Drawing of Station Wagon Pulling Trailer

The Chrysler Pacifica is just one of many versatile vehicles that blend traditional attributes with a decent tow rating. Chrysler

When many people think about towing, they typically think of trucks. Few other vehicles on the market can match the combined utility and towing capacity of a pickup, after all. But that doesn't mean there aren't options. Buyers who aren't interested in wheeling around a full-size rig as their daily driver will be pleasantly surprised by this group of everyday SUVs and crossovers that can come through when duty calls.

Thanks to advances in powertrain technologies and body construction, smaller vehicles now have the ability to adeptly haul cargo. Many of them, such as wagons and crossovers, offer creature comforts and convenience of space as well as towing capabilities that will satisfy most weekend adventuring needs. Some modern minivans are even capable of hauling as much as a midsize pickup truck.

Here is a list of five vehicles with unexpected towing capability.

2020 Subaru Outback: Up to 3,500 pounds

Subaru completely overhauled its Outback for the 2020 model year. In addition to fresh styling, the popular wagon is stuffed with advanced technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a host of standard advanced driver-assistance safety technology including blind-spot monitors and adaptive cruise control. The Outback can also use face-scanning software to recognize up to five drivers and adjust settings for their preferred climate controls, seating position and mirror settings. Those features coupled with 8.7-inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive make it both a reliable daily driver and a proficient weekend warrior, especially for drivers that live in regions with four seasons.

Adventurous families also will find 32.5 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the second row offers even more versatility for carrying bikes and bulky sports equipment. The new Outback is good at more than hauling kids, dogs and kayaks, however. That's because it can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, which is more than enough to tow a small boat or trailer. It also has a respectable payload capacity of up to 1,200 pounds though Subaru doesn't officially list that number in its documentation.

2020 Chrysler Pacifica: Up to 3,600 Pounds

In addition to being able to carry eight people and all of their gear with ease, the Chrysler Pacifica offers a respectable 3,600-pound towing capacity. It's part of the reason the Pacifica is a great utility pick for active families that do more than haul kids to and from school.

The people hauler also features Stow 'n Go seating for even more flexibility, and an optional plug-in hybrid drivetrain makes it especially fuel-conscious. Newly available all-wheel drive also adds to its confidence on the road when navigating undesirable road conditions or traveling through inclement weather.

It's important to remember that payload—the weight of passengers and cargo—cuts into towing capability. The Pacifica has a 1,725-pounds payload limit, so if the van is packed, make sure to calculate accordingly.

2019 Chevrolet Volt: Up to 2,000 Pounds (unofficially)

The Chevrolet Volt, which was discontinued for the 2019 model year, is a plug-in hybrid wagon and was one of the first of its kind when it debuted for the 2016 model year. Though the Volt's 2,000-pound tow rating is unofficial, a handful of manufactures offer a variety of towing components designed specifically for the PHEV, and there are several online owner testimonials that stand by the vehicle's ability to pull up to 2,000 pounds without breaking a sweat.

The reason that the Volt is not officially rated to tow, despite having the power to do so, is because of its unibody construction (the owner's manual states that the vehicle is not intended for towing). However, all the other vehicles on the list flaunt non-truck-like unibody designs, so the Volt deserves a spot on the podium—especially since it's the smallest.

2020 Kia Telluride/Hyundai Palisade: Up to 5,000 Pounds

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are three-row SUV corporate cousins that debuted for the 2020 model year, and both have received near-universal praise for their capability, style and value. Though the two vehicles are from different brands, they are built on the same platform and share much of their engineering. Both come with a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and both are available in either front- or all-wheel drive.

With trailer brakes, which are effectively an extra set of brakes for an attached trailer's wheels, the Telluride and Palisade are rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Without trailer brakes, the rating drops to a measly 1,650 pounds. However, when properly equipped, the 5,000-pound towing capacity is good for more than hauling bikes and other featherweight recreational equipment. There are a wide variety of boats, tow-behind campers and large trailers and that will match up well with either one of these new SUVs.

2020 Honda Pilot: Up to 3,500 Pounds

The Honda Pilot is a mommy mobile masked by four doors. Though it's gone through some minivan-esque styling iterations, the latest version has a more squared-off, SUV-like look, especially in the rear. Despite its soft personality, it does flaunt some serious family and stuff hauling abilities. For example, Honda loaded the 2020 Pilot lineup with advanced tech like a high-definition rearview camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and an available all-wheel-drive system with driving modes that help tackle snow, ice or mud. It also offers seating for up to eight people and 46.8 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to accommodate a family's worth of luggage and gear.

Though the Pilot's 3,500-pound towing capacity doesn't top the charts, it's decent for a tame people-hauler. It's more than enough to pull a small boat or trailer full of gear and can make the Pilot into a cross-country road trip machine that hauls everything needed for a long journey.

How Do These Vehicles Stack Up Against Trucks?

No vehicle comes close to the towing capability of a large pickup truck. After all, that's one of the areas where pickups excel (and where they compete with each other). Deciphering the byzantine tow ratings of the major pickup truck manufacturers is a dizzying task, but suffice to say the tow ratings for the major players – the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra – are currently clocking in somewhere between 11,000 and 13,400 pounds. It's a moving target and competition ensures it rarely remains static for more than 12 months. The heavy-duty segment can handle trailers weighing 35,000 pounds or more.

Full-size, body-on-frame SUVs also perform well. The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban – and the new 2021 Suburban – are both rated to tow up to 8,300 pounds when properly equipped, while the 2020 Ford Expedition can pull up to 9,300 pounds when properly equipped.

People who need to tow and haul significant loads as a regular part of life will want to seek out a pickup truck. Their bed space and more rugged construction make them better able to handle the stresses of routinely pulling heavy loads. For the others that just want to hitch a trailer to their daily driver and load up for a long weekend, go for the unexpected choices.

Drawing of Station Wagon Pulling Trailer

Source: https://www.forbes.com/wheels/advice/vehicles-with-unexpected-pulling-power/

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