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10 SUVs That Can Tow More Than Most Pickup Owners Will Ever Need

By Yash Bajaj Autoblog

Updated May 13, 2026 11:22 AM

While the industry softens the SUV into an oversized station wagon, a select few heavy-duty workhorses engineered with proper frames and potent powertrains refuse to compromise. If you need to pull absolute maximum tonnage without stepping up to a pickup, these ten SUVs are your only legitimate options.

Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango is a traditional SUV in the field of electrified crossovers, aggressively tuned to pull an imposing 8,700 pounds. Starting at $38,495 in the US, this platform relies on brute force rather than sophisticated software. Marketed as a family hauler, the Durango provides a high-capacity towing experience that the modern market struggles to compete with. Traditional SUVs with torquey powertrains still earn their place in the market.

Nissan Armada

Nissan overhauled the Armada, transforming a forgotten fleet vehicle into a premium tow rig. Starting at $57,520 in the US, the new Armada pulls a highly competitive 8,500 pounds. It ditches its ancient V8 for a modern twin-turbo V6 pushing 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. With a reinforced frame and revised trailer sway control system, towing heavy campers at highway speeds is no longer an exhausting battle. The NISMO Armada has the same towing capacity and even more sporty credentials.

Toyota Sequoia

Toyota's Sequoia has long been suburbia's favorite; it presents itself as an impressive towing machine pulling an impressive 9,520 pounds. Starting at $62,175 in the US, its mandatory i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain makes 437 horsepower and a significant 583 pound-feet of torque. Using a fully boxed frame, it trades some cargo capacity for undeniable strength, making it perfect for hauling. Factor in the undeniable Toyota reliability, and the Sequoia is hard to argue with as a package.

Ford Expedition

Equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, the Ford Expedition functions as a legitimate F-150 substitute, maxing out at a massive 9,600 pounds of towing capacity. Starting at roughly $62,000 in the US, it utilizes a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 generating 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. Its proprietary Pro Trailer Backup Assist removes the anxiety of maneuvering a boat ramp by letting drivers steer via a dashboard dial.

Chevrolet Tahoe

When optioned with the Max Trailering Package, the rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Tahoe effortlessly pulls 8,400 pounds. With US prices starting around $63,495, Chevrolet offers the highly durable 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 engines. The Tahoe leverages an independent rear suspension, ensuring ride quality remains remarkably composed even with a heavy weight dragging down the rear axle, serving as an uncompromised choice for American buyers.

Chevrolet Suburban

Stretching the Tahoe's wheelbase yields the Chevrolet Suburban, a cavernous utility vehicle remaining a staple of high-capacity transport. With US pricing starting at $61,500, the increased mass drops the maximum towing capacity to a still-formidable 8,000 pounds. However, it compensates with unrivaled interior volume. With the proven V8 powertrains, the Suburban handles severe cross-country towing assignments with a predictable, iron-clad stability that shorter-wheelbase SUVs physically cannot replicate.

GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon shares its underlying structural architecture with the Tahoe, targeting buyers demanding massive capability wrapped in premium materials. Hitting an 8,400-pound maximum towing threshold, US models start around $69,229. Opting for top trims secures a potent 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. GMC heavily prioritizes visibility, outfitting the Yukon with up to thirteen distinct camera views calibrated for hitching, providing heavy-hauling competence while isolating the cabin in leather-bound comfort.

Audi Q7

European luxury vehicles are rarely associated with heavy-duty labor on American soil, but the Audi Q7 aggressively challenges that perception. Starting at $60,500 in the US, the Q7 offers an exceptional 7,700-pound maximum towing capacity. Audi utilizes a highly advanced, turbocharged V6 paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for immediate torque delivery. The famous Quattro all-wheel drive system helps minimize dangerous trailer sway that often plagues lighter crossovers.

Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender perfectly merges legendary, absolute off-road capability with serious payload management. It matches the German standard with a 7,700-pound towing capacity. Starting at $56,900 in the US, the Defender leverages robust turbocharged inline-six engines and an immensely stiff aluminum monocoque architecture. It is a brutally capable machine built for the buyer who needs to pull heavy equipment miles beyond where the pavement ends.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer remains the undisputed king of the consumer tow, capable of dragging a staggering 10,000 pounds. Dropping the aging V8 for a twin-turbocharged inline-six, it churns out 420 horsepower and a brutal 460 pound-feet of torque. Starting around $86,945 in the US, this luxurious workhorse boasts a body-on-frame architecture, effortlessly pulling a loaded dual-axle trailer on a steep grade.

While the automotive industry is reconsidering its transition toward soft, battery-powered crossovers, the uncompromising towing segment remains anchored in the brutal physics of weight and combustion. These ten platforms prove that heavy-duty capability is still available on the market. If you routinely move massive, multi-ton loads across state lines, you simply cannot rely on aggressively marketed alternatives. You must demand the iron-clad mechanical hardware and relentless torque that only these dedicated haulers can provide.

This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM.