Midsize cars are widely known for their versatility, fuel economy, spaciousness, and value for money.
While it may not come as a surprise, there are a handful of great midsize sedans that can tow sizable loads.
In this article, we’ll talk about midsize cars with the best towing capabilities, as well as other important features and functions.
Table of Contents
# 1: Honda Accord (Unbraked: 1,102 lbs, Braked: 3,527 lbs)
Alongside the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord is the most popular midsize sedan ever produced.
It is known for its pleasing power, above-average fuel economy, and generous legroom.
To top it all off, it also has a timeless exterior design and a large luggage compartment (trunk).
There are 6 available trims: LX, EX, Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring.
The entry-level LX and EX trims come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that produces 192 horsepower and 192 pound-foot of torque.
The midrange and high-end Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trims are upgraded to a hybrid powertrain that uses a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with 204 horsepower and 247 pound-foot of torque.
The midrange and high-end Accord trims (Sport to Touring), when properly equipped with the necessary towing equipment, have a towing capacity of 3,527 pounds.
This sedan has great towing figures thanks to its most powerful engine, a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque (exclusive to the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trims)
# 2: Mazda6 (Unbraked: 1,036 lbs, Braked: 3,307 lbs)
If style was the only criterion, the Mazda6 would definitely rank as the best on every single list.
This model was produced from 2003 to 2021 and was known for its upscale interior, eye-catching exterior, comfortable seating, and sharp handling.
It comes in 6 trims: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, Carbon Edition, and Signature.
There are 2 sizable engine options:
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (187 horsepower)
- Turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (227 horsepower)
With the right towing equipment, the Mazda6 (fitted with the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine) has a towing capacity of 3,307 pounds.
Reviews online also highlighted the following aspects of this sedan: steering, engine power, ride quality, driving experience, and fuel economy.
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# 3: Subaru Legacy (Unbraked: 1,000 lbs, Braked: 2,700 lbs)
The Subaru Legacy is a great alternative to the more popular Honda and Toyota models.
It provides owners with a comfortable ride, high-quality seats, and a cabin built with premium materials.
This model is also at the forefront of advanced safety technology, most notably:
- EyeSight System
- Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive
- Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
The Subaru Legacy, when equipped with the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine (260 horsepower) and necessary towing gear, has a towing capacity of 2,700 pounds.
It is also worth noting that this car secured such a high spot on this list thanks to its all-wheel-drive capability, which helps with power delivery and stability through wet or snowy roads.
# 4: Toyota Camry (Unbraked: 1,102 lbs, Braked: 2,646 lbs)
When talking about legendary midsize sedans, the Toyota Camry is top-of-mind (if not the Honda Accord).
Dating back to the 1980s, the consistently reliable Camry offers high fuel economy, plenty of cabin and cargo space, and an intuitive driving experience.
According to the EPA, owners can achieve around 32 MPG for combined city and highway driving, which is great for the segment.
There are 6 trims in total: LE, SE, SE Nightshade, XSE, XLE, and TRD.
With the necessary towing gear, the Toyota Camry models fitted with the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine have a towing capacity of 2,646 pounds.
These braked and unbraked towing capacity features are thanks to its biggest engine option, the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine (301 horsepower).
The smaller 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (203 horsepower) can also handle towing duties but expect a lower maximum towing capacity for models that have this variant.
# 5: Nissan Altima (Unbraked: 1,084 lbs, Braked: 2,640 lbs)
The Nissan Altima is an underrated midsize sedan that began as a 1993 model year.
It is very easy to drive and has an abundance of safety and driver assistance features.
Notable tech include the following:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- ProPilot Assist
- Intelligent Around-View Monitor
There are a total of 5 trims: S, SV, SR, SL, and SR VC-Turbo.
Every variant other than the SR VC-Turbo is fitted with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (188 horsepower) while the top-spec trim comes with a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (236 horsepower).
The turbocharged version of the Nissan Altima, when properly equipped with the necessary towing equipment, has a towing capacity of 2,640 pounds.
This maximum capacity is more than enough to tow small boats, motorcycle trailers, jet skis, or even a small utility trailer.
# 6: Volkswagen Passat (Unbraked: 948 lbs, Braked: 2,200 lbs)
The Volkswagen Passat is straightforward with a no-frills personality (which may be good or bad, depending on who you ask).
It is comfortable, spacious, and possesses high-quality audio thanks to the optional Fender sound system.
It ended its run in 2022 with a total of 4 generations, dating all the way back to the 1970s.
The Volkswagen Passat, when properly equipped with the necessary towing equipment, has a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds.
While the towing capacity is below-average on this list, the Passat can still tow sizable loads due to its turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (174 horsepower) mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission delivering power to the front wheels.
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# 7: Hyundai Sonata (Unbraked: 1,234 lbs, Braked: 2,000 lbs)
The Hyundai Sonata is one of the longest-running and most beloved midsize sedans that are still in production.
Introduced in the mid-1980s, this vehicle is known for its helpful safety features, sizable trunk, and good value for money.
Owners can choose from 5 trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line.
The SE and SEL are fitted with a large 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (191 horsepower).
The SEL Plus and Limited come with a smaller but turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine (180 horsepower).
The top-spec N Line has a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (290 horsepower) which allows for quite decent towing capabilities.
With the necessary towing accessories, the Hyundai Sonata (with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine) has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.
# 8: Kia K5 (Unbraked: 1,206 lbs, Braked: 2,000 lbs)
The Kia K5 (formerly known as the Kia Optima), while not as widely known as the other midsize cars on this list, is definitely a unique vehicle to have.
It is amazingly comfortable and quiet on the highway, offers a strong turbocharged engine (for the GT trim), and has an available all-wheel-drive option for better grip and handling.
Prospective buyers can choose from 4 trim levels: LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT.
All but the top-spec GT trim are equipped with a humble 1.6-liter engine (180 horsepower) while a bigger turbocharged 2.5-liter engine (290 horsepower) is reserved for the GT line.
When properly equipped with the necessary towing equipment, the Kia K5 (using the larger 2.5-liter engine), has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.
Based on the EPA’s testing, this car can achieve 31 MPG for combined city and highway driving, which is quite good for the midsize segment.
# 9: Chevrolet Malibu (Unbraked: 1,000 lbs, Braked: NA)
The Chevrolet Malibu, known for its sharp styling and spacious interior, is a midsize car that started out in 1997 and is still going strong to this day.
It has great safety and driver assistance tech, including:
- Teen Driver (helps you coach your new driver)
- Rear Seat Reminder
- Driver Confidence Packages
It also received a perfect 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.
The Chevrolet Malibu powered by a 160-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, when properly equipped with the necessary towing equipment, has an unbraked towing capacity of 1,000 pounds.
Unfortunately, there is no official data online regarding the braked towing capacity of this model.
It may be helpful to know that having a braked trailer system can significantly boost maximum towing capacity.
Related: 9 Best Small Cars for Towing (With Pictures)
