These 10 SUVs Have the Highest Towing Capacity

If serious towing is your top priority, your vehicle shopping could be limited to full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. But if you’re trying to balance competing needs for passenger seats, cabin space and creature comforts, there is a menu of beefier SUVs (many truck-based) that offer more versatility and enough towing capability to handle a good-size trailer, RV, boat or another vehicle.

Related: What You Need to Know Before Towing With an SUV

Properly configured, these SUVs can tow up to 10,000 pounds, but some of the top ratings apply only to specific trim levels or powertrains. They also typically require an HD trailering package or other options, such as a weight-distributing hitch for loads greater than 5,000 pounds.

With towing in mind, most of these SUVs do offer standard or optional features designed to make them better equipped and safer for serious trailering. They include not only hitches and wiring connectors, but also trucklike features, such as trailer brake controllers, trailer sway control, tow/haul transmission modes, load-leveling suspensions, camera views and other tech aids for lining up the hitch and trailer.

Below are the top model-year 2024 SUVs ranked by their maximum tow ratings. The tow ratings are comparable because they’ve been rated according to the SAE International J2807 performance standard, a comprehensive guideline for calculating a vehicle’s gross combined weight rating and trailer weight tow rating; however, note that these top towing ratings also assume ideal towing conditions. The real-world maximum for a specific vehicle and situation will be reduced by the passenger, cargo load and other factors. There is more information below the list on calculating the safe maximum for your situation.

Top Model-Year 2024 SUVs for Towing Capacity

Ties are listed in order from lowest to highest base price for the vehicle.

• Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer (including L versions): 10,000 pounds (Wagoneer), 9,810 pounds (Grand Wagoneer)
• GMC Hummer EV SUV: 10,000 pounds
• Toyota Sequoia: 9,520 pounds
• Ford Expedition/Expedition Max: 9,300 pounds, 9,000 pounds
• Lexus GX 550: 9,096 pounds
• Dodge Durango: 8,700 pounds
• Nissan Armada: 8,500 pounds
• Infiniti QX80: 8,500 pounds
• Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL: 8,400 pounds (Tahoe/Yukon), 8,300 pounds (Suburban/Yukon XL)
• Lincoln Navigator/Navigator L: 8,300 pounds/8,100 pounds

1. Jeep Wagoneer/Wagoneer L, Grand Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer L

The full-size Jeep Wagoneer and its fancier Grand Wagoneer sibling dropped their 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 for the 2024 model year, leaving the Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine as the only powertrain choice. In the Wagoneer and extended-length Wagoneer L, it makes 420 horsepower and 468 pounds-feet of torque; in the Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L, it’s tuned to 510 hp and 500 pounds-feet. The top towing rating is 10,000 pounds for both the Wagoneer and Wagoneer L with two-wheel drive and a Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package that includes a 3.92 axle ratio, HD engine cooling, trailer brake control, hitch lineup assist and hitch zoom view. A properly equipped Wagoneer with four-wheel drive still can tow 10,000 pounds, but the L variant drops to 9,850 pounds. The 4WD-only Grand Wagoneer can tow up to 9,810 pounds, and its L variant can tow up to 9,450 pounds.

2. GMC Hummer EV SUV (Tie)

The new companion to GMC’s Hummer EV Pickup offers rugged off-road capability (up to 16 inches of ground clearance) in an AWD two-row SUV format that has a wheelbase about 9 inches shorter than the pickup’s. The SUV offers up to 10,000 pounds of maximum towing capability with the 2X version and the standard 22-inch wheels. The 2X has two electric motors (one front, one rear) for a total of 625 hp and 7,400 pounds-feet of torque, per GMC; it also has an extensive package of towing gear and aids as standard.

3. Toyota Sequoia

The full-size 2024 Toyota Sequoia carries over for 2024 with a few trim updates but no substantial changes after its full redesign for 2023, which put the SUV on a new platform with a new hybrid powertrain that’s shared with the latest Tundra pickup. The new mechanicals raised the maximum towing capacity by 29% from the previous version’s 7,400 to 9,520 pounds, as well as raised the EPA fuel economy ratings to 22 mpg combined with 2WD and 20 mpg with 4WD. The hybrid powertrain combines a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine with an electric motor for a total of 437 hp and 583 pounds-feet of torque; it’s mated to a 10-speed automatic. The maximum tow rating is for the base SR5 trim level with rear-wheel drive; higher trim levels or adding 4WD lowers the rating to a max of 8,980 pounds for the top Capstone trim level with 4WD.

4. Ford Expedition/Expedition Max

Ford’s full-size Expedition and extended-length Expedition Max SUVs are largely unchanged for 2024. All versions are powered by a 380-hp, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 470 pounds-feet of torque, while higher trim levels of the Expedition get versions with 400 hp and 480 pounds-feet or 440 hp and 510 pounds feet. All RWD Expeditions with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package (includes upgraded cooling, a trailer brake controller and additional trailering tech features) are rated to tow up to 9,300 pounds. The rating drops to 9,200 pounds for 4WD Expeditions, while the longer Expedition Max with the trailer package is rated for up to 9,000 pounds for both RWD and 4WD versions.

5. Lexus GX 550

The Lexus GX 550 is heavily redesigned for 2024 with a bigger size, a new platform, a new engine and a jump in towing capability. The old V-8 is gone; power now comes from a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 engine that makes 349 hp and 479 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission (Lexus says a hybrid powertrain for the U.S. also is coming). AWD is standard, and the maximum tow rating is increased for 2024 to 9,096 pounds for the adventure-oriented Overtrail trim level with the standard tow hitch and up to 9,063 pounds for the Premium and Premium Plus trim levels.

6. Dodge Durango

The third-generation, mid-size Dodge Durango returns for its 14th year, and while the SUV’s future has not been announced, what is known is that 2024 is the final calendar year of production for its three Hemi V-8 engines, all of which are rated to tow up to 8,700 pounds. Trim levels with the top tow rating, which all have AWD, include the R/T with a 360-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the Tow N Go Package of performance, suspension and trailering upgrades; the Durango SRT 392, which has a 475-hp, 6.4-liter V-8; and the top-of-the-line Durango SRT Hellcat with its 710-hp, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. The top rating for the base 3.6-liter V-6 engine is 6,200 pounds with 2WD or AWD.

7. Nissan Armada

The full-size Nissan Armada carries over with no substantial changes for 2024 other than dropping its entry-level S trim. The standard powertrain remains a 400-hp, 5.6-liter V-8 that puts out 413 pounds-feet of torque, and towing capacity is rated for up to 8,500 pounds for all trim levels with RWD or AWD. An auto-leveling suspension, trailer brake controller and trailer sway control are standard.

8. Infiniti QX80 (Tie)

The Armada’s upscale cousin from Nissan’s premium Infiniti brand also soldiers on for 2024 with a standard 400-hp, 5.6-liter V-8. The QX80 is rated for up to 8,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity with RWD or AWD when properly equipped, and a self-leveling suspension and trailer sway control are standard. A full redesign is on the way for 2025, and the QX80 will join the twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine trend among big SUVs; in this case, the QX80 gets a 3.5-liter V-6 that boosts output to 450 hp and 516 pounds-feet of torque. Infiniti says the tow rating for the new model will remain 8,500 pounds.

9. Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon/XL

Chevy’s full-size Tahoe (a finalist for Cars.com’s Best SUV of 2024) and longer Suburban variant share platforms and powertrains with their GMC Yukon and Yukon XL corporate cousins. They also share the same maximum towing ratings of 8,400 pounds (Tahoe and Yukon) and 8,300 pounds (Suburban and Yukon XL) for versions with the base 355-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 that’s good for 383 pounds-feet of torque, RWD and the Max Trailering Package; those figures drop to 8,200 pounds and 8,000 pounds, respectively, with AWD. The top towing ratings with the 6.2-liter V-8s available on higher trim levels with RWD and the trailering package are 8,300 pounds (Tahoe), 8,200 pounds (Yukon and Suburban) and 8,100 pounds (Yukon XL). Also optional is a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder rated for up to 8,200 pounds (Tahoe), 8,100 pounds (Yukon), 8,000 pounds (Suburban) and 7,800 pounds (Yukon XL) with RWD and the trailering package.

10. Lincoln Navigator/Navigator L

The Navigator, an upscale cousin of the Expedition from Ford’s premium Lincoln brand, is largely unchanged for 2024 other than dropping the RWD versions to offer only AWD variants. A version of Ford’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 with 440 hp and 510 pounds-feet of torque remains standard for the Navigator and extended Navigator L. The loss of the higher-rated rear-drive versions drops the maximum towing rating from 8,700 to 8,300 pounds for properly equipped AWD Navigators and from 8,400 to 8,100 pounds for the larger Navigator L with AWD.

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Calculating Real World Towing Limits

The maximum safe trailer weight for any of these big SUVs has to be adjusted to fit the facts of load you are carrying in the SUV, which could be up to three rows of people and substantial cargo. The J2807 standard for calculating a maximum trailer weight rating assumes a minimum of added weight from occupants or cargo; if you load up your SUV or have added weighty extras (like a roof carrier), those additional pounds will cut your safe towing capability.

Here are three steps that can help you calculate the safe limit in your specific load situation:

1. Determine your SUV’s curb weight, including all accessories. Remember that the vehicle’s published curb weights are a starting point, but your SUV’s trim level and specific equipment might differ. A better idea is to use a scale at a local truck stop or your state department of motor vehicles to get a more precise vehicle weight.

2. Subtract the vehicle weight from your SUV’s gross combined weight rating, which is typically found on a label on the driver’s door or pillar or in your owner’s manual. The difference is the total combined available weight capacity that your SUV can carry and tow.

3. Subtract from that available weight capacity your expected payload weight of people and cargo in the SUV for the trip and the trailer tongue weight (the weight the trailer exerts on the rear of the SUV). What’s left is the actual maximum trailer weight you can safely tow for this trip.

You can shift pounds in either direction, such as by shifting some payload weight to the trailer, but you can never safely exceed either of the SUV’s maximum weight ratings — the maximum towing capacity or the GCWR.

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