even though it was recently redesigned, the QX80 is essentially a Nissan Armada in an Infiniti suit—it’s also almost $20,000 more expensive at $66,895. Just as big but heavily luxed up when compared to the Nissan, the big Infiniti offers the same towing rating of 8,500 pounds. That said, against other large luxury SUVs like the last-generation Mercedes GLS, Lexus LX, and Range Rover, it can still hold its own.

Chevrolet Tahoe – 8,600 lbs

The Chevrolet Tahoe hasn’t changed much since 2015, with only a minor updates sneaking in during the SUV’s five years on sale. If specified with the bench up front, the Tahoe can seat up to nine, the most of any car on this list. It will also tow a considerable 8,600 pounds. That may not be as much as the Ford Expedition, but the Tahoe can carry more people—assuming they’re comfortable squeezing into the rear-live-axle-compromised third row.

Dodge Durango – 8,700 lbs

If SUVs could be muscle cars, the Dodge Durango would perfectly fit the bill. The trailer tow bar is available on every model of Durango—from SXT all the way up to SR—and gives the brawny Dodge the second highest towing capacity on this list, a respectable 8,700 pounds. Big, heavy, and fun, the Durango (in SRT guise) is for the buyer with a sense of humor.

Lincoln Navigator – 8,700 lbs

The Navigator is the most expensive car on this list, starting at a whopping $77,765. But it might also be the most luxurious. Standard with Lincoln‘s industry-leading 10-way power adjustable front seats, ambient interior lighting, and a 10-inch touch-screen infotainment system, among a plethora of other features, the Navigator is the most premium American SUV currently on sale. It also ranks high among truck-alternative vehicles that can tow. With a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, the Navigator is nearly the most capable SUV on this list, though it loses out to its Ford-branded SUV sibling.

Ford Expedition – 9,300 lbs

Big American SUVs are a genre all their own, and the Expedition is the biggest of the lot. With seating for up to eight passengers, room isn’t a consideration with the big Ford. It can also haul up to 9,300 pounds, the most on this list by a considerable margin. That said, longer-wheelbase Expedition MAX models can only haul up to 9,000 pounds—less, but still better than any rival. MAX models also offer substantially more cargo room than the regular Expedition—36 cubic feet behind the third row compared to 20.9 cubic feet.