Plug-in hybrid models are an excellent entry into the world of electrified vehicles.
They can save you a lot of money on gas but they also help reduce your carbon footprint as they produce fewer emissions.
As the name suggests, a plug-in hybrid has a battery that can be plugged in and charged up although it is bigger than a standard hybrid, meaning it can run on electric power for longer.
In this article, we take a deeper look at plug-in hybrid vehicles with the best towing capacities.
Table of Contents
1. Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-in Hybrid (6,000 Pounds)
Combining sustainability with capability, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Plug-in Hybrid debuted in 2022.
It has an estimated all-electric driving range of 25 miles and 470-mile combined driving range.
Its plug-in hybrid powertrain has a combined output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The Grand Cherokee PHEV has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.
It has a trio of driving modes including Hybrid Mode, Electric Mode and ESAVE Mode.
2. BMW X5 xDrive45e (5,950 Pounds)
The BMW X5 XDrive 45e made its debut for the 2020 model year and despite its 5627-pound weight, it is surprisingly nimble and offers precise steering.
It comes with all-wheel-drive as standard, has an electric range of 31 miles and a combined efficiency of 50 mpg-e (miles per gallon equivalent).
It has an impressive towing capacity of 5,950 pounds which is enough to tow the average camper (around 5,000 lbs).
The X5 xDrive45e is powered by a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that combine to produce 389 horsepower.
3. Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring PHEV (5,600 Pounds)
The Aviator PHEV has an upscale interior, refined exterior design, quick acceleration, and lots of advanced standard features.
It is powered by an all-wheel-drive drivetrain with a 10-speed automatic transmission that provides a total of 494 horsepower and 630 pound-foot of torque.
The Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring PHEV has a maximum towing capacity of 5,600 pounds. This is more than enough to haul a fully loaded standard camper (approx. 5,000 pounds) or even a loaded boat trailer (approx. 5,400 pounds).
This model is quite spacious as well. It can comfortably seat up to seven full-sized adults.
Combined city and highway fuel economy ratings are quite promising.
For electric and gas driving, the Aviator Grand Touring can reach up to 56 miles per gallon-equivalent. For gas-only driving, it can hit around 23 miles per gallon.
Aside from the Grand Touring PHEV version, the Aviator is also available in 4 other trims: Base, Reserve, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring.
Related: 11 Best Hybrid SUVs for Towing (With Pictures)
4. Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid (5,000 Pounds)
The XC90 PHEV from Swedish automakers Volvo is a luxurious option that comes with the very best safety features.
Its know for its masterpiece of an interior and rapid acceleration.
The XC90 PHEV has an impressive towing capacity of up to 5000 lbs when properly equipped. This means it is more than capable of towing boats, trailers and other toys.
It offers up to 32 miles in Pure mode (electric only), has a combined horsepower of 455 and a combined fuel economy of 58 mpg-e.
It is the largest and priciest model in Volvos lineup and it is also one of the highest-rated, luxury PHEVs on the market.
5. Volvo XC60 Recharge PHEV (3,600 Pounds)
The Volvo XC60 Recharge is the smaller version of the XC90 Recharge, both of which are PHEVs.
It boasts slick Scandinavian styling, a high-end cabin and a plethora of standard safety features.
It is equipped with Volvo’s T8 powertrain which represents Volvo’s hybrid twin-engine technology.
It has 455 horsepower, a 35-mile electric range and ultra-quick 0 to 60 of 5 seconds.
When properly equipped, the XC60 Recharge can tow up to 3,600 pounds when properly equipped which is more than enough to tow a small boat or trailer.
6. Chrysler Pacifica PHEV (3,600 Pounds)
The Chrysler Pacifica PHEV is a fantastic minivan that is as convenient as it is versatile.
It can switch between people-hauling and cargo transport and is America’s only plug-in hybrid minivan.
It has an all-electric driving range of 32 miles and a total range of 520 miles.
Notable safety features of this model include active braking, LaneSense, and ParkSense Park Assist.
The Chrysler Pacifica PHEV can tow up to 3,600 pounds. This is sufficient enough to tow a small utility trailer (approx. 3,000 pounds) or a pop-up camper (2,700 pounds to 4,000 pounds).
Ths minivan includes a lot of tech goodies such as a rear seat entertainment system and lots of cubbies and cup holders.
There are a total of 7 exterior body colors to choose from while there is only 1 default interior shade.
7. Kia Niro PHEV (2,800 Pounds)
The Kia Niro PHEV is a compact SUV that has an attractive exterior, a wealth of tech features, and plenty of space despite its smaller dimensions.
It has an estimated 26 miles of pure-electric range and compared to the gas-only models, has slightly better driving manners.
Noteworthy features include smart cruise control, lane following assist, and blindspot collision warning.
The Kia Niro PHEV has an unbraked towing capacity of approximately 1,300 pounds and a braked towing capacity of approximately 2,800 pounds. The latter capacity is good enough to bring along a flatbed trailer (approx. 2,500 pounds) or even a teardrop trailer (approx. 2,800 pounds).
It is powered by a large battery pack and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic manual transmission.
It comes in a total of 5 available body colors and 2 interior color options.
8. Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV (2,500 Pounds)
The RAV4 Prime provides owners with an impressive 42-mile electric-only driving range, zippy acceleration, and an abundance of cargo and passenger space.
It is powered by a 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder paired with dual electric motors offering 300 horsepower.
The Toyota RAV4 Prime has a towing capacity of 2,500 pounds, which is better than most standard models (approx. 1,500 pounds) but significantly lower than the off-road-centric RAV4 Adventure (3,500 pounds) and TRD Off-road (6,700 pounds) variations.
Fuel economy is off the charts when both electric and gas are used as it can reach up to 94 miles per gallon-equivalent. If you are opting for gas only trips, on the other hand, expect to reach up to 38 miles per gallon only.
The entry-level SE trim is reasonably priced at around $44,000 while the high-end XSE trim is sold at approximately $47,500.
9. Hyundai Tucson PHEV (2,000 Pounds)
The Hyundai Tucson PHEV is as flashy as it is efficient. It delivers great fuel economy ratings, a comfortable riding experience, and has numerous standard safety features.
The fourth-generation Tucson series introduced the PHEV variant for the 2021 model year while the original version of the model started out as a 2005 model year.
Useful standard features include its blindspot collision warning system, forward collision avoidance assist, and lane-keeping assist.
While some trim levels of the Tucson have a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV can achieve up to 2,000 pounds of towing capacity. This is more than enough to accommodate a jet ski trailer (approx. 2,000 pounds), a canoe or kayak trailer (approx. 1,000 pounds), or a motorcycle trailer (approx. 2,000 pounds).
This model has all-wheel-drive as standard and is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four engine, an electric motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission combined for 261 hp.
While there are only 2 available interior colors, there are 5 available exterior colors for this SUV.
Related: 17 Hybrid SUVs with Head-Up Display (With Pictures)
10. Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV (2,000 Pounds)
From the world-renowned Santa Fe nameplate, the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV is a relatively new entrant to the market.
It has an abundance of standard features, generous warranty terms, and various driver assistance features.
The Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV when properly equipped can tow up to 2,000 lbs. This is more than enough to accommodate a jet ski trailer (approx. 2,000 pounds), a canoe or kayak trailer (approx. 1,000 pounds), or a motorcycle trailer (approx. 2,000 pounds).
It is powered by a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine with 177 hp and a 66.9-kW electric motor with 90 hp. Combined, they generate 260 hp.
It has an electric-driving range of approximately 30 miles and comes with HTRAC all-wheel-drive as standard.
While there are only 2 available interior colors, there are 5 available exterior colors for this SUV.
11. Kia Sorento PHEV (1,700 Pounds)
The Kia Sorento PHEV boasts a lot of standard and optional features, spaciousness, and a sharp exterior design.
Its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system work intuitively and offer a seamless experience.
The Kia Sorento PHEV has a towing capacity of roughly 1,700 pounds. This is lower than a base Sorento (3,500 pounds) but is decent enough to tow small boat trailers and motorcycle trailers (approx. 1,500 pounds).
It accommodates up to 6 passengers, with captain chairs for its second row and foldable seats for its third row.
It is also very efficient when it comes to fuel consumption. Combined driving tests have achieved 79 miles per gallon-equivalent for electric and gas driving and 34 miles per gallon for gas only driving.
It has an electric-only range of 35 miles and is powered by an electric motor paired with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
There are only 2 trims available for this model, the base SX trim and the slightly more expensive top-spec SX Prestige trim.
Related: 20 Hybrid SUVs With 360 Camera (More Visibility)
