The 10 Small Hybrid SUVs With The Best Towing

Hybrid SUVs are no longer just fuel-sipping urban family haulers. For decades, early mild hybrids were meek vehicles that lacked the grunt to hitch a trailer in the rear. Towing was reserved for full- and mid-size trucks.

However, American drivers looking to attach a small trailer, a lightweight camper, or weekend gear are now seeing an increasing number of capable options in the hybrid market. Thanks to advancements in electric motor torque and platform rigidity, small hybrid SUVs have grown increasingly capable of handling everyday towing duties. The models listed below prove that efficiency and utility can coexist in compact, electrified packages.

2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 1,000 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

2.0L I4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT)

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

204 hp

Fuel Economy

43/36/40 mpg (FWD) | 40/34/37 mpg (AWD)

With a maximum towing capacity of just 1,000 pounds, the CR-V Hybrid sits at the bottom of this list. It won’t be hauling a camper or a boat, but it can manage smaller tasks, such as pulling a lightweight utility trailer, a pair of bikes, or a compact cargo box for a city move. The CR-V‘s mild hybrid system, unlike the rest of the cars on this list, is optimized for improved fuel efficiency rather than greater torque output. Camper-toting families should likely look to other new hybrid SUVs for their next hauler.

Honda’s $30,000 to $40,000 CR-V is a perennial bestseller. The suburban staple maintains its popularity for good reason: it offers a spacious interior, a bevy of safety options, and a conservative design. Plus, the CR-V benefits from Honda’s engineering prowess and long history of reliability.

2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 1,500 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

2.5L H4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

180 HP @5800 RPM

Base Trim Torque

178 lb.-ft. @ 3700 RPM

The Forester’s 1,500-pound towing limit is the same as most other Forester trims. The Gas-only Forester Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trims are all capable of towing the same amount. Only the more powerful Wilderness trim, with a 3,000-pound maximum, can carry a larger tow load. At that weight class, the Forester Hybrid isn’t going to replace a full-size pickup truck. But it is a solid choice for weekenders looking to tow a compact teardrop trailer or lightweight watercraft.

For 2025, the Japanese outdoor-centric automaker added a hybrid trim. Base hybrids add approximately $6,000 to the MSRP and return six to seven more MPGs compared to the all-gas version. Subaru’s cars have always leaned on their off-road ruggedness. The boxy, upright Forester, with the brand’s iconic symmetrical all-wheel-drive drivetrain, is an excellent option for drivers hoping to take their daily SUVs on camping trips.

2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 1,500 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

2L Dynamic Force I4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

10-speed automatic/CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

150 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

139 lb.-ft. @ 4400 RPM

Like the Forester Hybrid, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is capable of towing smaller cargo on medium-sized utility trailers. Toyota’s compact mild-hybrid SUV is ideal for weekend landscaping trips and jet-ski excursions. It isn’t, however, a replacement for the brutish force of a full-size Tundra.

For years, the Toyota Corolla has been the world’s best-selling vehicle. In 2022, the Japanese automaker decided to expand the sedan’s lineup with the Cross, an upright, cute-ute with nearly the same underpinnings. Like the original Corolla, the Cross eventually gained a hybrid variant. Toyota started selling the mild hybrid SUV from US dealerships in 2023. The crossover SUV variant has steadily grown in popularity, selling 93,021 copies last year, a more than 20,000-unit increase from 2023.

2025 Ford Escape Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 1,500 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

192 hp

Base Trim Torque

155 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

Infotainment & Features

9 /10

The Escape Hybrid reduces its towing capacity by approximately 2,000 pounds compared to the gas model. At 1,500, the Escape Hybrid is a solid around-town trailer carrier. But heftier, 3,000-pound hauls are better handled by the crossover’s gas-only sibling.

The Ford Escape, including its $30,360 base-price hybrid, is on a bit of a sales streak. In the latest three-month sales period, Ford reported deliveries of 45,232 Escape units, good for a 19-percent increase over last year. Still, that wasn’t enough to keep the Escape for the future. Ford has just announced that rumors about the Escape’s demise are true: the crossover SUV and its 42-MPG hybrid sibling are being discontinued in 2026 as the company prepares its Kentucky factory for the next generation of EVs.

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 1,500 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

2.5L SKYACTIV-G I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

187 hp

Base Trim Torque

185 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

Mazda’s mid-size entry prioritizes the brand’s sprightly steering and efficiency over towing grunt. Non-hybrid CX-50s can tug up to 2,000 pounds on a trailer. The hybrid variant reduces the towing capacity by 500 pounds compared to its gas-only sister vehicle, making it ideal for towing a light rowboat or a small motorcycle on a single-axle trailer.

The CX-50 Hybrid, Mazda’s first partially battery-powered vehicle in the mid-size market, competing with the RAV4 and CR-V, was introduced in the U.S. this year. In fact, the Mazda utilizes the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid system found in the RAV4 Hybrid. Mazda’s $33,970 crossover achieves a middle-of-the-pack 38 MPG combined.

2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 1,750 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

Dynamic Force Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

176 HP @5700 RPM

Base Trim Torque

163 lb.-ft. @ 3600 RPM

Like the smaller Corolla Cross Hybrid, the RAV4 Hybrid isn’t a major hauler. Toyota’s best-selling vehicle tops out at 1,750 pounds for its maximum capacity, allowing RAV4 Hybrid drivers to hitch small boat trailers or ATVs to the back. The Hybrid outperforms entry-level, gas-only RAV4s, which can only tow trailers weighing under 1,500 pounds. But top-of-the-line off-roading trims are capable of moving up to 3,500 pounds.

America’s favorite non-pickup vehicle also comes with a remarkably efficient hybrid powertrain. Starting at $32,600, the partially electrified RAV4 burns through a gallon of gas every 41 miles of city driving.

The RAV4’s blend of efficiency, value, and conservative styling has made it a massive sales success. In 2024, 475,193 new car buyers nabbed a RAV4 from Toyota lots across the US. The only two vehicles with more sales last year were Ford’s perennial sales leader, the F-150, and Chevy’s Silverado.

2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 2,000 Pounds

Fuel Economy

38/38/38 (Blue) | 35/35/35 mpg

Make

Hyundai

Model

Tucson Hybrid

Segment

Compact SUV

With a 2,000-pound towing ceiling, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid elevates itself into a more serious category of utility. That kind of rating allows for small watercraft, pop-up campers, or a fully loaded U-Haul trailer for urban relocations.

With an angular design that reads far pricier than its $33,450 starting price, the Tucson Hybrid punches above its class. Inside, its minimalist dashboard and digital instrument cluster deliver a futuristic feel that complements its mild-electrified powertrain.

Hyundai’s hybrid system blends power with efficiency, producing 226 combined horsepower while returning up to 38 MPG combined. That makes it one of the more refined options for drivers seeking to reduce emissions without compromising comfort.

2025 Lexus NX 350h

Max Towing Capacity: 2,000 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

240 hp

Base Trim Torque

167 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm

Infotainment & Features

9 /10

At 2,000 pounds, the NX 350h is plenty muscular for towing small trailers, cargo boxes, or a lightweight camper. The luxe SUV will not rival body-on-frame haulers, but it gives the NX 350h enough muscle for smaller tasks.

The NX 350h sits at the intersection of efficiency and luxury. With sharp body lines, signature lighting, and a driver-focused cabin, the smallest Lexus SUV is underpinned by Toyota’s consistent reliability. The car’s leather-wrapped interior gets inspiration from Lexus’ refined hybrid system, producing 240 horsepower and delivering 39 MPG in the city.

2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Max Towing Capacity: 2,500 Pounds

Base Trim Engine

1.6L I4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

6-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

177 HP @5500 RPM

Base Trim Torque

195 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM

Among small, mild hybrid SUVs, the Sportage Hybrid leads in towing. Its 2,500-pound capacity pushes it into territory more often associated with mid-size gas SUVs. That extra strength allows for heavier cargo hauls, including tandem trailers or mid-sized recreational vehicles.

Much like its Hyundai Tucson Hybrid sibling, the Kia Sportage Hybrid isn’t afraid to stand out (the Kia and Hyundai SUVs share similar mechanical and powertrain underpinnings). With boomerang-style lighting, textured chrome accents, and exaggerated grille elements, Kia’s compact SUV effort adds a bit of inspiration to America’s favorite vehicle segment. The Kia’s power set achieves up to 43 MPG in city driving.

Volvo XC-60 Recharge (Plug-in Hybrid)

Max Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds

Base Trim Engine

2L I4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

At 3,500 pounds, the XC60 Recharge offers genuine truck-like tugging capability, but with a more luxurious shell. It can handle medium-sized campers, enclosed trailers, and heavier boats without breaking a sweat.

Volvo’s XC60 Recharge blends Scandinavian minimalism with serious plug-in performance. As part of its 2025 mid-cycle design refresh, the interior features premium materials, clean lines, and a portrait-style infotainment display powered by Google’s Android Automotive system.

Its plug-in hybrid setup offers up to 36 miles of all-electric range before the turbocharged engine kicks in, making it ideal for commuters who want to go electric without range anxiety. The 455-horsepower total output makes this the most powerful SUV on this list.