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The best 2024 SUVs for towing: all sizes, all capability

View Date：2024-12-23 19:31:56

How much SUV do you need that can also double as a towing machine? Enough to seat five comfortably or with child-seat-friendly back seats? Maybe enough to seat seven adults and tow a pair of cars in an enclosed trailer? Here's the full range, from something with typical 3,500-pound capacity for towing a pair of ATVs or a light moving trailer all the way up to vehicles whose towing capacities compete head to head with full-size pickup trucks. Based largely on our MotorTrend Ultimate Rankings and individual stats, these are the best SUVs that can also tow decent loads compared to others in their respective size classes, which we’ve arranged by our MT Score rank:

15. 2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 7,000 LB | MT Score 7.6

Most SUVs blend into traffic, but that's much more challenging in a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The iconic G-Wagen is a purposeful steel box that seats five and can tow up to 7,000 pounds. Off-road capability is the G-Wagen's claim to fame, a claim it stakes with vengeance, from the base G550 trim on up. The AMG-powered G63 and 4x4 Squared models take that even further, and all can be customized to the hilt. No G-Wagen is particularly practical, with eye-watering prices and ear-irritating wind noise, but such is the price of being an icon.

14. 2024 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L 2WD: 8,200 LB | MT Score 7.8

Interior quality is more than just adequate in the 2024 Cadillac Escalade. The Cadillac flagship SUV's materials are largely excellent. Technology is also high-end, including Super Cruise hands-free driving capabilities and a combined 38 inches of OLED screens spanning the dashboard. Other large American vehicles are plenty comfortable, but taking a seat in an Escalade might change your perspective on what comfort means, and the Escalade is also more than capable, with an 8,200-pound towing capacity for RWD models equipped with the 6.2-liter V-8 and trailering package. Just expect to pay both the purchase price and the exorbitant fuel costs.

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13. 2024 Tesla Model X: 5,000 LB | MT Score 8.0

As the original electric SUV with both meaningful size and towing capacity, the 2024 Tesla Model X isn't perfect, but it continues to dominate its class for good reason. Although it's starting to show its age, the all-electric-powered Model X is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds and comes with an available third row. It can also accelerate on par with some supercars, boasts excellent driving dynamics and uses less energy than any gasoline-powered SUV. Its peak charging speed of 250 kilowatts is impressive, and maximum range is quoted at 348 miles.

12. 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 7,200 LB | MT Score 8.3

Capability on and off the road makes the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L a solid towing choice in the midsize SUV arena. The new Grand Cherokee is better behaved from a day-to-day drivability standpoint than its predecessors while not giving up off-road ability. If you opt for the Grand Cherokee with the base Pentastar V-6 engine, you can expect to tow as much as 6,200 pounds, which puts the Grand Cherokee noticeably above most of its competitors in terms of towing grunt. But the 7,200 pounds of capability afforded by the available V-8 engine is even better.

11. 2024 Ford Expedition XL 2WD: 9,300 LB | MT Score 8.3

The Expedition XL's hugely impressive 9,300-pound towing capability is more than that of some full-size trucks. The 2024 Ford Expedition also has interior space on par with the Suburban and interior quality that's arguably better than that of the Chevy. The Expedition drives much smaller than it is, too, with highly refined road manners that makes towing those enormous loads easier than with some of those pickups.

10. 2024 Porsche Cayenne: 7,700 LB | MT Score 8.4

An excellent all-rounder, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne's greatest triumph isn't necessarily its off- or on-road capabilities, its towing capacity or even its speed, but rather it's the fact the Cayenne is genuinely fun to drive for an SUV. But all of that doesn't come cheap. Given its mission as a performance-themed SUV, the Cayenne's 7,700-pound total towing capacity for certain models is a duly impressive feat. On the downside, its interior space isn't at the same level as other SUVs, though most will find more than enough real estate.

9. 2024 Chevrolet Suburban: 8,300 LB | MT Score 8.4

Big is something of an understatement when it comes to describing the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. Even the Suburban's smaller sibling, the Tahoe, has expansive space in all three rows of seats. The Suburban adds cargo space to an already cavernous interior while still maintaining enough towing capacity to haul an enclosed trailer full of powersports toys, or even a pair of lightweight cars on an open trailer. With the 5.3-liter V-8 and NHT trailering package, maximum capacity is 8,300 pounds. All this capacity is delivered through a surprisingly agile package with an adequate interior.

8. 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L: 9,850 LB | MT Score 8.4

As far as we're concerned, the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is the king of luxury three-row SUVs. Abundant power, expansive interior real estate covered in excellent materials and plenty of features and tech make the Grand Wagoneer a match for much more expensive SUVs, though the same could be said for the lower-priced base Wagoneer. The Grand Wagoneer is also one of the most capable SUVs on the road from a towing standpoint, with a stout 9,850-pound capability depending on spec. Fuel economy suffers as one would expect from the weight of all that luxury and the power required to smoothly move it, but there might not be a better option for a luxurious adult-sized third row in an SUV.

7. 2024 Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8: 7,700 LB | MT Score 8.5

Each entry in the 2024 Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 series of SUVs can tow 7,700 pounds, a big number for Audi's big line of midsize SUVs. The main differentiator between the trio of fashion-forward Audi SUVs is performance. The Q8's 335-hp turbocharged V-6 is replaced by a 500-hp turbocharged V-8 in the SQ8, and that turbocharged V-8 is cranked up to 591 hp in the RS Q8. The base Q8 is spacious compared to other fastback SUVs, a trait granted its faster compatriots, as well. Despite the speed, these SUVs can be somewhat clinical, all of them ride somewhat harshly.

6. 2024 Genesis GV80: 6,000 LB | MT Score 8.5

Luxury, value and safety make the 2024 Genesis GV80 a hard bargain to pass up. It's easy on the eyes, as well, without trying too hard. Although its overall ride quality and infotainment system need some improvement, virtually everything else about the GV80 is a strength, and that's before you consider the features-per-dollar rate. The GV80's 6,000 pounds of towing capacity is nothing to sneeze at, either; that towing capacity is dramatically larger than the weight of the GV80 itself.

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5. 2024 Subaru Ascent: 5,000 LB | MT Score 8.5

Its genuine off-road ability and great everyday usability set the 2024 Subaru Ascent apart from other three-row SUVs in its class. The Ascent drives well on the road, as well, with enough power and good ride quality, and the Ascent's 5,000-pound towing capacity is more than adequate. Although its third-row space isn't as tight as that of the Toyota Highlander, it's still not ideal; the front two rows offer plenty of space, though. Safety ratings are also excellent, but during our long-term testing of the Ascent we had more than our share of reliability issues.

4. 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 3,500 LB | MT Score 8.6

Excellent road-tripping with multiple spacious rows of seating and impressive gas mileage is the 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid's claim to fame. Although it isn't necessarily high performance, the Highlander Hybrid's powertrain is good around town and is capable of as much as 35 mpg when unladen, according to the EPA. Although the Highlander Hybrid's third-row seating is admittedly cramped for adults, it adds to the family-friendly versatility of the crossover SUV. It's also capable of a solid 3,500 pounds' worth of towing capacity when needs call for it.

3. 2024 Subaru Outback: 3,500 LB | MT Score 8.8

Our favorite midsize SUV is a wagon: the 2024 Subaru Outback. Efficient space, funky styling with genuine cool factor and dramatic off-road capability compared to most crossovers make this one of the very few cool family-friendly SUVs. Towing capacity for the Outback XT and Wilderness models is a moderate 3,500 pounds, but it's enough to tow a small boat, a trailer with an ATV or two or maybe a pair of jet skis — and quite a lot of towing capacity for a literal car. Base Outbacks get a still-solid 2,700 pounds towing capacity. Besides style and practicality, what sets the Outback apart is that it is as refined and capable on the road as it is off it.

2. 2024 Lincoln Aviator: 5,600 LB | MT Score 8.8

Despite losing the prodigiously powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain, the 2024 Lincoln Aviator still offers 5,600 pounds of towing capacity and eye-popping powertrain numbers of 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. That's a lot of oomph for a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick, with some of the best massaging seats you can find in any SUV. The plug-in hybrid's powertrain numbers were impressive, but it isn't as smooth as the base and now only engine option.

1. 2024 Hyundai Palisade: 5,000 LB | MT Score 9.0

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade remains our No. 1–ranked three-row midsize SUV, largely on account of its spaciousness, interior quality and safety features. It took out six other competitors in a broad MotorTrend comparison test, very narrowly defeating its platform sibling, the Kia Telluride. The Palisade's 5,000-pound towing capacity isn't massive, but it's enough to haul some toys and maybe more if necessary. The Palisade's ride is a little rough over uneven pavement, but the overall value proposition is nigh unbeatable in its class of 2024 three-row SUVs.