The Best SUVs for Heavy-Duty Towing in 2024

If heavy-duty towing is your primary concern, your options typically narrow to full-size and heavy-duty pickup trucks. However, if you need to balance multiple requirements—such as additional passenger capacity, ample interior space, and comfort features—there are a variety of robust SUVs (many of which are built on truck platforms) that offer remarkable versatility while still delivering sufficient towing power. Some of these SUVs can tow up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. Keep in mind that the highest towing capacities are often available only with specific trims or powertrain configurations. Additionally, most of these SUVs necessitate the addition of an HD trailering package or other towing equipment, like a weight-distributing hitch, especially for loads exceeding 5,000 pounds.

To meet towing requirements, many of these SUVs come standard or offer options designed to improve towing performance and safety. These features may include essential equipment such as hitches and wiring harnesses, as well as advanced truck-style options like trailer brake controllers, sway control systems, tow/haul modes for the transmission, load-leveling suspension systems, and sophisticated camera systems to assist with hitching and maneuvering.

Below is a ranking of the top model-year 2024 SUVs based on their maximum towing capacities. These figures adhere to the SAE International J2807 performance standard, ensuring a consistent methodology for determining a vehicle’s gross combined weight rating and trailer towing capacity. However, it is important to remember that these maximum figures assume ideal towing conditions. Real-world towing limits may be lower depending on the cargo, passengers, and other factors. More information on calculating a safe towing maximum for your specific situation can be found after the list.

1. Jeep Wagoneer/Wagoneer L, Grand Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer L

For the 2024 model year, Jeep’s full-size Wagoneer and the more upscale Grand Wagoneer have replaced the previous 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine with the new Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. In the Wagoneer and its extended-length counterpart, the Wagoneer L, this engine generates 420 horsepower and 468 pounds-feet of torque. The Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L have a tuned version that produces even more power, delivering 510 hp and 500 pounds-feet of torque.

The maximum towing capacity is an impressive 10,000 pounds for both the Wagoneer and Wagoneer L when equipped with rear-wheel drive and the Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package. This package includes a 3.92 axle ratio, heavy-duty engine cooling, trailer brake control, hitch alignment assist, and a hitch zoom view. A four-wheel-drive Wagoneer equipped in this manner can also tow 10,000 pounds, although the capacity slightly dips to 9,850 pounds for the Wagoneer L. The Grand Wagoneer, which comes exclusively with four-wheel drive, has a maximum towing capacity of 9,810 pounds, while the extended Grand Wagoneer L is rated a bit lower at 9,450 pounds.

2. GMC Hummer EV SUV

The all-new GMC Hummer EV SUV joins the lineup alongside the Hummer EV Pickup, offering impressive off-road capabilities in a two-row SUV format. It features all-wheel drive and provides up to 16 inches of ground clearance. Notably, its wheelbase is approximately 9 inches shorter than the pickup version. The Hummer EV SUV can tow up to 10,000 pounds when configured as the 2X model with standard 22-inch wheels. This version includes dual electric motors—one on the front axle and one on the rear—delivering a combined output of 625 horsepower and an immense 7,400 pounds-feet of torque, according to GMC. Additionally, it comes with a comprehensive suite of towing tools and features as standard equipment.

3. Toyota Sequoia

The full-size 2024 Toyota Sequoia returns for the new model year with some trim updates but no substantial changes following its complete redesign in 2023. The redesign introduced a new platform and a hybrid powertrain shared with the latest Toyota Tundra pickup. Thanks to these updated mechanics, the Sequoia’s maximum towing capacity has increased by an impressive 29%, rising from the previous model’s 7,400 pounds to a new high of 9,520 pounds. Alongside this improvement comes better fuel economy, now rated at 22 mpg combined for rear-wheel-drive models and 20 mpg combined for those with four-wheel drive.

The hybrid powertrain combines a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 437 horsepower and 583 pounds-feet of torque, managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. The top tow rating is applicable to the SR5 trim with rear-wheel drive. Transitioning to higher trims or adding four-wheel drive slightly reduces the maximum rating, with the top Capstone trim level equipped with 4WD rated to tow up to 8,980 pounds.

4. Ford Expedition/Expedition Max

Ford’s full-size Expedition and its extended-length sibling, the Expedition Max, carry over into 2024 with no significant changes. All versions feature a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine generating 380 horsepower and 470 pounds-feet of torque in the base models, while higher trims offer increased power, with some versions producing 400 hp and 480 pounds-feet or even up to 440 hp and 510 pounds-feet. When equipped with rear-wheel drive and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package—which includes enhanced cooling, a trailer brake controller, and other towing-focused technology—the Expedition can tow up to 9,300 pounds. The towing capacity decreases slightly to 9,200 pounds for four-wheel-drive versions. The larger Expedition Max, when similarly equipped, offers a maximum towing capacity of 9,000 pounds for both rear- and four-wheel-drive configurations.

5. Lexus GX 550

The Lexus GX 550 has undergone a significant redesign for the 2024 model year, introducing a larger overall footprint, a new platform, an updated engine, and a remarkable boost in towing capacity. The previously used V-8 engine has been replaced by a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6, producing 349 horsepower and 479 pounds-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Lexus has also confirmed that a hybrid variant for the U.S. market is in development. All GX 550 models come standard with all-wheel drive. The 2024 model’s towing capabilities have been notably improved, with the rugged Overtrail trim level achieving a maximum towing capacity of 9,096 pounds when equipped with the standard tow hitch. The Premium and Premium Plus trim levels offer slightly lower maximum capacities of 9,063 pounds.

6. Dodge Durango

The third-generation mid-size Dodge Durango enters its 14th year of production for 2024. While Dodge has yet to confirm the SUV’s long-term future, it has announced that this will be the final year for the three Hemi V-8 engine options. All V-8 trims are rated to tow up to 8,700 pounds. Models that achieve this top tow rating—each equipped with all-wheel drive—include the R/T trim, featuring a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, along with the Tow N Go Package that adds performance, suspension, and towing upgrades. This includes the Durango SRT 392, powered by a 475-hp 6.4-liter V-8, and the top-tier Durango SRT Hellcat, which boasts a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 producing 710 horsepower. For comparison, the base 3.6-liter V-6 engine is rated for a maximum of 6,200 pounds of towing capacity, regardless of whether it has rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

7. Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada, a full-size SUV, returns for 2024 with minimal updates, the most notable being the discontinuation of the entry-level S trim. The standard powertrain remains a robust 5.6-liter V-8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pounds-feet of torque. It maintains a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds across all trim levels, regardless of rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration. Additionally, the Armada is equipped with an auto-leveling suspension, trailer brake controller, and trailer sway control as standard features, enhancing its towing capability.

8. Infiniti QX80

The Infiniti QX80, the luxurious counterpart to the Armada under Nissan’s luxury brand, also carries over for 2024, retaining the standard 400-hp, 5.6-liter V-8 engine. Like the Armada, the QX80 is capable of towing up to 8,500 pounds when properly equipped with either RWD or AWD. It also includes a self-leveling suspension and trailer sway control as standard. A significant redesign is on the horizon for the 2025 model, which will introduce a shift to a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine. This new 3.5-liter V-6 is expected to deliver 450 hp and 516 pounds-feet of torque, while Infiniti has confirmed that the towing capacity will remain at 8,500 pounds for the updated model.

9. Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon/XL

The Chevrolet Tahoe and its longer counterpart, the Suburban, are built on the same platforms and share powertrains with their corporate siblings, the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. All four models offer comparable maximum towing capacities: 8,400 pounds for the Tahoe and Yukon, and 8,300 pounds for the Suburban and Yukon XL—when equipped with the base 355-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 engine producing 383 pounds-feet of torque, RWD, and the Max Trailering Package. These figures decrease to 8,200 pounds and 8,000 pounds for the Tahoe and Suburban (respectively) when configured with AWD. When higher trim levels are fitted with the 6.2-liter V-8, the top towing capacities are 8,300 pounds for the Tahoe, 8,200 pounds for the Yukon and Suburban, and 8,100 pounds for the Yukon XL, provided they have RWD and the trailering package. Additionally, a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine is available, offering towing capacities of up to 8,200 pounds for the Tahoe, 8,100 pounds for the Yukon, 8,000 pounds for the Suburban, and 7,800 pounds for the Yukon XL when paired with RWD and the trailering package.

10. Lincoln Navigator/Navigator L

The Lincoln Navigator, a premium alternative to Ford’s Expedition, sees minimal changes for 2024, with the most notable being the elimination of rear-wheel drive (RWD) versions in favor of all-wheel drive (AWD) models. The standard engine for both the Navigator and the extended Navigator L is Ford’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, generating 440 horsepower and 510 pounds-feet of torque. With the removal of the higher-rated rear-drive configurations, the maximum towing capacity is reduced: properly equipped AWD Navigators are rated for up to 8,300 pounds, while the larger Navigator L with AWD can tow up to 8,100 pounds, down from 8,700 pounds and 8,400 pounds, respectively.