Toyota Highlander towing capacity (2014–2026)
Toyota Highlander towing ranges from 1,500 lb (2014–2019 2.7L four-cylinder LE) to 5,000 lb (every 3.5L V6 from 2016 on, and every 2.4L turbo from 2023 on). Hybrids — 3.5L V6 hybrid through 2019, 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid from 2020 — are rated 3,500 lb across the board. On 2014–2015 V6 models the 5,000 lb rating required the V6 Towing Prep Package (standard on XLE/Limited); LE and LE Plus were rated 2,000 lb. Third-generation (2014–2019) ratings carry Toyota's SAE J2807 footnote; fourth-generation documents state the rating without a J2807 claim.
Rated range, 2014–2026
1,500–5,000 lb
Depends on engine, drivetrain, and packages — find your exact configuration below.
Toyota Highlander towing capacity by year
Every model year we have manufacturer data for, newest first. A row spans the configurations rated that year — find your year, then your exact configuration below.
| Year | Rated tow | Payload | What gets you there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2025 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2024 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2023 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2022 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 3.5L V6 (295 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2021 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 3.5L V6 (295 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2020 | Rated tow 3,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,405–1,485 lb | 3.5L V6 (295 hp) highest of 2 configurations rated this year |
| 2019 | Rated tow 1,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,280–1,455 lb | 3.5L V6 highest of 3 configurations rated this year |
| 2018 | Rated tow 1,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,280–1,455 lb | 3.5L V6 highest of 3 configurations rated this year |
| 2017 | Rated tow 1,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,280–1,455 lb | 3.5L V6 highest of 3 configurations rated this year |
| 2016 | Rated tow 1,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,280–1,455 lb | 3.5L V6 highest of 3 configurations rated this year |
| 2015 | Rated tow 1,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,305–1,455 lb | 3.5L V6 (270 hp) · V6 Towing Prep Package highest of 4 configurations rated this year |
| 2014 | Rated tow 1,500–5,000 lb | Payload 1,305–1,455 lb | 3.5L V6 (270 hp) · V6 Towing Prep Package highest of 4 configurations rated this year |
We cover 2014–2026 model years. Each row spans only the configurations we have verified against an OEM towing guide for that year — where a year lists one, the rest of that lineup is still being added. Older model years aren't in our dataset yet.
Towing capacity by configuration
| Years | Engine | Config | Max tow | Payload | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–2026 | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) | — | 5,000 lb1 | 1,485 lb | OEM |
| 2020–2022 | 3.5L V6 (295 hp) | — | 5,000 lb2 | 1,485 lb | OEM |
| 2020–2026 | 2.5L I4 hybrid (243 hp net) | — | 3,500 lb3 | 1,405 lb | OEM |
| 2017–2019 | 3.5L V6 hybrid (306 hp net) | AWD | 3,500 lb4 | 1,305 lb | OEM |
| 2016–2019 | 3.5L V6 | — | 5,000 lb5 | 1,280 lb | SAE J2807 |
| 2014–2015 | 3.5L V6 (270 hp) | XLE / Limited · V6 Towing Prep Package | 5,000 lb6 | 1,385 lb | SAE J2807 |
| 2014–2016 | 3.5L V6 hybrid (280 hp net) | AWD · Limited | 3,500 lb7 | 1,305 lb | OEM |
| 2014–2015 | 3.5L V6 (270 hp) | LE / LE Plus | 2,000 lb6 | 1,455 lb | SAE J2807 |
| 2014–2019 | 2.7L I4 | FWD · LE | 1,500 lb8 | 1,455 lb | SAE J2807 |
Ratings as published by the manufacturer for properly equipped vehicles; superscripts link to the source of each figure below.
The payload reality check
Take the 2023–2026 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) rated at 5,000 lb with 1,485 lb of payload. Load a family (550 lb of people, 150 lb of gear) and the honest limit becomes 5,000 lb — limited by tow-rating, computed the same way as our calculator.
Can this Highlander tow these popular trailers?
Each trailer's published GVWR (fully loaded) run through our engine against the 2023–2026 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) , loaded with two adults, two kids and gear (700 lb) and a conservative tongue weight — the same math as the calculator.
| Trailer | Loaded (GVWR) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Casita Spirit 17 compact molded-fiberglass travel trailer · 17 ft | 3,500 lb | Yes — 1,500 lb to spare limited by tow rating |
| Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE light half-ton travel trailer · 21 ft 11 in | 6,395 lb | No — over by 1,395 lb limited by tow rating |
| Big Tex 70CH (18 ft) tandem-axle car hauler / utility trailer · 18 ft | 7,000 lb | No — over by 2,000 lb limited by tow rating |
Trailer weights are the manufacturers' published GVWR (linked). A “yes” here is a planning estimate for this configuration — your own truck's door-jamb payload and your trailer's real loaded weight decide it. Start from your trailer →
What owners actually tow
Owner-community threads on towing with the Highlander, summarized — experiences, not ratings. Your configuration and load decide what's safe.
A V6 Highlander with a weight-distribution hitch handles a ~3,300 lb travel trailer even over 10,000-ft mountain passes — at 45 mph uphill, with the trailer tanks kept empty until camp.
An owner towing a Lance 1575 (3,700 lb GVWR, ~3,360 lb on the trailer axle at a scale) behind a 2017 V6 AWD reported no white-knuckle moments over Wolf Creek and Monarch passes in Colorado, downshifting to keep revs up and using manual mode for engine braking on descents. The counterweight in the same thread: several families found a 20-ft trailer leaves too little payload margin and moved to a truck.
Payload runs out before the 5,000 lb tow rating — a ~400 lb tongue weight plus two adults and dogs already put one owner near the limit, and a 4,500 lb trailer "didn't like the highway."
The owner shopping a Lance 1475 calculated he would be near max payload before loading any gear. Another owner who towed 4,500 lb with a 2018 Highlander sat right at the payload limit and called it acceptable for short trips only. The thread's working formula: sticker payload minus people, cargo, and ~75 lb of WDH hardware is your real tongue-weight budget.
Crosswind is what the ratings don't capture: a tall, light trailer becomes a sail behind the Highlander's short wheelbase even when every number checks out.
One owner towed a ~4,000 lb GVWR bunkhouse with a 2015 Highlander XLE after the math all worked out, then quit after ~35 mph gusts pushed the rig around and replaced it with a Tundra. Others in the thread run 5,000 lb GVWR trailers on V6 Highlanders with anti-sway hitches, empty fresh-water tanks (200+ lb saved near the tongue), and patience for 50 mph interstate climbs.
How to read these numbers
Every figure above is the manufacturer's rating for that specific configuration — engine, drivetrain, cab, and package — not a model-wide maximum (see how much to trust OEM tow ratings). Two things still matter before you hitch up: your individual vehicle's door-jamb sticker (options change payload truck by truck), and your real load — on most vehicles, payload runs out before the tow rating. Estimate your trailer's loaded weight with the trailer weight calculator, then check the full picture in the tow-match calculator.
Compare with other SUVs & crossovers
Config-level ratings compiled and sourced the same way as this page.
Where the headline number sits
Of the 9 configurations above, 4 are rated at the advertised 5,000 lb maximum (3.5L V6 (270 hp) · XLE / Limited · V6 Towing Prep Package); the median configuration is 3,500 lb. We charted that for every model line in the advertised tow rating belongs to one truck, and measured which limit actually binds once the cab is loaded in what actually limits what your truck can tow.
Hitch receiver class
Toyota Highlander configs in our dataset span Class 1–3 receivers by rated trailer weight: Class 1 (2 configs, 1,500–2,000 lb)Class 2 (3 configs, 3,500 lb)Class 3 (4 configs, 5,000 lb). The receiver is one of four limits — the class caps what the hardware carries, not what the vehicle can pull. Find the class your trailer needs →
Sources
- 2023 Highlander Gas Product Information PDF, toyota-cms-media (archived); 2025/2026 PDFs and 2026 pressroom release concur
- 2020 Highlander Product Information PDF, toyota-cms-media (archived); 2021 PDF and 2022 pressroom release concur
- 2020 Highlander Product Information PDF, toyota-cms-media (archived); 2021/2023/2025 PDFs and 2022/2026 pressroom releases concur
- 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Product Information PDF, toyota-cms-media (archived); 2017/2019 toyota.com eBrochures concur
- 2019 Toyota Highlander Product Information PDF, toyota-cms-media (archived); 2016/2017 toyota.com eBrochures concur
- 2014 Toyota Highlander Product Specs, pressroom.toyota.com (archived); 2015 product specs concur
- 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Product Specs, pressroom.toyota.com (archived); 2016 toyota.com eBrochure concurs
- 2019 Toyota Highlander Product Information PDF, toyota-cms-media (archived); 2014/2015 pressroom product specs concur
Cross-checked per our methodology; conflicting sources resolve to the lower figure. Spotted a discrepancy with your towing guide? Send a correction — that's the email we most want. It opens your mail app with the page attached; or just write hello@checkmytow.com.
Before you tow: confirm the ratings for your exact vehicle on the driver's door-jamb label and in the owner's manual or towing guide for its model year. Never exceed any single rating — see the disclaimer.