Only 1 SUV With Independent Rear Suspension Can Tow 10,000 Pounds
Are you dreaming of an SUV with plenty of room for all your passengers, which is also sturdy enough to tow most trailers? You might think you’ll have to settle for a truck-like solid rear axle. But in truth, one SUV boasts the smooth ride of independent rear suspension and the only 10,000-pound towing capacity in its segment: the 2023 Wagoneer by Jeep. But only specific Wagoneer configurations–and engines–can tow this much.
What SUVs have a high towing capacity?
The regular Wagoneer by Jeep has the highest 2023 towing capacity: 10,000 pounds. The luxurious Grand Wagoneer trim lags with 9,850. Toyota’s V6 Sequoia claims third place with a 9,520-pound rating, the Ford Expedition comes in with 9,300 pounds, and the Suburban maxes out at just 8,300 pounds.
You can see how all the 2023 SUV towing capacities break down–according to Forbes–in the table below:
| Make/Model | Maximum Towing Capacity | Average Across All Trims |
| 2023 Jeep Wagoneer | 10,000 pounds | 10,000 pounds |
| 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | 9,850 pounds | 9,800 pounds |
| 2023 Toyota Sequoia | 9,520 pounds | 9,173 pounds |
| 2022 Ford Expedition | 9,300 pounds | 7,850 pounds |
| 2022 Lincoln Navigator | 8,700 pound | 8,375 pounds |
| 2022 Dodge Durango | 8,700 pounds | 7,433 pounds |
| 2023 Nissan Armada | 8,500 pounds | 8,500 pounds |
| 2022 Infiniti QX80 | 8,500 pounds | 8,500 pounds |
| 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe | 8,400 pounds | 8,033 pounds |
| 2022 GMC Yukon | 8,400 pounds | 7,900 pounds |
| 2022 Chevrolet Suburban | 8,300 pounds | 7,891 pounds |
| 2023 Cadillac Escalade | 8,200 pounds | 7,722 pounds |
| 2022 Lexus LX | 8,000 pounds | 8,000 pounds |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS | 7,700 pounds | 7,700 pounds |
Is the Jeep Wagoneer based on the Ram truck?
The new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs share a lot of technology with Ram’s current pickup truck, but Jeep has also made some significant improvements. The Wagoneer may have more in common with the next generation of Ram 1500 than the present Ram trucks.
One significant difference is that Jeep upgraded the Ram truck’s chassis with independent rear suspension. My colleague Allison Barfield reviewed the Grand Wagoneer and felt that the new SUV’s suspension gave it “tons of off-roading capabilities” for an SUV of its size.
We know the upcoming electric version of the Ram 1500 (the REV) will have independent rear suspension. Recent photos reveal this EV will look a lot like the production truck, and it’s likely that internal combustion variant of the sixth-generation Ram 1500 will also have the Wagoneer’s independent rear suspension.
Another difference between the Wagoneer and the half-ton Ram 1500 is the SUV’s engine options. The Ram 1500’s base engine is the 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated “Pentastar” V6 shared with Wranglers and base-model Challengers and Chargers. The top-trim engine is the 5.7-liter Hemi V8.
The Wagoneer’s base engine is the 5.7-liter Hemi. The Series II and Series III trims are available with the twin-turbocharged “Huricane” I6. The Grand Wagoneer’s base engine is the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 from the heavy-duty Ram 2500. Jeep has actually outfitted this engine with Ram’s eTorque system, for the first time. The Series II and Series III Grand Wagoneers are available with the high-output Hurricane.
How much can a Jeep Wagoneer tow?
The entry-level Jeep Wagoneer comes with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. When you upgrade it with the towing package, its rating climbs to 10,000 pounds. No other configuration or engine can tow quite this much.
Even though the Grand Wagoneer has a larger engine, it is also a heavier vehicle. Even with the towing package, it can only tow 9,850 pounds.
The new Hurricane I6 engines promise gobs of power. The high-output variant is rated for 510 horsepower. But at the moment, Jeep is not offering the towing package with either tune of the I6. Without the improved engine cooling of the towing package, these engines don’t have as high a tow rating as the V8.
Will the I6 eventually be able to tow 10,000 pounds? Most likely. Stellantis is angling to replace all its V8s with the Hurricane, so it will need to offer the towing package with the new engine. Moreover, the manufacturer’s highest tow rating already comes from a turbocharged I6–the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel–so it certainly knows how to keep a turbocharged engine cool enough for trailering.
Next, find out why the 2023 Toyota Sequoia can tow more than some Tundra pickup trucks, or watch TFL truck test the towing capacity if the Hurricane-equipped Grand Wagoneer L in the video below:
