Best tow vehicles in Australia in 2025

We’ve all seen the adverts proclaiming the towing toughness of the latest ute or SUV, but aside from the stated legal towing maximum capacity, it’s all potentially hot air.

No manufacturer wants to admit that its shiny new profit-centre turns to water when a heavy trailer is hitched up. So how do you know if you’re in the market for a new tow vehicle, which one is a really good thing when towing?

We’ve compiled this list based on our experience of the best tow vehicles your money can buy in 2025. Keep in mind though, that even the best tow vehicles have compromises, but if you want to know what we think is the best of the bunch, read on...

The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium is our pick overall of the large American dual-cab utes as it makes the most of its 4500kg towing capacity, with great performance, and relatively low low fuel consumption when towing a heavy caravan.

It has great in-built towing features such as an electric brake controller and towing camera angles, as well as solid towing stability and decent ride to make it one of the best vehicles in the segment for big towing jobs.

The main downsides are the brief warranty (three years/100,000km) and, like almost all of its competitors, a limited reduced payload at its full 4500kg towing capacity (108kg max, before you’ll go over the 7160kg GCM).

Quick stats:

Price: $130,500 (plus on road costs)
Power/torque: 313kW/624Nm
Kerb weight: 2552kg
Towing capacity: 4500kg (450kg tow ball mass)
Max payload: 748kg

Honourable mention:

The Ford F-150 (from $106,950 plus ORCs) offers an excellent payload, rock-solid towing stability and brilliant performance, towing or not. But while it’s very light on fuel when unladen, towing fuel consumption is on the high side...

While Toyota's LandCruiser 200 Series built a solid reputation for being able to tow almost anything, the 300 Series is just as good, if not better.

Fuel consumption from the 300’s twin-turbo V6 diesel is sub-20L/100km when towing a big 'van and weight carrying capacity with a trailer behind (or not) is better than its predecessor (and most competitors).

Stability and ride quality when towing is brilliant, while performance for hill climbing or overtaking is also among the best of the big SUVs.

The LandCruiser 300 Series isn't cheap and doesn’t have quite the towing-touring range of its predecessor, but its 110 litre  tank is still enough to get more than 500km with almost any trailer behind.

Quick stats:
Price: from $97,990 (plus ORCs)
Power/torque: 227kW/700Nm
Kerb weight: 2495kg
Towing capacity 3500kg (350kg TBM)
Max. payload: 785kg

Honourable mention:

The Land Rover Defender D350 SE is another big, 3500kg-capable tow rig with lush ride and brilliant performance from its 3.0-litre diesel, but it's pricey (from $114,500 plus ORCs) and lacking in regional service support.

The latest Ford Ranger five-seater moves the goalposts forward in payload, towing safety and features in class, with lots of smart towing-assist kit including digital towing set-up guides and towing safety measures, while losing none of the towing stability, fuel efficiency and performance of its predecessor.

While there’s a new V6 diesel engine, the carry-over 2.0-litre bi-turbo does almost a good a performance job with better economy, so is our pick of the range.

Quick stats:
Price: From $66,390 (plus ORCs)
Power/torque: 154kW/500Nm
Kerb weight: 2295kg
Towing capacity: 3500kg (350kg TBM)
Max. payload: 985kg

Honourable mention:

Volkswagen's Amarok (from $55,490 plus ORCs) is the 'twin under the skin' of the Ford Ranger, and serves up a very similar 3500kg maximum hauling performance, albeit with firmer, less supple suspension.

With the introduction of the Pure spec and some ride and handling updates for 2025, the Mazda CX-60 is looking even better as a towing alternative to the big guns, when it comes to towing 2500kg ATM and under caravans.

While there is a diesel option for $2000 more, it’s the entry-level, petrol-six CX-60 Pure that has the better (2500kg versus 2000kg) towing mass maximum. Even though the towball download limit is somewhat limiting at only 150kg, this is still much better than the sub-100kg limit offered by many other medium SUVs.

Honourable mention:

The latest Volkswagen Tiguan AWD (from $50,690 plus ORCs) can tow up to 2300kg (TBM 200kg), and with three turbo-petrol engines on offer, shapes up as a decent medium-duty tow hauler particularly in the higher-spec variants -- as soon as Volkswagen releases a towbar for it!

The Isuzu MU-X LS-M 3.0 4x4 wagon is a great all-rounder, from the daily school-run to Outback touring with a heavy caravan behind -- and pretty much anything in between.

With a relatively narrow body, it’s easier to thread though tight inner-city streets than most of its competitors, comes with seven-seat versatility, and its efficient and responsive 3.0-litre diesel delivers decent economy to go with excellent towing stability.

Honourable mention:

The Ford Everest V6 is a very strong, 3500kg-capable towing performer while still able to do the school pick up and everything in between, without too much fuss. A bit big and pricey, but overall another good option if you're seeking an 'all-rounder'.

While there are many EV towing options on the market, there are -- for now, at least -- not many that can tow a heavy trailer when touring without draining the battery pack quickly and requiring frequent recharge stops.

Hybrids currently offer the best 'green' towing option, and of the models available the Hyundai Tucson 1.6T AWD HEV is our pick as the best of the bunch for towing capacity, towing performance and fuel efficiency, although it's best for lighter towing jobs.

Quick stats:

Price: from $52,600 (plus ORCs)
Power/torque: 172kW/367Nm
Kerb weight: 1686kg
Towing capacity: 1900kg (100kg TBM)
Payload: 614kg

Honourable mention:

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with its 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric engine and 1500kg towing capacity, is a viable alternative to diesel for towing a smaller caravan or camper, particular in its current guise.

While it could do with a firmer ride when towing on rough roads (and a full-size spare for touring Outback), the RAV4 Hybrid with its good fuel economy, performance and towing stability, should be on your shortlist for light to medium 'green' towing duties.