No matter what you tow or why, a used SUV can be a solid choice for a tow vehicle. Why? In addition to the power and towing capability you’d typically find in a pickup truck, you also get a fully enclosed and secure cargo area, which means more room for people and gear and more security when you need to stop, whether for a meal or overnight. Tow-capable SUVs can also be more comfortable for passengers, more fuel efficient, and better for daily use than pickup trucks. Whatever you tow to wherever you go, there’s an SUV on this list to suit your needs.
The towing capacities listed below are based on the manufacturer’s stated ratings. Keep in mind that manufacturers began adopting the SAE 2807 testing procedure for the 2011 model year. While this is standardized towing capacity testing, brands made the change at different times. As a result, when doing research, you may see a drop in towing capacity when looking at one year versus another for the same model.
Here are 10 of the best used SUVs for towing you’ll find under $15,000.
1. 2010 Toyota Sequoia: 10,000 pounds
The 2010 Toyota Sequoia offers the most towing capacity available on the used market at our price point. To get the maximum towing capacity in a 2010 Sequoia, you’ll need to find models equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 rather than the base 4.6-liter engine and opt for rear-wheel drive (RWD) instead of the available 4-wheel drive (4WD).
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2. 2012 Chevrolet Suburban: 9,600 pounds
For nearly as much towing capacity and a bit more cargo space, the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban is an attractive entry. Maximum towing comes in the 6.0-liter V8-powered Suburban 2500 configuration, but even the Suburban 1500 and its 5.3-liter V8 can tow up to 8,100 pounds with RWD (or up to 8,000 with 4WD). The Suburban’s long wheelbase means it can seat up to nine occupants and still hold 45.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row.
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3. 2013 GMC Yukon XL: 9,600 pounds
The 2013 GMC Yukon XL is visually similar to the Suburban and nearly identical under the sheet metal, offering the same towing ability. What the GMC offers that the Chevy does not, however, is the luxurious, 6.2-liter V8-powered Denali model, which ought to fit within our budget. A hybrid model is also available, but isn’t ideal for towing.
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4. 2015 Ford Expedition: 9,200 pounds
If V8s aren’t your thing, the 2015 Ford Expedition and its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine should be as appealing as the 9,200-pound tow rating. With 420 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Expedition’s V6 beats out every V8 on this list, so you’re not even giving anything up — but on the other hand, the V6 isn’t noticeably more efficient than the V8s.
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5. 2015 Nissan Armada: 9,000 pounds
Alongside the Expedition and Grand Cherokee, the 2015 Nissan Armada is one of the newer vehicles on our list. Despite its relative freshness, the Armada’s old-school truck-based construction and 5.6-liter V8 give it serious towing ability. The Armada is also a great option for those who need to travel with six or more occupants, as its third row is roomy enough even for adults. Pro tip: Unlike some of the options on this list, the Armada’s maximum tow rating is achieved with 4WD.
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6. 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe: 8,500 pounds
The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe is, as you might have guessed, also closely related to the Suburban and GMC Yukon. In truth, you could swap the short-wheelbase Yukon for the Tahoe and most folks wouldn’t notice the difference. While both iron and aluminum block 5.3-liter V8s are available depending on the trim, both engines rate the same for towing, and both drop to 8,200 pounds maximum towing capacity when equipped with the available 4WD.
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7. 2013 Volkswagen Touareg: 7,716 pounds
For those who love powerful, capable SUVs for towing but want something off the beaten path, the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg is an excellent choice. Sharing its architecture with the Porsche Cayenne of its day, the Touareg has a premium feel and excellent on-road dynamics, though it’s somewhat less capable off-road than some of the other options on this list. Still, with the available 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine and its 406 lb-ft of torque, the Touareg could be a fun tow rig for the right owner.
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8. 2008 Toyota 4Runner: 7,300 pounds
One of the simplest and most reliable choices on this list, the 2008 Toyota 4Runner has no pretense, offering lots of off-roading and towing capability without too much concern for civility. It has a slightly lower towing capacity than the following two vehicles on this list, but it makes up for that minor difference with rock-solid reliability. Despite being somewhat more compact (and more maneuverable) than some of the other SUVs here, the 4Runner is also built on a rugged truck-based frame, with available 4WD and an optional 4.7-liter V8, the latter of which is necessary to achieve max towing capacity. Pro tip: Don’t be tempted to opt for the newer-generation model that started in 2010 — the V8 didn’t carry over, and the newer V6 model maxes out at 5,000 pounds towing capacity.
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9. 2014 Dodge Durango: 7,400 pounds
The 2014 Dodge Durango might be the best-looking SUV on this list and one of the sportiest when properly configured. Thanks to an available 5.7-liter Hemi V8, it’s also capable of towing with the big dogs despite being a midsize SUV. The big V8 is required for maximum towing, but if you can get by with 6,200 pounds of towing capacity, the 3.6-liter V6 might help you save a few bucks at the gas pump.
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10. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 7,400 pounds
Serious off-road ability in a 5-passenger package makes the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee one of our list’s most versatile tow vehicles. For maximum towing, you have your pick of the 5.7-liter V8 or the 3.0-liter diesel V6; both are rated for 7,400 pounds in RWD or 7,200 pounds towing capacity in 4WD. The base V6 model is no slouch, which can tow up to 6,200 pounds.
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10 Best Used SUVs for Towing Under $15,000
- 2010 Toyota Sequoia: 10,000 pounds
- 2012 Chevrolet Suburban: 9,600 pounds
- 2013 GMC Yukon XL: 9,600 pounds
- 2015 Ford Expedition: 9,200 pounds
- 2015 Nissan Armada: 9,000 pounds
- 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe: 8,500 pounds
- 2013 Volkswagen Touareg: 7,716 pounds
- 2008 Toyota 4Runner: 7,300 pounds
- 2014 Dodge Durango: 7,400 pounds
- 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 7,400 pounds
