Usable payload
Three-row SUVs can fill every seat quickly. Passenger weight plus trailer tongue weight can consume payload before the maximum tow rating is reached.
Vehicle comparison guide
Best Midsize SUVs for Towing
A towing-focused shortlist of midsize and three-row SUVs covered by Towlytics, plus the numbers that matter beyond the headline tow rating.
What makes an SUV a strong towing candidate?
The “best” SUV depends on the trailer and how you use the vehicle every day. A boat trailer used locally creates a different requirement than a tall travel trailer pulled across mountain grades with six passengers aboard. For towing, focus first on the exact configuration's ratings and equipment—not just engine power or a model-level maximum.
Factory tow equipment
Look for the manufacturer's required tow package, wiring, cooling upgrades, hitch equipment, and brake-controller provisions.
Loaded trailer weight
Compare against the trailer's trip-ready weight, not just a dry brochure number.
Stability and use case
Trailer frontal area, wheelbase, road speed, crosswinds, hills, and how much margin you leave all affect the real-world towing experience.
Midsize SUVs to compare in Towlytics
These are not a universal 1-to-6 ranking. They are useful starting points because they span several towing-capability levels. The rating shown is the highest currently listed by Towlytics for that model; your year and configuration may be lower.
| Vehicle | Highest listed tow rating | Why it belongs on the comparison list |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 7,200 lbs | One of the higher towing-capacity midsize SUVs covered by Towlytics; useful to compare when a 5,000-lb class SUV does not leave enough margin. |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 6,000 lbs | Three-row family packaging with a higher represented ceiling than many mainstream midsize crossovers. |
| Ford Explorer | 5,600 lbs | A middle ground for buyers balancing everyday three-row use with moderate trailer requirements. |
| Honda Pilot | 5,000 lbs | A common family-SUV benchmark for lighter boats, utility trailers, and campers when properly configured. |
| Kia Telluride | 5,000 lbs | Another three-row option in the 5,000-lb class; payload and exact model-year equipment deserve close attention. |
| Hyundai Palisade | 5,000 lbs | Useful to cross-shop with other family-focused three-row SUVs when the trailer is comfortably below the vehicle's exact rating. |
How to choose between them
If your trailer is near 5,000 lbs loaded
Do not automatically choose an SUV with a 5,000-lb maximum. A trailer near the maximum leaves little room for configuration differences and can create a payload challenge. Compare higher-capacity alternatives and verify actual weights.
If you need all three rows
Calculate passenger weight first. A full cabin plus luggage can materially reduce the payload available for tongue weight.
If you tow a travel trailer
Pay attention to tongue weight, frontal area, sway-control recommendations, and weight-distribution requirements—not just the trailer's scale weight.
If towing is occasional and light
A 5,000-lb-class SUV may be completely appropriate for a much lighter utility trailer or boat, provided the exact vehicle and trailer stay within every rating.
Before buying an SUV for towing
- Estimate the trailer's loaded weight and tongue weight.
- Add the weight of your normal passengers and cargo.
- Check the payload label on the exact SUV you are considering.
- Verify that vehicle's engine, drivetrain, wheel/tire setup, hitch, and factory tow package meet the towing-guide requirements.
- Confirm whether trailer brakes, a brake controller, or weight-distribution equipment are required or recommended.
- Leave practical margin instead of planning to run at every maximum.
Bottom line
For moderate towing, the Grand Cherokee, Pathfinder, Explorer, Pilot, Telluride, and Palisade give you several capability levels to investigate. The right answer is the one whose exact configuration has enough trailer capacity, payload, axle capacity, and factory equipment for your loaded trailer and your normal passengers—not simply the SUV with the largest model-level number.