If you’re looking for the best electric vehicle for towing a camping trailer or a boat, you’re in luck. Going electric doesn’t mean giving up on your favorite recreational activities, at least not anymore. There are more electrified cars and trucks on the market today than ever before, and many of them are designed, engineered, and capable of towing a substantial amount of weight.
Nearly every EV on sale now is capable of towing a small 1,500-pound trailer. Combine that with PHEVs, and most can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Examples include the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, Mazda CX-90, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and others.
The best EVs and PHEVs for towing need to be able to beat that. So we’re sticking with the EVs that can handle more serious towing, 4,000 pounds and higher. The EVs and PHEVs on sale now offer maximum trailer capacity. If you’re looking to move your camper, boat, or even your workday gear, these are the best electric vehicles for towing.
The Best 2025 EVs That Can Tow
Let’s start with the lightweights and build up to the heavy haulers. Scroll down if you have big towing needs and are looking for an EV for that job. Can you guess the best electric vehicles for towing in 2025?
Audi Q8 e-tron EV (4,000 Lbs.)
Audi’s largest EV can’t tow as much as its gas-powered equivalent. It can’t even tow as much as its smaller Q6 e-tron sibling, but that doesn’t mean it can’t tow at all. The Q8 e-tron can handle trailers weighing up to 4,000 pounds.
Two motors give this luxury crossover AWD and 402 horsepower. A 114kWh battery pack delivers an EPA-estimated 272 miles of range. When it comes to charging, the Q8 e-tron can accept up to 170 kW, meaning 10% to 80% takes around 31 minutes.
Audi Q6 e-tron EV (4,400 Lbs.)
As this list will show, European manufacturers are all in when it comes to towing and EVs. It’s not a surprise, as their gas models can also often tow more than you would expect.
The Q6 e-tron is no different. All versions, RWD, Quattro AWD, and the faster SQ6 can tow up to 4,400 pounds. The RWD model offers 321 miles of range and has one 302-horsepower motor.
AWD models make 422 horsepower with their twin motors, and can return an EPA-estimated 307 miles of range. The quicker and crisper-handling SQ6 model’s twin motors deliver a combined 483 horsepower but only have a range of 275 miles.
All three Q6 models can fast charge at up to 270 kW. That means they’ll take about 21 minutes to go from 10% to 80% charge at the right station.
Volvo EX90 EV (4,850 Lbs.)
Volvo has just launched the three-row all-electric EX90, and despite moving to electricity instead of gas, it keeps Volvo’s usual excellent towing capacities. The EX90 can tow up to 4,850 pounds, just shy of its plug-in hybrid sibling. It also has a class-leading safety suite, including LiDAR sensors, making it Volvo’s highest level of standard safety features ever.
The Volvo EX90 electric is offered with just one power system. a Twin Motor version that offers up to 510 horsepower and 671 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to a 111kWh battery pack, the EX90 offers up to 310 miles of range before needing a charge.
When it’s time to plug in, the EX90 can accept up to 250 kW of charge at a Level 3 station. That lets it go from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes.
Volvo XC90 PHEV (5,000 Lbs.)
Volvo’s larger three-row XC90 PHEV uses a 143-horsepower electric motor and 2.0L gas engine to make 455 horsepower, and it puts its weight and wheelbase to good use. The XC90 PHEV can tow up to 5,000 pounds, enough for many mid-sized travel trailers and enough for a pair of UTVs on the right trailer. Plus, the XC90 can seat seven passengers.
The XC90’s larger size means it punches a bigger hole through the air. That cuts its range down slightly to 32 miles on a full charge on the 18.8kWh battery. With a full tank of fuel and a full battery pack, the XC90 PHEV can travel up to 530 miles before needing a charge or a pump. The XC90 can fully charge the battery in as little as 3 hours on a Level 2 fast charger, but you don’t need to charge the battery to keep going.
Tesla Model X (5,000 Lbs.)
The Tesla Model X SUV is offered in just two versions. The standard version, simply called Model X, and the performance version badged Model X Plaid.
The former delivers 670 horsepower and 329 miles of range, while the latter gives you an almost incredible 1,020 horsepower from its three motors and 314 miles of range. Both can accept charging at 250 kWh on one of the brand’s Supercharger network stations.
Either version of the Model X can tow up to 5,000 pounds, giving you plenty of capability to go with that range and speed.
BMW X5 XDrive 50e PHEV (5,290 Lbs.)
Built in Spartanburg, S.C., the BMW X5 xDrive 50e PHEV has significantly more power and range than its predecessor. The new electric motor gives the SUV 40 miles of EV range and 194 horsepower, 83 more than 2023.
The 3.0L twin-turbo gas inline-six brings the total up to 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, giving this BMW crossover the performance you expect from the brand.
The BMW X5 xDrive 50e drives like its gas-powered stablemates and offers a generous maximum towing capacity of 5,952 pounds, though that does fall short of the 7,200 pounds that the gas-only model can offer. It has good EPA fuel-mileage numbers, too, getting a 50 MPGe combined hybrid score. BMW claims a full charge can be had in 5 hours at 240V.
BMW XM PHEV (5,925 Lbs.)
The first purpose-built BMW M model of the century isn’t just fast; it can also tow a surprisingly large trailer. The XM PHEV’s 4.4L twin-turbo V8 and 194 horsepower electric motor combine to make up to 644 horsepower in standard form or 738 horsepower in Label Red trim. The suspension is tuned for cornering and the brakes for race track use, so it should be well capable of handling a little sway or some downhill grades.
On electric power, the XM can drive 31 miles. Once the battery runs down, it gets an estimated 14 mpg combined using premium fuel. Charging it back up takes around 5 hours at Level 2.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV (6,000 Lbs.)
Jeep’s 4xe hybrid powertrain can also be found in the new Grand Cherokee. It doesn’t offer removable doors, but it does give you a luxurious and refined experience. The 375-horsepower 4xe system also makes it a very powerful upscale midsize SUV.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe tows up to 6,000 pounds, an impressive figure for the partially electric model. It delivers 25 miles of all-electric range, or 23 mpg on gas alone. The total driving range is 470 miles, and it takes around 2.5 hours to charge the battery on a Level 2 plug.
The one thing missing is extra seating. The Grand Cherokee is the two-row model, and the three-row Grand Cherokee L is not offered as a PHEV.
Range Rover, Range Rover Sport PHEV (6,600 Lbs.)
When Range Rover added plug-in hybrid power to its flagship model, it reduced the tow rating but not by much. This large SUV will tow up to 6,613 pounds, making it capable of handling most travel trailers and some sizeable boats. Impressively, the smaller Range Rover Sport is equally capable, managing the same 6,613-pound tow rating and then adding 1 pound more for good measure.
Both Rovers use a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six engine that combines with the electric motor. In the full-sized Range Rover, it makes 543 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. In the Sport model, maximum output is 454 horsepower, but torque climbs to 487 pound-feet.
In electric power alone, both offer a 53-mile range. When running on gas, the EPA combined fuel economy rating for both models is 21 mpg.
Lamborghini Urus SE PHEV (7,000 Lbs.)
Yes, the Lamborghini SUV can tow a trailer. Its 4.0L twin-turbo V8 and electric motor combine to produce 789 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque. The SUV can tow up to 7,000 pounds, which is more than enough for a large camper or even an enclosed trailer with a bunk to bring your Lamborghini sports car to the racetrack or show concourse.
The hefty capacity of the Urus shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as it is based on the same bones that Audi uses for the capable Q8 and Porsche for the Cayenne.
The 21.8kWh battery in the Urus PHEV should deliver around 30 miles of range before the gas engine kicks in.
Porsche Cayenne PHEV (7,700 Lbs.)
Porsche offers three versions of plug-in hybrid Cayenne, ranging from the 463-horsepower E-Hybrid to the 729-horsepower Turbo E-Hybrid, and if that’s not enough variety, they’re also offered in “Coupe” variants.
The Cayenne E-Hybrid and S E-Hybrid can both tow up to 7,700 pounds, which is plenty of capacity to bring a big camper, boat, or race car along with you for the weekend. The Turbo E-Hybrid sacrifices a bit of capability for its extra speed, but not much. This model can hit 60 mph from a stop in under 4 seconds when empty and can also tow up to 6,600 pounds.
Porsche’s Cayenne PHEV models offer up to 15 miles of electric range, and then get around 18 mpg after that.
GMC Hummer EV Truck & SUV (8,500 Lbs.)
The GMC HUMMER EV truck is a blocky brute of an all-electric towing machine, while the Hummer EV SUV gives you more of the same with an enclosed rear cargo area. The top-spec model has a three-motor e4WD propulsion system. It offers a GM-estimated system power output of 1,000 horsepower. The pickup also weighs in at over 9,243 pounds.
Somehow, the pickup offers 318 miles of range (for the 570 horsepower 2X models, the 3X is a half-dozen lower), and the SUV offers 315. That’s all while carrying around T-tops, available four-wheel steering, and huge tires.
That much range in a heavy package takes a lot of battery — more than 200 kW. That means charge times can be long, even with 350 kW Level 3 fast charging. Expect 100 miles in 11-14 minutes, depending on which model you buy, though that time is only when the battery is very low. The last 100 miles will take much longer.
Truck models can tow up to 8,500 pounds. SUV versions are a little bit lower at 7,500.
Ford F-150 Lightning EV (10,000 Lbs.)
Ford beat its competition by a nose, putting out the first all-EV full-size American pickup. The electric F-Series truck has an EPA-estimated max range of 320 miles with the Extended Range pack, and as low as 240 with the standard-range battery.
Both versions of the truck have AWD thanks to two motors. Standard range models make 452 horsepower while Extended Range models make 580. Both have the same 775 pound-feet of torque.
If you want to tow with your F-150 Lightning, you’ll probably want to get an XLT or Lariat with the Max Trailer Tow package. With the Extended battery, those trucks can tow up to 10,000 pounds.
Platinum trucks with that equipment can tow 8,500, while Standard Range max tow pickups can do 7,700. Without the package, standard-range trucks tow just 5,000 pounds.
Ford says the standard-range truck can charge from 15% to 80% in 32 minutes, with the long-range truck taking 38. Ford also offers a Pro Power Onboard system that gives you up to 10 110V household-style outlets with the ability to supply up to 9.6 kW.
Rivian R1T & R1S EVs (11,000 Lbs.)
The Rivian R1T is an off-road-capable four-wheel-drive vehicle that can also tow some serious weight. It offers up to four motors, and that means as much as 1,025 horsepower. That’s the R1T Quad, expected to go on sale this year. The Dual and Tri models on sale now offer less power, but are still impressive at 665 horsepower for the former and 850 for the latter.
Dual models offer 329 miles of range with the Large battery and 420 miles with the Max pack. Tri models get 371 miles with the Max pack and don’t offer the smaller one. R1S models offer 329 miles and 410 miles, with the Tri estimated at 371.
Offering a load-leveling air-hydraulic suspension, nearly 15 inches of ground clearance, excellent approach and departure angles, and a water fording depth of more than 3 feet, the Rivian R1 family has off-road chops as well as heavy towing chops. The pickup can handle up to 11,000 pounds, while the seven-seat R1S SUV can tow up to 7,700 pounds.
Rivian advertises that its trucks can add up to 140 miles of range in just 20 minutes of level 3 fast charging.
Tesla Cybertruck EV (11,000 Lbs.)
The Cybertruck is one of the most controversial vehicles launched in the last decade, but whatever your thoughts on the styling of the truck, it looks to be plenty capable of towing. Every version of the Cybertruck has an 11,000-pound tow rating, along with at least 2,000 pounds of payload capacity.
Tesla has said it plans to expand the Cybertruck lineup, but right now, there are two trucks to pick from. The 325-mile dual-motor AWD model and the 301-mile tri-motor Cyberbeast. The former makes 600 horsepower and the latter 834, giving it an estimated 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds. When you’re not towing, that is.
An adaptive air suspension helps level the truck when you’re hauling a heavy load. It also helps ride comfort and delivers up to 16 inches of clearance when you’re off-road.
According to Tesla, the trucks can charge at up to 250 kW. That lets them add up to 128 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
Chevrolet Silverado EV/GMC Sierra EV (12,500 Lbs.)
While Ford took the path of dropping an electric power system in its gas pickup, General Motors went in a different direction. The Chevrolet and GMC electric pickups share almost nothing with their gas-powered equivalents and are based on an electric-specific platform. That gives them handy features like an available mid-gate that opens up the cabin like the old Avalanche could do. It also delivers a driving experience that is more like an SUV than a truck.
LT-trim models of the Silverado can tow the highest, at 12,500 pounds. Those trucks deliver 645 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque and an estimated 408-mile range.
Silverado’s maximum range is on Max Range trucks in WT and RST spec. The WT model has an estimated 492 miles, the RST 460. Both offer towing up to 10,500 pounds. The GMC Sierra EV is currently only sold in the top-spec Denali trim. That truck delivers up to 460 miles of range and can tow up to 10,500 pounds.
GM estimates that these trucks can add 100 miles in 10 minutes of Level 3 fast charging. But GM offers massive packs with more than 200 kWh of capacity, meaning charging can still take a long time.
Emerging EVs That Can Tow
The RAM Truck brand recently unveiled its all-new RAM 1500 REV battery-electric pickup truck. The unveiling did not provide a lot of detail. Other than the all-new BEV pickup truck is ready for customer reservations for a place in line.
From the looks of it, the new RAM 1500 Ramcharger range-extended model will arrive first, in late 2025. The full EV has been pushed back to 2026. Both retain much of the big-truck build that has made RAM pickups famous, but with a more aerodynamic body than found on its internal-combustion trucks.
The ABCs of EVs
There are different types of vehicle propulsion systems that make them an EV, and they work in different ways. There are battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV).
A BEV is all-electric, with power supplied by a rechargeable battery. A PHEV has a gas or diesel engine working with an electric drive system that can be plugged in to recharge like a BEV. The HEV hybrids have gas or diesel engines with electric motors to assist the powertrain and are typically charged by regenerative braking or other in-vehicle sources.
We chose to focus on BEV- and PHEV-electrified vehicles that can tow because they are capable of deriving power directly from an electrical source. The HEV must burn gas or diesel to create electricity.
EV Vehicle History
While other, newer arrivals have deservedly gained the EV car and truck spotlight, the first electric car was a crude electric carriage built in 1839 by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson. The first gasoline-electric hybrid car was the Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid developed in 1901 by a young Ferdinand Porsche for Jacob Lohner & Company.
The Mixte (also known as the Lohner-Porsche Elektromobil) was a 4WD series-hybrid with electric motors in the front wheel hubs of a conventional carriage and a gas engine that could recharge the batteries.
In December 1999, the Honda Insight became the first mass-produced hybrid sold in America. Toyota’s Prius was launched in Japan in 1997 but did not go on sale in the U.S. until mid-2000.
Next to the table with a mass-marketed all-electric car was Nissan with its introduction of the 2010 Leaf. GM was ahead of the wave with its all-electric EV1 release in 1996. But, fewer than 1,500 were made in its 4-year run.
The first modern electrified model with a respectable towing capacity was the GM Silverado/Sierra HEV launched in 2004, but it would be decades before a fully electric vehicle that could tow would arrive.
What Is MPGe?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides certified fuel-mileage figures for all vehicles sold in the U.S. This includes electrified vehicles like the BEVs and PHEVs showcased here. These can be found at FuelEconomy.gov.
The EPA Miles Per Gallon equivalent (MPGe) helps EV shoppers compare the fuel economy of vehicles that use fuels that are not measured in gallons. The MPGe rating represents the number of miles the vehicle can travel using a quantity of fuel (electricity, natural gas, or hydrogen) with the same energy content as 1 gallon of gasoline.
Towing & Fuel Mileage
When it comes to towing fuel mileage, a good rule of thumb is to cut the expected driving range of an EV vehicle in half if you’re planning to tow something anywhere near its maximum rated trailer weight rating. In the almost 2 decades of testing internal-combustion-engine-powered (and a few EVs) tow vehicles for RV and boating publications, my experience has been that a 30-40% loss in range is common.
Car and Driver tested three of the new heavyweights in the EVs that can tow category. While all three garnered praise for their towing prowess, the GMC Hummer EV (rated at 7,500 pounds), Ford F-150 Lightning (10,000 pounds), and Rivian R1T (11,000 pounds) all delivered 140 miles or less on a full battery while towing a 6,100-pound trailer. That’s about 50% of their stated EPA ranges.
Boating Magazine pitched the Ford F-150 Lightning EV against a gasoline-powered Ford F-150 and produced some interesting information. The Lightning’s battery is sealed and submersible, a great thing for boaters launching their craft at the ramp. Its opinion was that the F-150 Lightning was worth considering if your round-trip towing range is no more than about 80-100 miles. If you like to roam farther, the new F-150 Lightning is probably not for you.
The Best EVs for Towing: The Future Is Bright
The future of EVs that can tow certainly seems bright from here. Over the next few years, lots of great electric vehicles for towing are planned to hit the market from nearly every brand.
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