Best Cars for Towing in Australia (2026)

Whether you're towing a caravan around Australia, pulling a boat to the ramp, or hauling a box trailer on weekends, your tow vehicle matters. We ranked every car in our database by braked towing capacity and real-world towing suitability. The headline number tops out higher than most buyers realise: the RAM 2500 Cummins is rated to tow 8,000kg in Australia, with the RAM 1500 and Toyota Tundra both at 4,500kg-plus before you even get to the 3,500kg dual-cab pack.

Understanding towing numbers

Before the rankings, you need to understand three numbers:

• Braked towing capacity is the maximum weight you can tow with trailer brakes fitted. This is the headline number on every spec sheet.
• GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is the maximum weight of your car fully loaded with passengers, fuel and cargo. Go over GVM and you're illegal and uninsured.
• GCM (Gross Combined Mass) is the maximum combined weight of car plus trailer. This is often the limiting factor, not the towing capacity itself.

The trap: a car might have 3,500kg towing capacity but only 5,800kg GCM. If the car weighs 2,500kg kerb plus 200kg payload, you can only actually tow 3,100kg before hitting GCM. Always check GCM, not just the headline tow figure.

Heavy haulage: 4,500kg-plus

If you're towing a large caravan, a horse float, or a serious boat, the standard 3,500kg Australian dual-cab is not actually the top of the food chain. Three full-size pickups in the local market tow well above that limit, and they all sit on a different chassis class with much higher GCM headroom.

1. RAM 2500 Laramie Cummins: 8,000kg

The heavyweight champion. The RAM 2500 Laramie Cummins uses a 6.7-litre turbo-diesel inline six producing 276kW and a wall of low-down torque, paired with the heavy-duty 68RFE auto. 8,000kg braked towing capacity with a properly rated hitch and a GCM that comfortably swallows a fully loaded 6m caravan plus driver, family and gear. From $172,950 RRP, it is genuinely a different vehicle to anything else on this list, and the only one designed from the ground up around heavy commercial-grade towing rather than weekend duty.

2. RAM 1500 Laramie V8: 4,500kg

The RAM 1500 Laramie V8 is the more accessible American pickup. Drives like a luxury car, sits in a normal carpark (just) and tows 4,500kg, which is 1,000kg more than any 4x4 dual-cab on the Australian market. The 5.7-litre HEMI V8 makes 291kW and 556Nm. The Hurricane straight-six versions match the V8 on towing in most trims (the Limited Hurricane High Output drops slightly to 4,200kg). Pricing runs from $119,950 to $159,950 depending on trim. For buyers towing 4,000-4,500kg regularly, this is the natural answer that the conventional dual-cab range cannot match.

3. Toyota Tundra Limited: 4,536kg

The Toyota Tundra is Australia's newest entry into the full-size pickup space. Engineered locally by Walkinshaw for right-hand-drive, it pairs a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with a hybrid system for 290kW combined and tows 4,536kg braked. From $155,990 in Limited form rising to $172,990 for the Platinum, it slots in just above the RAM 1500 on tow rating, just below the RAM 2500 on price. For Toyota loyalists who want American-pickup capability without giving up the dealer network, the Tundra is the obvious pick.

Best dual-cab utes for towing: 3,500kg

For most Australian families towing a caravan, boat or camper, the 3,500kg-rated dual-cab is the segment that actually matters. Cheaper to run than a full-size American pickup, easier to park, and still capable of towing the vast majority of caravans and trailers on the market.

4. Toyota LandCruiser 300 GXL: 3,500kg

The king of Australian towing if you want an SUV instead of a ute. The LandCruiser 300 uses a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel making 227kW and 700Nm of torque, with a 7,500kg GCM (the highest of any Australian-spec SUV). Purpose-built for heavy towing with a low-range transfer case, crawl control, and multi-terrain select. The 300 Series is the default heavy caravan tow vehicle for buyers who do not want a pickup body.

5. Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6: 3,500kg

Australia's best-selling vehicle and a proven tower. The Ranger Wildtrak V6 uses Ford's 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with 184kW and 600Nm and tows the full 3,500kg with ease. The bi-turbo 2.0-litre four is also rated at 3,500kg but works a lot harder under load. Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes reversing with a trailer nearly foolproof. Pick the V6 if towing is more than a weekend hobby.

6. Toyota HiLux SR5 4x4: 3,500kg

The HiLux SR5 4x4 Double Cab with the 2.8-litre turbo diesel tows 3,500kg and brings Toyota's legendary reliability with it. It is not the most refined tow vehicle, the V-Active 48V mild hybrid added recently helps with low-speed urban running, and the resale value is exceptional. The pick if you tow occasionally and plan to keep the car for 10-plus years.

7. Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain: 3,500kg

The D-Max X-Terrain uses Isuzu's 3.0-litre turbo diesel making 140kW and 450Nm, and shares its bones with the MU-X wagon. The 6-speed auto is well-matched for towing, the chassis is over-engineered, and the Service Plan pricing is some of the cheapest in the segment. A no-fuss workhorse choice for buyers prioritising long-term ownership cost over feature gloss.

Best SUVs for towing (2,500-3,500kg)

8. Toyota LandCruiser Prado: 3,500kg

The new-generation Prado matches the LandCruiser 300 on towing capacity at 3,500kg, but in a more wieldy body that is easier to park and noticeably cheaper to run. A 2.4-litre turbo-petrol with 48V hybrid makes 243kW combined and 630Nm. For families who tow a 2,500-3,000kg caravan and want proper off-road capability without LandCruiser 300 money, the Prado has been the default for two decades and remains so.

9. Ford Everest Sport: 3,500kg

Shares the Ranger's engines and chassis but in a wagon body. The Everest Sport tows 3,500kg with the V6 diesel, has 7 seats, and feels more car-like on the highway than its dual-cab sibling. The smart pick for families who tow occasionally but need 7 seats the rest of the time.

10. Hyundai Santa Fe: 2,500kg

The Santa Fe does not match the utes or LandCruisers on capacity, but 2,500kg covers most boat trailers and medium caravans. The hybrid version drops to 1,650kg, enough for a box trailer or small camper. If you are towing under 2,500kg and prefer a softer family SUV to a body-on-frame ute, the Santa Fe is one of the smarter answers.

Can EVs tow?

Yes, but with caveats. The Tesla Model Y tows 1,600kg, the BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute tows 2,500kg, and the Kia EV9 tows 2,500kg. The problem is range under towing drops 40-60 percent. A Model Y with 455km of WLTP range might only manage 200-250km towing a 1,200kg trailer.

For weekend trips under 150km, EV towing works fine. For long-distance caravan touring, it is not practical yet unless you plan charging stops every 150-200km. The BYD Shark 6 is the most interesting option here because it is a plug-in hybrid: you get EV running for the 100km commute and a petrol engine that takes over once the battery's flat, so the towing range is much closer to a regular ute.

Towing tips

• Always check GCM, not just towing capacity. This catches more buyers than any other oversight.
• Weigh your trailer loaded. Most people underestimate their caravan's actual weight by 200-500kg.
• Ball weight matters. It should be roughly 10 percent of trailer weight. Too little and the trailer sways at speed.
• Transmission cooler. Essential for heavy towing. Most utes have one fitted standard, some SUVs do not.
• Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH). Mandatory for caravans over 2,000kg for safety and stability.
• Brake controller. Required by law for any trailer over 750kg with electric brakes.

Full towing comparison

Want to compare towing specs for any vehicle in our database? Our towing comparison tool lets you filter by minimum towing capacity and compare GCM, GVM, torque, and towing-specific features side by side. Set the minimum to 4,000kg if you want to see only the heavy-haulage class. Set it to 3,500kg if you are shopping conventional dual-cabs and large SUVs.

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