Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs, according to Toyota's published specifications. Rated configuration: 2.4L turbo gas, all grades (AWD standard for 2026). Other configurations are rated lower, so confirm your exact rating by VIN or on the door-jamb label.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-05 · 10 manufacturer sources
2026 max towing
5,000 lbs
2026 max payload
—
Years covered
2019–2026
Toyota Highlander towing capacity by year
| Model year | Generation | Max towing | Max payload | Max-tow configuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4th gen (2020–present) | 5,000 lbs [1] | — | 2.4L turbo gas, all grades (AWD standard for 2026)Highlander Hybrid (all grades, AWD) rated up to 3,500 lbs (s2). |
| 2025 | 4th gen (2020–present) | 5,000 lbs [3] | — | 2.4L turbo gas, FWD or AWDHighlander Hybrid rated 3,500 lbs (s4). |
| 2024 | 4th gen (2020–present) | 5,000 lbs [5] | — | 2.4L turbo gas, AWDAll Highlander Hybrid grades rated up to 3,500 lbs (s5). |
| 2023 | 4th gen (2020–present) | 5,000 lbs [6] | 1,685 lbs [6] | 2.4L turbo gas, FWD or AWDPayload 1,685 lbs is the L/LE FWD gas model. Hybrid rated 3,500 lbs tow, with payload up to 1,595 lbs (s7). |
| 2022 | 4th gen (2020–present) | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 4th gen (2020–present) | 5,000 lbs [8] | 1,685 lbs [8] | 3.5L V6 gas, FWD or AWDPayload 1,685 lbs is the L/LE FWD gas model. Hybrid rated 3,500 lbs. |
| 2020 | 4th gen (2020–present) | 5,000 lbs [9] | 1,685 lbs [9] | 3.5L V6 gas, FWD or AWDPayload 1,685 lbs is the L/LE FWD gas model. Hybrid rated 3,500 lbs. |
| 2019 | 3rd gen (2014–2019) | 5,000 lbs [10] | — | 3.5L V6, all grades (SAE J2807); 500-lb tongue weight requires the tow prep package2.7L 4-cylinder LE rated 1,500 lbs. Gas payloads published: 1,455 lbs (4-cyl LE) and 1,280–1,370 lbs (V6). The 2019 Hybrid spec sheet could not be found, so the true maximum is unconfirmed. |
— = not published in a manufacturer source we could verify; we leave it blank rather than estimate.
2026 Toyota Highlander towing capacity by configuration
| Trim | Engine | Drive | Max towing | Payload | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLE | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) | AWD | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| XSE | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) | AWD | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| Limited | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) | AWD | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| Platinum | 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) | AWD | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| Hybrid XLE | 2.5L I4 hybrid (243 net hp) | AWD | 3,500 | — | [2] |
| Hybrid Limited | 2.5L I4 hybrid (243 net hp) | AWD | 3,500 | — | [2] |
| Hybrid Platinum | 2.5L I4 hybrid (243 net hp) | AWD | 3,500 | — | [2] |
Ratings in lbs, as published by the manufacturer for the 2026 model year.
What lowers your Highlander's real towing limit
- The powertrain sets the rating: gas Highlanders (3.5L V6 in 2019–2021, 2.4L turbo from 2023) are rated 5,000 lbs, while Highlander Hybrid models are rated 3,500 lbs.
- On 2019 models the base 2.7L 4-cylinder LE was rated just 1,500 lbs, versus 5,000 lbs for every V6.
- On 2020–2023 models, front-wheel-drive gas L and LE grades carried the most payload (1,685 lbs); AWD and higher grades are rated lower.
- For 2026, Toyota made AWD standard on every Highlander, gas and hybrid.
The maximum rating assumes a specific, lightly loaded configuration. Three other limits apply on every tow, and the first one you hit is your real limit:
- Payload. Passengers, cargo, accessories and the trailer's tongue weight all count against payload. The payload figure on your door-jamb Tire and Loading Information placard is the one for your exact vehicle.
- Tongue weight. A conventional trailer typically puts 10–15% of its weight on the hitch, so a 5,000-lb trailer adds roughly 500–750 lbs to the truck or SUV. The hitch receiver has its own tongue-weight limit, printed on the receiver label.
- GCWR. The gross combined weight rating caps the loaded vehicle plus the loaded trailer. Every pound of passengers and cargo added to the vehicle comes off the trailer weight you can pull at GCWR.
Always stay within the lowest of these limits for your specific vehicle.
Check your exact Highlander tow rating by VIN
The table above shows the range. Your VIN pins down engine, drivetrain and cab; your window sticker adds the axle ratio and tow package.
Shopping for a Highlander?
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More Toyota towing capacity: 4Runner · Land Cruiser · RAV4 · Sequoia · Tacoma · Tundra
FAQ
What is the towing capacity of the Toyota Highlander?
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped (2.4L turbo gas, all grades (AWD standard for 2026)). Source: 2026 Toyota Highlander Gas Product Information (via web.archive.org). Lower-rated configurations tow less — the by-configuration table on this page lists each published rating.
Which Toyota Highlander model year tows the most?
Among the model years on this page with a manufacturer-published rating (2019–2026), the highest maximum is 5,000 lbs, first published for the 2026 model year (2.4L turbo gas, all grades (AWD standard for 2026)).
How do I find my Toyota Highlander's exact towing capacity?
Check the certification label on the driver's door jamb for GVWR and the Tire and Loading Information placard for payload, then match your engine, drivetrain, cab/bed and axle ratio to the manufacturer's table. CarWhere's VIN lookup resolves engine, drivetrain and cab from the VIN; the window sticker lists the axle ratio and tow package.
Sources
- Toyota Pressroom, "2026 Toyota Highlander Gas Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20250923003901/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026-Toyota-Highlander-Gas-Product-Information-1.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2026 Toyota Highlander Gets Standard All Wheel Drive Across the Lineup" https://pressroom.toyota.com/2026-toyota-highlander-gets-standard-all-wheel-drive-across-the-lineup/ (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20250423230250/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2025-Toyota-Highlander-2L-Turbo-Product-Information.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20250423230323/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2025-Toyota-Highlander-Hybrid-Product-Information.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "Elevate the Journey with Toyota's New Highlander Hybrid Nightshade (2024 model year)" https://pressroom.toyota.com/elevate-the-journey-with-toyotas-new-highlander-hybrid-nightshade/ (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2023 Toyota Highlander Gas Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20250923003946/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2023-Highlander-Gas-Product-Information_FINAL_FINAL-1.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20221224051932/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2023-Highlander-Hybrid-Product-Information-FINAL.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2021 Toyota Highlander Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20210514202234/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2021-Highlander-Product-Information-FINAL.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2020 Toyota Highlander Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20211026215004/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2020-Highlander-Product-Information.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Toyota Pressroom, "2019 Toyota Highlander Product Information (via web.archive.org)" http://web.archive.org/web/20211026214800/https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019_Toyota_Highlander_Product_Info_FINAL.pdf (accessed 2026-11-05)
Methodology: ratings transcribed from official manufacturer specifications, press materials and towing guides; figures we could not verify in a manufacturer source are left blank. Cite this page: CarWhere Research, "Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity," carwhere.com/towing-capacity/toyota/highlander, updated 2026-11-05.