10 of the Best SUVs for Towing a Trailer

It might surprise you that the best SUVs for towing a trailer aren't always the biggest and the brawniest. Sure, there's no question that a full-size SUV is the optimal tow rig that will give you the widest possible range of hauling potential, but given that the average trailer load in the United States hovers around the 3,500 lbs mark, you may not need a monster in the driveway to handle your own particular towing needs.

Regardless of whether you're pulling a lawn tractor or a horse, it helps to know what options are out there. Let's take a quick look at 10 of the best SUVs for towing a trailer and see what they have to offer.

1. 2015 Dodge Durango

The 2015 Dodge Durango may look like your standard pickup-based SUV, but this full-size hauler actually borrows its bones from the more nimble Jeep Grand Cherokee. It would be a stretch to say that the Dodge Durango offers a car-like ride, but its definitely not as clunky around town as its more traditional sport-utility rivals can be. Throw in the fact that the Durango is rated to tow up to 7,400 lbs when ordered with its 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 (which produces 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque), and you're looking at a very practical rig that can also carry as many as seven passengers.

Photo by Dodge

2. 2015 GMC Yukon / Yukon XL

The 2015 GMC Yukon comes in two sizes: the standard-wheelbase entry model, and the extended-wheelbase Yukon XL. The entry-level, nine-passenger GMC Yukon boasts a 355 horsepower, 5.3-liter V-8 that also happens to be good for 383 lb-ft of torque. Combined with its full-frame design, this gives the GMC the ability to tow as much as 8,500 lbs. If you want the longer wheelbase Yukon XL, which boasts extra interior storage space, you'll be looking at a slightly reduced but still formidable 8,300 lbs of towing capability (along with the stabilizing effects associated with a larger chassis).

3. 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

The 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is more often seen on an off-road trail than it is towing a utility trailer back from Home Depot. Given its all-terrain pedigree, ultra-tough construction, and go-anywhere heritage, it's no surprise that the five-passenger Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (which is the four-door version of the standard Wrangler), isn't always regarded as a strong contender when choosing an SUV to tow with. That being said, the Wrangler Unlimited's longer wheelbase pairs well with its 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, giving it the ability to haul 3,500 lbs without breaking a sweat.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

4. 2015 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox is another small, but still useful choice for anyone looking for an SUV for towing a trailer. The Chevrolet Equinox is a compact five-passenger people mover that's available with either a four-cylinder or a V-6 engine under the hood, but if you plan on hauling you're going to want to opt for the 3.6-liter six-cylinder motor and its 301 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque. The V-6 more than doubles the Equinox's tow rating, giving it the ability to lug around as much as 3,500 lbs of trailer weight, which will be more than enough for the average driver.

5. 2015 Lincoln Navigator

The 2015 Lincoln Navigator provides upscale accommodations to coddle you wherever your towing needs might take you. The Lincoln Navigator sees a major upgrade in the engine department for the current model year, with its 5.4-liter V-8 banished in favor of a much more powerful 3.5-liter, twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6. Capable of generating 380 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, this unit combines with the Navigator's truck-derived platform to provide a whopping 9,000 lbs of towing capacity. Also available with the Lincoln is an adaptive suspension system that smoothes out the bumps in the road even when the SUV is fully loaded down.

Photo by Lincoln

6. 2015 Cadillac Escalade

Although the Navigator's star might have faded in recent years, its cross-town counterpart - the 2015 Cadillac Escalade - is still going strong. More thoroughly refreshed for 2015 as compared to the Lincoln, the eight passenger Cadillac Escalade borrows the bones of the GMC Yukon and grafts on a magnetic ride control suspension, adds a heaping dose of interior luxury, and installs a honking big 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood. That eight-cylinder mill pushes out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, but despite its extra oomph it manages to stay in the Yukon's wheelhouse with an 8,300 lbs tow rating

7. 2015 Toyota Highlander

The 2015 Toyota Highlander is another unlikely tow candidate, as its marketed more towards families than those who need to get a trailer to the lake on the weekend. Despite this, the eight-passenger Toyota Highlander is a solid choice for hauling your gear if you go with its optional V-6 engine over its standard four-cylinder motor. The 3.5-liter engine provides 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, which when paired with Toyota's available towing package (upgrading engine cooling and the vehicle's electrical system), gives you the ability to pull 5,000 lbs behind the SUV.

8. 2015 Ford Expedition

The 2015 Ford Expedition is in many ways the mechanical twin of the Lincoln Navigator, minus the styling and a few of its luxury bits. This means that the Ford Expedition has also seen a recent refresh, one that gifts it with the same turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 found in the Lincoln, albeit with a little less grunt: 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of twist, a drop of 15 ponies and 60 lb-ft of torque. Still, the eight-passenger Expedition manages to surge past the Navigator's hauling capacity, with its 9,200-lbs rating making it the best SUV for towing a trailer on this list (if one is judging exclusively by tow ceiling, of course).

Photo by Ford

9. 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe does a better job of separating itself from its GMC Yukon sibling this year, in large part due to a renewed effort from GM's stylists to give each vehicle its own personality. Under the skin, however, things are pretty much status quo, which means that the Chevrolet Tahoe shares the Yukon's 355 horsepower, 5.3-liter V-8, its truck-derived frame, and its ability to handle as many as nine passengers at a time across three rows of seating. It actually advertises a slightly higher tow rating - 8,600 lbs versus the GMC's 8,500 lbs - but really, with the same 383 lb-ft of torque on tap, you're looking at a question of personal preference when deciding between the two SUVs.

Photo by General Motors

10. 2015 Nissan Armada

The 2015 Nissan Armada might be riding on one of the oldest pickup platforms on the market, but that hasn't had any ill effect on its brawny, can-do attitude in the trailer department. The eight passenger Nissan Armada leverages its tough chassis and a 5.6-liter V-8 engine that produces 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque to turn out a trailer towing capacity of 9,000 lbs. That is, of course, if you make sure to spec the SUV with its available towing package; you're looking at nearly 3,000 lbs less capability if you stick with the entry-level model.

Photo by Nissan USA