Suv that can tow 7,000 lbs

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• Jeep Wagoneer Max Towing Capacity: 10,000 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 8,845 pounds.
• Jeep Grand Wagoneer Max Towing Capacity: 9,870 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 8,893 pounds.
• Ford Expedition Max Towing Capacity: 9,300 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 7,850 pounds.
• Lincoln Navigator Max Towing Capacity: 8,700 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 8,375 pounds.
• Chevrolet Tahoe Max Towing Capacity: 8,400 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 8,033 pounds.
• GMC Yukon Max Towing Capacity: 8,400 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 7,850 pounds.
• Chevrolet Suburban Max Towing Capacity: 8,300 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 7,916 pounds.
• Cadillac Escalade Max Towing Capacity: 8,200 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 7,816 pounds.
• Dodge Durango Max Towing Capacity: 8,700 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 7,433 pounds.
• Nissan Armada Towing Capacity (all versions): 8,500 Pounds.
• Infiniti QX80 Towing Capacity (all versions): 8,500 Pounds.
• Mercedes-Benz GLS Towing Capacity (all versions): 7,700 Pounds.
• Toyota Sequoia Max Towing Capacity: 7,400 Pounds. Average Tow Rating Across All Models: 7,209 pounds.

Price Starting From

With the 2022 Wagoneer, Jeep has expanded into the full-size premium SUV segment with a very able competitor. With seating for up to eight and 10,000 pounds of class-leading towing capacity, though it requires opting for a higher trim and rear-wheel drive (four-wheel drive Wagoneers max out at 8,530 pounds, which is still plenty). This big SUV offers capability blended with a premium feel that outpaces many competitors, and it also offers more off-road capability. The substrates and design feel more natural than the Yukon and Expedition, and the interior feels warmer overall than the Escalade. If the Suburban is Bass Pro and the Escalade John Varvatos, the Wagoneer is Barbour. But all of that comes with a substantial purchase price and fuel bill while filling any lane it occupies.

• Brawny V8 and lots of towing capacity
• A Surprisingly good handler on the road, and capable in the dirt
• Versatile, luxurious interior

• Predictably poor fuel efficiency
• Camera access buried in too many steps
• Overly complex infotainment setup

Price Starting From

The 2020 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a burly people-carrier that embodies all the typical luxury SUV clichés, but its utility and go-anywhere capabilities can’t be sniffed at. Its brawny V8 and proven off-road hardware give it outstanding performance in its class. And that includes towing capacity, with up to 9,870 pounds of max tow rating, though most versions hover around 8,400 pounds. This, plus a premium interior and a multitude of baked-in conveniences, make it a highly attractive option for those in the need of a versatile, comfortable vehicle to meet big-family and towing needs. That said, the Grand Wagoneer is a very expensive machine and one that is very thirsty at the pump.

• Brawny V8, up to 9,870 pounds of towing capacity
• Handles with a surprising level of control for an SUV of its size
• Versatile, luxurious interior

• Predictably poor fuel efficiency
• Camera access buried in too many steps, complex infotainment
• A price as large as the vehicle itself

Price Starting From

If you need a lot of SUV or a lot of towing capacity, then the 2022 Ford Expedition should be at the very top of your shopping list. The Expedition can tow a class-leading 9,300 pounds with the available towing package and can be optioned with Ford’s trailer backup assist features, which are extremely handy when maneuvering fully loaded. The stretched Expedition Max can only tow 9,000 pounds, but that’s still plenty of heft. The SUV’s size makes for a cavernous and comfy interior, and for 2022 Ford has updated the model with styling and technology upgrades and a new off-road Timberline version, the first truly off-road focused Expedition.

• Lots of interior room
• Class-leading towing capacity
• New power and off-road upgrades

• Hefty price tag for a non-luxury SUV
• Some configurations cost more than a Lincoln Navigator
• Land yacht size translates to land yacht driving feel

Price Starting From

Redesigned just last year, the full-size 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe gets even more upgrades, with new infotainment software, added active-safety features and expanded availability of its largest V8. Thanks to a new independent rear suspension, it’s smoother to drive and boasts more room for people and cargo than any previous Tahoe and nearly all of its competitors. The updated design comes up to 8,400 pounds when properly equipped, though even the least capable Tahoe can lug 7,600 pounds. The model also now offers a wide array of trailering assist tech, including augmented blind spot monitoring, rear camera hitching guidelines, and trailer tire pressure and temperature monitors.

• All-new for 2021, with considerable added refinement and capability
• Frugal and torquey available new diesel engine 
• Good towing capability and trailering-assist systems

• Starts pricey and climbs from there
• Love it/hate it design elements
• Some interior controls and fit/finish don’t live up to its price point

Price Starting From

The 2022 GMC Yukon, freshly redesigned for 2021 and boasting major systems upgrades this year, is a stylish, high-quality and capable big SUV, superior to many of its closest competitors and more refined to drive than any previous version. It also has more towing capability, up to 8,400 pounds. It’s average across all models is a little lower than its sister, the Chevy Tahoe, because the Yukon and Yukon XL, twin to the Chevy Suburban, are part of a single lineup. The Yukon can also be had with lots of trailer-assist tech and a thirfty and strong new diesel powerplant, but it comes at a high price, particularly on the higher-level trims, which aren’t quite as fancy as GMC bills them.

• Roomy and comfortable passenger capacity in all three rows
• Excellent towing capacity and good trailering-assistance tech
• Quick, balanced and insulated ride when underway, but also stops in a hurry

• Potent, but dated (and thirsty) gas engines
• Upmarket option packages can make it very spendy
• Big third row is cumbersome to access

Price Starting From

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offers more room for people and gear than any of its many ancestors, and it handles much better too. This year brings new infotainment software, added active-safety features and wider availability of the powerful 6.2-liter V8, shared with Cadillac’s Escalade. The highs include van-like cargo room (up to 144.7 cubic-feet), limo-like room, up to 23 mpg combined from the optional turbodiesel engine and lots of towing power. Most models fall into the  7,900 and 8,200-pound capacity range, a bit less than the lighter, smaller Tahoe and similarly-sized Expedition MAX.  The addition of more safety features improves the value proposition, but the Suburban still gets very pricey when you add options

• Unbeatable cargo space among SUVs, and lots of room for people
• Excellent fuel mileage and towing performance from optional diesel
• Handles well for a large SUV, and better than previous Suburbans

• Can get very expensive, and many nice features are optional
• Plebeian cabin doesn’t feel all that luxurious even on top trims
• Less towing capacity than smaller Tahoe and similar Expedition Max

Price Starting From

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade improves upon everything fans of the luxury SUV want: refined looks, lots of room, a robust collection of modern technology and big towing capacity. Much of the in-vehicle tech is entertainment-centric, but the Escalade also offers cutting-edge safety and driver-assist technology, including a trailering integration package that provides extended blind spot monitoring while towing and nine camera views for monitoring and hitching. The Escalade offers slightly less towing capacity than its Chevrolet and GMC sisters, with a maximum rating of 8,200 pounds, but it’s still plenty powerful and much more luxurious inside than they are.

• Stylish and luxurious inside and out
• Plenty of safety and driver-assist technology
• Up to 8,200 pounds of towing capacity
  

• Visibility is a struggle, needs to rely on additional tech
• So much tech in the cockpit will require long learning curve
• Rear-media requires USB-C cords, which for many will require adapters

Price Starting From

The Dodge Durango is a three-row midsize SUV that brings rollicking performance and muscle car looks to a family segment. Around since 2011, it’s dated, gets mediocre fuel mileage and lacks safety tech, but it offers full-size towing capacity from its V8 models (up to 8,700 pounds) and almost class-leading midsize capacity from its V6s (up to 6,200 pounds). The SRT 392 offers BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne-baiting performance in the bargain. V8 Durangos can be fitted with a genuine two-speed transfer case with neutral to permit flat-towing without modifications, a distinct offering for the segment. Among midsize SUVs, the Durango is the towing champ by a country mile.

• Best-in-class available towing capacity
• Very comfortable seating, even in third row
• AMG GLE53 and BMW X5M-rivalling performance in SRT guise, muscle car looks on all models

• Barely competitive fuel economy in V6, dismal in V8 models
• Decade-old design showing its age
• Getting active safety features requires upper trim levels

Price Starting From

The Nissan Armada is a powerful large SUV that can carry a family in plush comfort, with a relatively smooth and comfortable ride for a traditional full-frame machine. The Armada’s truck-based mechanical pieces also mean it can tow up to 8,500 pounds, the most of any non-domestic SUV. The downsides are that it has less cargo and passenger space than similar SUVs. It’s also thirsty and not a great on-road handler. The Armada does, however, come with a comprehensive suite of standard active-safety gear and many tech features. It also offers a couple of trailering-related tech aids, though they aren’t as advanced as those of GM and Ford.

• Comfortable interior
• Powerful V8 engine with excellent towing capacity
• Loads of tech features and driver-assist gear

• Poor fuel economy
• Lots of body roll and wandery handling
• Less cargo and passenger space than rivals

Price Starting From

The plush QX80 is a close relative of the Nissan Armada, sharing its engine, chassis, and body. Like the Nissan, there are only two basic configurations, a 5.6-liter V8 engine delivering an ample 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Both setups can tow 8,500 pounds with ease, though fuel mileage isn’t great. Like the Armada, off-road performance is good, but on-road handling only so-so. The QX80 offers more standard tech, different styling, and more luxury amenities than the Armada, but also costs considerably more.

• Luxurious styling and quiet cabin 
• Surprising off-road capability 
• All trims can tow up to 8,500-pounds

• Poor fuel economy 
• Only one powertrain option
• Available features more limited than competitors

Price Starting From

The GLS is Mercedes-Benz’s biggest and plushest SUV, just a few inches smaller than Chevy’s Tahoe. The GLS offers two mainstream models, the 3.0-liter V6-powered GLS 450 and the 4.0-liter V8-powered GLS 580. The pair share a common 7,700-pound tow rating, but there are also more exotic (and much more expensive) AMG and Maybach versions without tow ratings. The GLS is luxurious in the extreme, but curiously not all of its driver-assist systems are standard despite its towering price. The GLS 450 starts at nearly $77,000 and the 580 at nearly $99,000, with AMG and Maybach versions far more. V8 GLS450 models were briefly unavailable for part of 2022 but have returned to showrooms.

• Rugged looks, go-anywhere image
• Supreme off-road abilities
• Excellent utility, with up to 7,700 pounds of towing capacity

• Huge price quickly escalates
• Advanced driver assistance systems should be standard at this price
• All nine of the standard USB ports are type C, which may require cable adapters

Price Starting From

A new Sequoia has already been announced for 2023 and will go on sale later this year, but for now, the 2022 model is still on sale. Introduced way back in 2008, the Sequoia offers a strong standard V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, a comprehensive suite of active safety and driver-assist features, 7,400-pounds of towing capacity and gobs of space for both people and gear.  On paper, seating for eight and reasonable towing chops sound appealing, but the 2021 and 2022 Sequoias are quite dated. Model run-out deals may be available on such a truck in these inventory-challenged times.

• Large third-row seat
• Standard V8 
• Generous standard safety features

• Truck-like ride quality
• Interior not up to the quality of rivals
• Poor fuel economy

15 (Est) City / 20 (Est) Hwy

Before heading down to the dealership, it’s important to determine your specific trailering needs and to understand the terminology associated with trailering. 

Choosing the right SUV for towing:

We’ve focused on the best SUVs for towing with 7,000-pound or higher tow ratings, which is generally the largest SUVs, with only one midsize model on the list. If you’re towing only light campers, equipment trailers, or kayaks, many midsize SUVs will do the job for a lower price and return better fuel mileage. If you’re looking to tow more than 8,000 pounds regularly, a full-size pickup truck may be more appropriate.

Some terms to familiarize yourself with:

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Payload Capacity:

The maximum safe weight limit of a vehicle, including the vehicle’s weight and all of the contents within (including cargo, fuel and passengers). It also includes the tongue weight of a trailer, as that weight is placed on the rear half of the vehicle. For this reason, it’s essential to know how much you’re carrying and the tongue weight of any trailers. A truck’s payload capacity is the GVWR minus the vehicle’s weight as measured with a full tank of fuel. The tongue weight of a trailer needs to fit within the payload capacity.

Gross Vehicle Combined Weight Rating (GCWR):

The weight of the vehicle and trailer combined. For the rear-wheel drive Ford Expedition, the maximum GCWR is 15,300 pounds, while the tow rating is 9,300 pounds. If you’re traveling with four passengers and lots of luggage in the back, the amount that can be towed is going to be reduced because the truck is already bearing a hefty amount of weight. Unlike the GVWR, which can be found on a vehicle’s door jamb labels, the GCWR is typically found on manufacturer websites or within owner’s manuals. 

Trailer Tongue Weight:

The amount of the trailer’s weight that sits on the tow hitch and is therefore borne by the truck. The tongue weight is typically 10 to 15% of a trailer’s weight, but in SUVs, manufacturers typically indicate a limit of 10%. Because the tongue weight needs to be factored into the GVWR, it can limit how many people and how much cargo you can load into your SUV while towing. In addition, it’s critical that vehicles and trailers sit as level as possible. 

Methodology

These SUVs were selected for two main criteria: 1) the ranking by Forbes Wheels staff, 2) the towing capacities across their lineups and their versatility for different towing needs. The availability of trailer-assistance technology, from integrated trailer braking tech to advanced camera views and driver-assist technology, was also a consideration. To make our list, each SUV had to have a model-line-wide average of at least 7,200 pounds of towing capacity.

This list contains a mixture of 2021 and 2022 model year vehicles. Our rating methodology has been expanded from five to seven categories for 2022. As such, ratings of the same vehicle between these two model years may differ slightly. 

What vehicles have a 7000 towing capacity?

What mid size SUV has the highest towing capacity?

What small SUV can tow the most weight?

What vehicles can tow 7,200 lbs?