Drivers tend to default to pick-up trucks when they know they’ll do a lot of towing, but SUVs can be great as an alternative. If your trailer is relatively light, you may be able to tow it with a smaller SUV than you’d think, and then you have a more efficient vehicle to drive on a daily basis. Towing with an SUV means you’ll have access to cargo space that’s sheltered from the elements. And if you regularly need to tow with a crowd, you can buy a three-row SUV with plenty of seating.
SUVs with higher towing capacities tend to come with the same essential features as trucks such as trailer sway control and trailer brake controllers. Some even include features like extended blind spot monitors and trailer back-up assist.
If you think an SUV might be the right tool for your towing needs, check out this list of the best SUVs for towing in Canada for 2025. To help you in your search, we’ve included information on each model’s peak towing capacity based on the all-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) versions since that’s what most Canadians will take home. We’re focused on the models with above-average tow ratings and equipment within their respective segments.
Best SUVs in Canada for Towing
- Tips for buying an SUV for Towing
- Jeep Wagoneer
- Ford Expedition
- Toyota Sequoia
- Dodge Durango
- Nissan Armada
- Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
- Land Rover Defender
- Porsche Cayenne
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Nissan Pathfinder
Tips for buying an SUV for Towing
No matter how often you tow, you’ll still need to drive the tow vehicle you choose the rest of the time. This means you should factor an SUV’s laden and unladen drivability in your decision as well as its overall fuel consumption.
Beware the urge to succumb to overkill. We’re listing vehicles with high tow ratings here, but there’s a long list of mid-size SUVs capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms). If it’s a small tent trailer you’re pulling as opposed to a massive boat or a 30-foot camper, you’ll likely get along fine with a smaller vehicle.
Finally, know that it’s often one particular specification that offers an SUV’s maximum tow rating, while other trims and/or powertrains may be less capable. Sometimes, an extra-cost towing package will also be required to access peak towing capacity through equipment such as a transmission cooler or a larger rear axle ratio. Be sure you know which trims and packages align with your needs before you buy. You’ll also want to be familiar with the importance of balancing gross vehicle weight ratings and trailer tongue weights before you hook up.
Prices shown include manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) plus destination charge and dealer fees but not options or sales taxes. While current at time of publication, prices are subject to change.
Jeep Wagoneer
Maximum towing with 4WD: 10,000 lbs (4,535 kg)
The Jeep Wagoneer, the brand’s luxury take on the full-size SUV, slotted itself into the top spot with a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds. This makes the Wagoneer the best full-size SUV for towing capacity in 2025. In Canada, 4WD is standard equipment. Currently, the default engine in the Wagoneer is Stellantis’s Hurricane 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder with its 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque, and add the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. (In 2024, this package was priced at $1,995. 2025 Wagoneer pricing hasn’t been released as of this writing.) This package adds a two-speed on-demand transfer case, 3.92 rear axle ratio, an electronic rear limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, a removable rear tow hook, a factory-installed trailer brake controller, and a trailer hitch zoom. In 2024, the Jeep Wagoneer had a starting price in Canada of $98,510. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is an even more upscale version of this same truck.
Ford Expedition
Maximum towing with 4WD: 9,200 lbs (4,173 kg)
The Ford Expedition lost its crown as the top-rated large SUV for towing when the Wagoneer landed. A new generation is launching for 2025 that helps it regain some ground, but it still needs to settle for second place overall. In the fifth-generation Expedition, Ford’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 is the sole engine available, though it’s offered in two tunes. The standard version produces 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque, while a higher-output version with 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque is standard on the new Tremor trim and optional in the Platinum grade. The Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow with Auto Hitch package is standard on every grade and includes a 26mm engine radiator, an integrated trailer brake controller, two-speed automatic 4WD with neutral towing, and a 3.73 non-limited slip rear axle. The 2025 Ford Expedition starts in Canada at a price of $82,115. Those seeking more luxury could consider the Lincoln Navigator as an alternative, which shares many components with the Expedition and is also redesigned for 2025. The new Navigator’s maximum towing capacity tops out at 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg). Buyers looking for even more interior space may wish to consider the Ford Expedition Max.
Toyota Sequoia
Maximum towing with 4WD: 9,000 lbs (4,080 kg)
With the redesign on the Toyota Sequoia that came with the 2023 model year, owning the brand’s large SUV became a much more appealing prospect. Adding to that is its maximum towing capacity of 9,121 lbs or 4,137 kg, a 22 percent improvement over the previous-generation Sequoia. A heavy-duty tow hitch is standard, and available trailering technology includes Trailer Backup Guide and Straight Path Assist. The latter adds steering inputs to keep the trailer moving straight while backing up. The 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine and hybrid system are standard equipment, producing a total system output of 437 hp and contributing to an unladen fuel economy rating of 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 10.5 on the highway, and 11.7 combined. Most versions of the Sequoia come with Toyota’s new 14-inch infotainment system, and all have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2025 Toyota Sequoia has a Canadian starting price of $87,130. For a luxury version of this same SUV, look to the Lexus GX.
Dodge Durango
Maximum towing with 4WD: 8,700 lbs (3,946 kg)
The Durango may not have changed much over the last decade, but along with that consistency comes the highest towing capacity in the mid-size SUV segment: up to 8,700 pounds, to be exact. To get it, you’ll need to opt for a model with the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with the Tow ‘n Go Package — yes, you can still buy a Durango with a Hemi! — or the 6.2-litre V8 in the Durango SRT Hellcat. Add on the Tow ‘N Go Package starting from the R/T trim for $2,995 (at 2025 pricing) and you’ll get a Class IV hitch receiver and four- and seven-pin wiring harness, a electronic limited-slip differential, heavy-duty engine cooling, an on-demand Quadra-Trac 4x4 system, and an integrated trailer brake controller, along with active noise control, adaptive dampers, auto-leveling headlamps, drive mode selections, a high-performance suspension and exhaust package, and performance-tuned steering. For the buyer who needs this much towing capability, this package is a relative bargain. The 2025 Dodge Durango R/T, including the Tow ‘n Go Package but before other options, starts in Canada at $83,580.
Nissan Armada
Maximum towing with 4WD: 8,500 lbs (3,855 kg)
The Nissan Armada enters a new generation for the 2025 model year. While it receives some styling and feature updates, this large SUV retains a maximum tow rating of 8,500 pounds in Canada. This tow rating is accessible on all grades with additional equipment. A 4WD drivetrain is also standard along with the Intelligent Around-View Monitor, a hitch receiver with a seven-pin connector, trailer back-up assist, trailer blind spot monitoring, and trailer sway control. In Canada, the 2025 Nissan Armada carries a starting price of $88,150. If you’d like your towing with a side of upscale interior finishes, the Infiniti QX80 is also redesigned for 2025 and offers a luxury alternative to the same packaging.
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
Maximum towing with 4WD: 8,200 lbs (3,719 kg)
The Chevy Tahoe and its mid-luxury stablemate, the GMC Yukon, each receive a mid-cycle refresh for the 2025 model year. This adds some styling and technology updates to the generation that launched in 2021, which introduced a four-wheel independent suspension with optional active damping and more spacious third-row seating. The max tow capacity for both vehicles requires the smaller 5.3-litre V8 engine option, as well as the Max Trailering Package, which is available with all versions and adds a two-speed transfer case when 4WD is equipped, as well as an enhanced cooling radiator, rear-camera hitch guidance, hill descent control, a trailer brake controller, and a smart trailer integration indicator. Higher trims also receive extended blind zone monitors, while a transparent trailer camera to assist with visibility while reversing is optional. Both SUVs come in long-wheelbase versions with slightly lower maximum tow ratings. The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe has a starting price in Canada of $83,233, while the 2025 GMC Yukon starts at $95,233. For those who want to roll in peak luxury while trailering, the Cadillac Escalade offers similar capability. If you want to tow just as much but you’re looking for the largest possible cargo and people hauler, consider the Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon XL.
Land Rover Defender
Maximum towing with 4WD: 7,716 lbs (3,500 kg)
The revived Land Rover Defender took outdoor adventuring to a new level when it launched in 2021. But so much attention was focused on its off-roading capability and accessory packages that its towing capacity—arguably just as important for certain off-the-grid sojourns—was nearly overlooked. In fact, the Defender can tow more than 7,700 pounds when equipped with 4WD, which is standard in Canada. To get to that figure, you’ll need the four-door 110 model with the larger 3.0-litre inline-six engine. A tow hitch costs $700 extra, and for $2,270 more you can add the optional towing package, which equips All Terrain Progress Control, a cruise control system for low-traction surfaces; Terrain Response 2, an automated system for selecting drive modes; Configurable Terrain Response, which lets you create your own settings for powertrain, steering, differentials and traction control; and Advanced Tow Assist, a form of trailer back-up assist. If you need three rows of seating, the Defender 130 tops out at 6,600 pounds (3,000 kg) of capacity, while the Land Rover Discovery can match the peak towing capacity of the Defender 110. The 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 with the model’s maximum towing capacity starts before options in Canada at a price of $91,990. If you need this much towing capacity but prefer a less rugged look, the Land Rover Range Rover also meets the 3,500-kilogram towing threshold.
Porsche Cayenne
Maximum towing with AWD: 7,716 lbs (3,500 kg)
Talk about a utility vehicle that can Talk about a utility vehicle that can do it all: the Porsche Cayenne is equally at home on a track, off-road, or when pulling its maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. This number can be achieved with either the Cayenne or Cayenne Coupe, both of which come with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Porsche is famous for its customizability – and for how quickly that customization can amp up the price – which means reaching this capability requires some extra-cost equipment, including the trailer hitch itself. The 2025 Porsche Cayenne has a starting price in Canada of $99,235. The related Audi Q7 may also appeal to some buyers. Buyers concerned about fuel efficiency may wish to consider the Porsche Cayenne plug-in hybrid, which has the same towing capacity.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Maximum towing with 4WD: 7,200 lbs (3,265 kg)
Here’s another Jeep worth mentioning for its towing ability: the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which entered a new generation for 2022. Both the five-seat and the new Grand Cherokee L, which has a third row of seats, are capable of pulling up to a maximum weight of 6,200 lbs (2,818 kg) when equipped with 4WD and the now-standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6. The Trailer Tow Package is priced at $995 and adds a Class IV hitch receiver, a 4- and 7-pin wiring harness, an automatic headlamp levelling system, an 180-amp alternator, an 18-inch full-size steel spare wheel and tire, an automatic headlamp levelling system, heavy-duty engine cooling, a rear load-levelling suspension, and a trailer hitch zoom camera view. The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee carries a Canadian starting price of $60,565.
Nissan Pathfinder
Maximum towing with AWD: 6,000 lbs (2,722 kg)
Most of the vehicles on this list are either large SUVs or high-end luxury SUVs, but here’s one with a respectable towing capacity from the functional-everyday-crossover department: the Nissan Pathfinder. Redesigned for the 2022 model year, the Pathfinder midsize SUV is capable of towing up to 6,000 lbs in every trim level except the base model. Trailer sway control is standard on all grades, while a hitch receiver with a seven-pin wiring harness is included from the SV trim level upwards. There’s no option to add an integrated trailer brake controller, though. A new nine-speed automatic transmission improves drivability over the previous generation’s CVT. The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder SV, the most affordable version with maximum towing capacity, carries a Canadian starting price of $52,985. If you’re looking for a similar but more upscale version of the Pathfinder, then the Infiniti QX60 was also redesigned for 2022 and offers the same tow rating.
Other SUVs with high towing capacities worth considering:
- Ford Expedition MAX (9,200 lbs/4,173 kg)
- Lincoln Navigator (8,700 lbs/3,946 kg)
- GMC Yukon XL (8,400 lbs/3,810 kg)
- Chevrolet Suburban (8,200 lbs/3,720 kg)
- Lexus LX (8,000 lbs/3,630 kg)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE (7,700 lbs/3,500 kg)
- Mercedes-Benz GLS (7,700 lbs/3,500 kg)
- Audi Q7/Q8 (7,700 lbs/3,500 kg)
- BMW X7 (7,500 lbs/3,400 kg)
- BMW X5/X6 (7,200 lbs/3,265 kg)
- Genesis GV80 (6,000 lbs/2,722 kg)