Australians are buying an ever-increasing number of hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles, but their towing capacities are often lower than their petrol or diesel equivalents.
This can be a serious problem.
Having a big rig like the Ford F-150 is nice for towing but not for saving fuel day-to-day
We love towing box trailers full of garden waste or Bunnings gravel; camper trailers, caravans, boats, race cars, horses or just the kids’ bikes. You name it, Aussies will try towing it.
Many full electric cars (EVs) aren’t rated to tow, but there’s better news for hybrid and PHEV buyers.
Towing capacity may be less than their internal combustion equivalents, but most hybrids and PHEVs have tow ratings and may offer enough for your needs.
All figures are correct at the time of publication in May 2023.
Hybrid towing
Conventional hybrids have a small electric motor (or motors) and a relatively small battery pack.
The petrol engine does the heavy lifting and the electric side is there as a back-up, working at its best in slow speed city environments where petrol bills can be cut in half. Toyota’s hybrids are kings at this.
The popular Toyota RAV4 offers great fuel consumption and a useful towing capacity of up to 1500kg
These hybrids don’t need plugged in – the battery recharges when slowing, braking or by using the petrol engine.
The likes of a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Subaru Forester Hybrid can travel only a short distance on electric power alone, and only at low speeds. Very soon the battery is exhausted and petrol power’s needed.
When towing with a hybrid, the extra weight only adds to the battery drain. But at least most retain the ability to haul something on a tow bar.
Hybrids are becoming increasingly common on our roads
Mild hybrids are excluded from our list as they offer barely any efficiency gains when compared to traditional hybrids.
Here are the maximum braked towing capacities for hybrids on sale in Australia:
Hybrid SUVs
- GWM Tank 300 Hybrid: 2500kg
- Haval H6 FWD Hybrid: 1500kg
- Haval Jolion Hybrid: 1500kg
- Honda HR-V e-HEV L: Not rated for towing
- Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: 1650kg
- Kia Niro Hybrid: 1300kg
- Kia Sorento Hybrid: 1650kg
- Lexus NX 350h: 1500kg
- Lexus RX 350h/500h: 1500kg all models
- Lexus UX 250h: Not rated for towing
- Maserati Levante GT Hybrid: 2700kg
- Nissan X-Trail E-Power: 1650kg
- Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid: 1270kg
- Subaru Forester Hybrid: 1200kg
- Toyota C-HR Hybrid: Not rated for towing
- Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: All models 750kg
- Toyota Kluger Hybrid: All models 2000kg
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: FWDs can tow 480kg, AWDs can tow 1500kg
- Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid: All models 400kg
Hybrid Cars
- Honda Accord VTi-LX Hybrid: Not rated for towing
- Honda Civic e-HEV LX: Not rated for towing
- Lexus ES 300h: Not rated for towing
- Lexus LC 500h: Not rated for towing
- Lexus LS 500h: Not rated for towing
- Toyota Camry Hybrid: All models 400kg
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Not rated for towing
- Toyota Yaris Hybrid: Not rated for towing
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) towing
Plug-in hybrids with their larger batteries can travel for dozens of kilometres using only an electric motor or motors.
The petrol engine takes over when batteries are exhausted, and they’re recharged by plugging in to a domestic or public charge point.
Plug-in hybrids are primarily topped up from mains power
Batteries can also recharge (a small amount) through braking and slowing or, in some vehicles, the combustion engine can be used to partially or fully recharge them.
Depending on the weight you tow, a PHEV’s pure electric range will be dramatically reduced. For example, if you haul a 1500kg caravan and the PHEV’s electric range is typically 40km, expect that number to be cut in half.
Some PHEVs offer the same tow rating as their combustion equivalent – the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (1600kg) and the BMW X5 xDrive 50e (2700kg) being examples.
Some models like the Outlander PHEV have the same limit as their combustion counterparts
A Kia Sorento PHEV, however, offers only a 1350kg maximum. Its hybrid version manages 1650kg and the petrols and diesels can handle 2000kg.
Both the Range Rover PHEV and Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid (excluding the Turbo S) offer class-leading 3500kg tow capacities.
When towing with such PHEVs, being able to prioritise petrol power – typically by just pressing a button in the cabin – means you can save battery charge. Heavy towing will quickly burn through electrons, so the ability to wait and use the battery and electric motors when in traffic or when not towing makes sense.
The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is one of only a few PHEVs that can tow a Land Cruiser-rivaling 3500kg
We’ve excluded PHEVs like the McLaren Artura and Ferrari SF90 from our list: towing’s just not really their bag.
Here are the maximum braked towing capacities for PHEVs on sale in Australia:
Plug-in Hybrid SUVs
- BMW X3 xDrive 30e: 2000kg
- BMW X5 xDrive 50e: 2700kg
- Cupra Formentor VZe: 1500kg
- Ford Escape ST-Line PHEV: 1200kg
- Kia Sorento PHEV: 1350kg
- Lexus NX450h+ F Sport PHEV: 1000kg
- Mazda CX-60 PHEV: 2500kg all grades
- Mercedes-Benz GLC300e: 2000kg (outgoing model)
- MG HS Plus EV: 1500kg
- Mini Countryman Hybrid: Not rated for towing
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV: 1500kg
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: 1600kg
- Peugeot 3008 GT Sport PHEV: 1250kg
- Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid: Turbo S can tow 3000kg, all others can tow 3500kg in wagon and coupe body
- Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic HSE PHEV: 1800kg
- Range Rover PHEV: P440e and P510e can both tow 3500kg
- Range Rover Sport PHEV P510e: 3000kg
- Range Rover Velar Dynamic PHEV: 2000kg
- Volvo XC60 Recharge: 2250kg
- Volvo XC90 Recharge: 2350kg
Plug-in Hybrid Cars
- Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid: Not rated for towing
- BMW 330e: 1500kg
- BMW 530e: 750kg
- Cupra Leon VZe: Not rated for towing
- Mercedes-Benz A250e: 1600kg sedan and hatch
- Mercedes-Benz E300e: 2100kg
- Peugeot 308 GT Sport PHEV: 1500kg
- Peugeot 508 GT Fastback PHEV: 1330kg
- Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid: 2200kg Sedan and Wagon
