The ten Small Hybrid SUVs With The Greatest Towing

Hybrid SUVs are now not simply fuel-sipping city household haulers. For many years, early delicate hybrids had been meek autos that lacked the grunt to hitch a trailer within the rear. Towing was reserved for full- and mid-size vehicles.

Nevertheless, American drivers trying to connect a small trailer, a light-weight camper, or weekend gear are actually seeing an rising variety of succesful choices within the hybrid market. Due to developments in electrical motor torque and platform rigidity, small hybrid SUVs have grown more and more able to dealing with on a regular basis towing duties. The fashions listed under show that effectivity and utility can coexist in compact, electrified packages.

To provide the latest and correct data potential, the information used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producers and different authoritative sources, together with Automotive and Driver and Edmunds. Fashions are listed from the bottom towing ranking to the very best.

2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 1,000 Kilos

With a most towing capability of simply 1,000 kilos, the CR-V Hybrid sits on the backside of this listing. It gained’t be hauling a camper or a ship, however it may handle smaller duties, similar to pulling a light-weight utility trailer, a pair of bikes, or a compact cargo field for a metropolis transfer. The CR-V‘s delicate hybrid system, not like the remainder of the automobiles on this listing, is optimized for improved gasoline effectivity somewhat than better torque output. Camper-toting households ought to possible look to different new hybrid SUVs for his or her subsequent hauler.

Honda’s $30,000 to $40,000 CR-V is a perennial bestseller. The suburban staple maintains its recognition for good purpose: it presents a spacious inside, a bevy of security choices, and a conservative design. Plus, the CR-V advantages from Honda’s engineering prowess and lengthy historical past of reliability.

2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 1,500 Kilos

The Forester’s 1,500-pound towing restrict is identical as most different Forester trims. The Fuel-only Forester Base, Premium, Sport, Restricted, and Touring trims are all able to towing the identical quantity. Solely the extra highly effective Wilderness trim, with a 3,000-pound most, can carry a bigger tow load. At that weight class, the Forester Hybrid is not going to exchange a full-size pickup truck. However it’s a strong alternative for weekenders trying to tow a compact teardrop trailer or light-weight watercraft.

For 2025, the Japanese outdoor-centric automaker added a hybrid trim. Base hybrids add roughly $6,000 to the MSRP and return six to seven extra MPGs in comparison with the all-gas model. Subaru’s automobiles have all the time leaned on their off-road ruggedness. The boxy, upright Forester, with the model’s iconic symmetrical all-wheel-drive drivetrain, is a wonderful choice for drivers hoping to take their each day SUVs on tenting journeys.

2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 1,500 Kilos

Just like the Forester Hybrid, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is able to towing smaller cargo on medium-sized utility trailers. Toyota’s compact mild-hybrid SUV is good for weekend landscaping journeys and jet-ski excursions. It is not, nevertheless, a substitute for the brutish pressure of a full-size Tundra.

For years, the Toyota Corolla has been the world’s best-selling car. In 2022, the Japanese automaker determined to broaden the sedan’s lineup with the Cross, an upright, cute-ute with almost the identical underpinnings. Like the unique Corolla, the Cross finally gained a hybrid variant. Toyota began promoting the delicate hybrid SUV from US dealerships in 2023. The crossover SUV variant has steadily grown in recognition, promoting 93,021 copies final 12 months, a greater than 20,000-unit enhance from 2023.

2025 Ford Escape Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 1,500 Kilos

The Escape Hybrid reduces its towing capability by roughly 2,000 kilos in comparison with the gasoline mannequin. At 1,500, the Escape Hybrid is a strong around-town trailer provider. However heftier, 3,000-pound hauls are higher dealt with by the crossover’s gas-only sibling.

The Ford Escape, together with its $30,360 base-price hybrid, is on a little bit of a gross sales streak. Within the newest three-month gross sales interval, Ford reported deliveries of 45,232 Escape models, good for a 19-percent enhance over final 12 months. Nonetheless, that wasn’t sufficient to maintain the Escape for the longer term. Ford has simply introduced that rumors in regards to the Escape’s demise are true: the crossover SUV and its 42-MPG hybrid sibling are being discontinued in 2026 as the corporate prepares its Kentucky manufacturing unit for the subsequent era of EVs.

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 1,500 Kilos

Mazda’s mid-size entry prioritizes the model’s sprightly steering and effectivity over towing grunt. Non-hybrid CX-50s can tug as much as 2,000 kilos on a trailer. The hybrid variant reduces the towing capability by 500 kilos in comparison with its gas-only sister car, making it preferrred for towing a lightweight rowboat or a small bike on a single-axle trailer.

The CX-50 Hybrid, Mazda’s first partially battery-powered car within the mid-size market, competing with the RAV4 and CR-V, was launched within the U.S. this 12 months. Actually, the Mazda makes use of the identical 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid system discovered within the RAV4 Hybrid. Mazda’s $33,970 crossover achieves a middle-of-the-pack 38 MPG mixed.

2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 1,750 Kilos

Just like the smaller Corolla Cross Hybrid, the RAV4 Hybrid is not a significant hauler. Toyota’s best-selling car tops out at 1,750 kilos for its most capability, permitting RAV4 Hybrid drivers to hitch small boat trailers or ATVs to the again. The Hybrid outperforms entry-level, gas-only RAV4s, which might solely tow trailers weighing beneath 1,500 kilos. However top-of-the-line off-roading trims are able to shifting as much as 3,500 kilos.

America’s favourite non-pickup car additionally comes with a remarkably environment friendly hybrid powertrain. Beginning at $32,600, the partially electrified RAV4 burns by a gallon of gasoline each 41 miles of metropolis driving.

The RAV4’s mix of effectivity, worth, and conservative styling has made it a large gross sales success. In 2024, 475,193 new automobile consumers nabbed a RAV4 from Toyota heaps throughout the US. The one two autos with extra gross sales final 12 months had been Ford’s perennial gross sales chief, the F-150, and Chevy’s Silverado.

2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 2,000 Kilos

With a 2,000-pound towing ceiling, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid elevates itself right into a extra critical class of utility. That form of ranking permits for small watercraft, pop-up campers, or a totally loaded U-Haul trailer for city relocations.

With an angular design that reads far pricier than its $33,450 beginning value, the Tucson Hybrid punches above its class. Inside, its minimalist dashboard and digital instrument cluster ship a futuristic really feel that enhances its mild-electrified powertrain.

Hyundai’s hybrid system blends energy with effectivity, producing 226 mixed horsepower whereas returning as much as 38 MPG mixed. That makes it one of many extra refined choices for drivers looking for to scale back emissions with out compromising consolation.

2025 Lexus NX 350h

Max Towing Capability: 2,000 Kilos

At 2,000 kilos, the NX 350h is loads muscular for towing small trailers, cargo containers, or a light-weight camper. The luxe SUV won’t rival body-on-frame haulers, but it surely offers the NX 350h sufficient muscle for smaller duties.

The NX 350h sits on the intersection of effectivity and luxurious. With sharp physique traces, signature lighting, and a driver-focused cabin, the smallest Lexus SUV is underpinned by Toyota’s constant reliability. The automobile’s leather-wrapped inside will get inspiration from Lexus’ refined hybrid system, producing 240 horsepower and delivering 39 MPG within the metropolis.

2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Max Towing Capability: 2,500 Kilos

Amongst small, delicate hybrid SUVs, the Sportage Hybrid leads in towing. Its 2,500-pound capability pushes it into territory extra typically related to mid-size gasoline SUVs. That additional power permits for heavier cargo hauls, together with tandem trailers or mid-sized leisure autos.

Very similar to its Hyundai Tucson Hybrid sibling, the Kia Sportage Hybrid isn’t afraid to face out (the Kia and Hyundai SUVs share comparable mechanical and powertrain underpinnings). With boomerang-style lighting, textured chrome accents, and exaggerated grille components, Kia’s compact SUV effort provides a little bit of inspiration to America’s favourite car phase. The Kia’s energy set achieves as much as 43 MPG in metropolis driving.

Volvo XC-60 Recharge (Plug-in Hybrid)

Max Towing Capability: 3,500 kilos

At 3,500 kilos, the XC60 Recharge presents real truck-like tugging functionality, however with a extra luxurious shell. It could possibly deal with medium-sized campers, enclosed trailers, and heavier boats with out breaking a sweat.

Volvo’s XC60 Recharge blends Scandinavian minimalism with critical plug-in efficiency. As a part of its 2025 mid-cycle design refresh, the inside options premium supplies, clear traces, and a portrait-style infotainment show powered by Google’s Android Automotive system.

Its plug-in hybrid setup presents as much as 36 miles of all-electric vary earlier than the turbocharged engine kicks in, making it preferrred for commuters who wish to go electrical with out vary nervousness. The 455-horsepower complete output makes this essentially the most highly effective SUV on this listing.