Data as of Aug 25, 2026 · Based on 304 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
For the heaviest, longer-distance towing choose the 
Brands AI recommends here
Named in 75% of answers
Best-balanced truck: high tow (~11,000 lbs) with efficient real-world range, making it strong for moderate trailers and local trips without extreme range penalty; very heavy loads still reduce range noticeably.
Named in 65% of answers
Best for heavy, longer-distance towing: large battery and top tow ratings (~12,500 lbs) let you tow big loads with fewer fast-charge stops, though you still must plan charging for long hauls.
Named in 58% of answers
Good for everyday and light-to-moderate towing: familiar truck feel and up to ~10,000 lbs with Extended Range, but often shows steep percentage range loss on longer or heavier hauls.
Named in 56% of answers
Best SUV choice: highest SUV tow (~7,700 lbs) giving SUV comfort and strong torque for boats or campers, with a more manageable everyday range than full-size trucks.
Source | Citation share |
|---|---|
 The Best Electric Trucks, SUVs And Crossovers For Towinghttps://insideevs.com/features/734319/best-ev-truck-suv-crossover-towing/ | 7.1% |
 Payload and Towing Capacity on Electric Vehicles - Kelley Blue Bookhttps://www.kbb.com/car-advice/ev-payload-towing-capacity/ | 6.7% |
 Best EV SUVs for Towinghttps://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/best-ev-suvs-for-towing | 4.5% |
 The Best 2025 Electric Vehicles for Towing - GearJunkiehttps://gearjunkie.com/motors/best-electric-vehicles-towing | 2.9% |
 Electric SUV That Can Tow: 2025 Towing Capacity & Best Modelshttps://www.geekmyride.org/electric-suv-towing-capacity-2025-complete-guide/ | 2.5% |
 Find the Best Electric Vehicle for Towing: The 5 Top Electric Vehicles for Towing - The Tech Vortexhttps://the-tech-vortex.com/2025/06/13/best-electric-vehicle-for-towing/ | 2.4% |
Electric Truck Towing Capacity (2026) | TowingServiceHubhttps://towingservicehub.com/blog/electric-truck-towing-capacity/ | 2.0% |
Best EV Trucks for Towinghttps://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/best-ev-trucks-for-towing | 2.0% |
 Electric SUVs with the Best Towing Capacity for 2026https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-suvs/electric/towing | 1.8% |
 Electric Cars Towing Capacity Comparison Chart | EVspecshttps://www.evspecs.org/comparison-chart/towing-capacity | 1.5% |
When it comes to towing with an electric vehicle, physics dictates that **every EV will experience a 50% to 60% reduction in driving range** when pulling a heavy, un-aerodynamic trailer at highway speeds. There is no getting around the aerodynamic drag and rolling…
When it comes to towing with an electric vehicle, physics dictates that every EV will experience a 50% to 60% reduction in driving range when pulling a heavy, un-aerodynamic trailer at highway speeds. There is no getting around the aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance.
Therefore, minimizing "catastrophic range loss" isn’t about preventing the loss percentage—it’s about starting with a massive battery pack so that your remaining 40% range still leaves you with a usable 150+ miles between charging stops, rather than a crippling 80 miles.
The top electric trucks and SUVs for occasional towers, ranked by how well they manage towing capacity and usable remaining range, stand out across key models:
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
For an **occasional tower**, the key metric is not just maximum tow rating — it is **how much usable range you still have after attaching a trailer**. Almost every EV loses a lot of range while towing because aerodynamic drag dominates, especially with boats, campers, and enclosed trailers. A realistic expectation is…
For an occasional tower, the key metric is not just maximum tow rating — it is how much usable range you still have after attaching a trailer. Almost every EV loses a lot of range while towing because aerodynamic drag dominates, especially with boats, campers, and enclosed trailers. A realistic expectation is often 40–60% range loss, sometimes more with large trailers, high speeds, wind, or hills.
The best choices are the EVs that start with very large batteries, efficient drivetrains, and good charging access.
Why it stands out:
Why it fits an occasional tower: If you tow a camper a few times a year but drive unloaded most days, the Silverado EV gives you the best chance of still having practical highway range when towing. A 5,000–7,000 lb trailer will hurt, but starting with a huge battery means fewer charging stops.
Downside: It is a large truck — not ideal if you mostly want SUV-like maneuverability.
Best for: boat owners, travel trailers, utility trailers.
Why it stands out:
The R1S is probably the best fit if towing is occasional and you want an everyday family vehicle. It is much easier to live with than a full-size pickup.
Downside: Towing a big camper will still cut range sharply. The R1T pickup version can tow more (up to 11,000 lb), but the R1S gives up some towing capacity for SUV practicality.
Best for: small campers, jet skis, utility trailers, family hauling.
Strengths:
The Lightning is a great truck, but its battery is smaller than the Silverado EV’s, so towing hurts more. An extended-range model is the one to consider.
Best for: someone who wants a normal pickup first and an EV second.
Strengths:
Weakness: Its rated range is much lower than Silverado EV’s (around 325 miles for AWD), so towing can mean frequent stops.
Best for: people already invested in Tesla’s ecosystem.
| Vehicle | Tow ability | Towing range confidence | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silverado EV | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (12,500 lb) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best tow EV overall |
| Rivian R1S | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Best electric SUV |
| Ford F-150 Lightning ER | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10,000 lb) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Best conventional truck |
| Rivian R1T | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (11,000 lb) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Adventure/towing pickup |
| Cybertruck | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Tesla ecosystem buyers |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Car and Driver## My recommendation by trailer size
For an occasional tower who wants an EV without constantly planning around charging, I would put the Silverado EV first, Rivian R1S second, and F-150 Lightning Extended Range third.
If you tow only occasionally, I’d prioritize **a large battery + good unloaded range + a realistic tow rating**, rather than simply chasing the highest tow number. With EVs, almost every vehicle loses a lot of highway range while towing; aerodynamic drag is usually the bigger problem than trailer weight. ### My…
If you tow only occasionally, I’d prioritize a large battery + good unloaded range + a realistic tow rating, rather than simply chasing the highest tow number. With EVs, almost every vehicle loses a lot of highway range while towing; aerodynamic drag is usually the bigger problem than trailer weight.
| EV | Max tow | Best available range | My take for occasional towing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 12,500 lb | up to ~478 mi* | 🏆 Best overall |
| GMC Sierra EV | 12,500 lb | up to ~478 mi* | 🏆 Best upscale alternative |
| Rivian R1T | 11,000 lb | up to 420 mi | Best smaller/adventure truck |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 10,000 lb | up to ~320 mi | Best conventional truck experience |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 11,000 lb | ~340 mi | Good if Supercharger access matters |
| Kia EV9 | 5,000 lb | roughly 230–305 mi depending on version | Best SUV choice for moderate trailers |
*GM's ~478-mile figure is a GM estimate for the Max Range versions, rather than an EPA rating. The Silverado/Sierra configurations that achieve the 12,500-lb tow rating use the smaller Extended Range battery, with roughly 410 miles EPA-estimated range on applicable Sierra configurations.
This is where I'd start.
The Silverado EV and mechanically related GMC Sierra EV are unusually good combinations of huge battery, long unloaded range and serious towing capability. The Sierra's Extended Range configuration is EPA-rated at 410 miles while retaining a 12,500-lb tow rating; the Max Range version goes to about 478 miles but drops to 10,200 lb of towing.
That distinction is important: don't buy the 478-mile version expecting it to tow 12,500 lb.
For occasional towing—say a boat, utility trailer, car trailer or camper a few times a year—the Extended Range truck is probably the configuration I'd choose. You get an enormous battery buffer without giving up the ability to tow a genuinely heavy trailer.
The Silverado EV has essentially the same compelling formula: Chevrolet lists up to 12,500 lb towing and up to 478 miles depending on configuration.
Why I like them: they're probably the closest EVs yet to making towing feel like a normal truck activity rather than an EV science experiment.
The R1T can tow up to 11,000 lb and is available with a Max battery giving roughly 420 miles of range.
It's particularly attractive if your trailer is in the 3,000–7,000-lb range rather than a giant fifth-wheel-type load.
There's an important real-world lesson from Edmunds' towing test: they pulled a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer with an R1T and F-150 Lightning. Both ended up around 0.9–1.0 mile/kWh, illustrating how dramatically towing can overwhelm an EV's normal efficiency.
So don't look at the R1T's 420-mile number and assume you'll get 300+ miles with a big camper attached. A heavy, tall trailer can easily cut usable range roughly in half.
The Lightning's maximum rating is 10,000 lb, but only in the appropriately equipped configuration. Ford's 2026 towing guide shows configurations ranging from 7,700 to 10,000 lb.
Its biggest advantage isn't the specification sheet—it's that it's fundamentally an F-150. If you already understand F-150 dimensions, accessories, hitches, bed equipment and dealer support, the Lightning is easy to live with.
The downside is battery/range. Its maximum EPA range is around 320 miles, considerably less than the big GM trucks.
Interestingly, Edmunds' real towing test found the Lightning and R1T surprisingly close in efficiency despite their differences. With a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer, the Lightning averaged about 1.0 mi/kWh and the R1T about 0.9 mi/kWh.
If you don't actually need a pickup bed, the Kia EV9 is one of the more compelling answers.
Depending on configuration, it can tow up to 5,000 lb with trailer brakes. Kia specifically warns that towing can significantly reduce range.
I'd consider it for:
But I wouldn't choose it for a 7,000–10,000-lb trailer simply because the truck alternatives give you a much larger margin.
The tow rating isn't the biggest issue—range is.
A 6,000-lb trailer that's tall and boxy can be considerably harder on range than a heavier but low-profile trailer. At highway speeds, aerodynamic drag becomes enormous.
In Edmunds' controlled test, a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer caused the Lightning's indicated range to immediately fall from roughly 300+ miles to 150 miles, and the R1T's apparent range similarly collapsed once they actually started driving.
So I'd use this rough planning rule:
Those aren't guarantees; speed, temperature, wind, trailer shape, payload and terrain can move the result dramatically.
If you told me "I tow maybe 5–10 times a year, usually 4,000–7,000 lb, but I want an EV the other 95% of the time", I'd rank them:
The GM trucks are the standout because they're the first mainstream EV pickups where you can get genuinely enormous range and a 12,500-lb tow rating, provided you select the right battery/configuration.
If you tell me what you tow (boat/camper/car trailer/etc.), its approximate loaded weight, and your typical towing-trip distance, I can narrow this down to the 2–3 EVs that would actually work for you, including estimated range while towing.
The Silverado EV has essentially the same compelling formula: Chevrolet lists up to 12,500 lb towing and up to 478 miles depending on configuration.
Why I like them: they're probably the closest EVs yet to making towing feel like a normal truck activity rather than an EV science experiment.
The R1T can tow up to 11,000 lb and is available with a Max battery giving roughly 420 miles of range.
It's particularly attractive if your trailer is in the 3,000–7,000-lb range rather than a giant fifth-wheel-type load.
There's an important real-world lesson from Edmunds' towing test: they pulled a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer with an R1T and F-150 Lightning. Both ended up around 0.9–1.0 mile/kWh, illustrating how dramatically towing can overwhelm an EV's normal efficiency.
So don't look at the R1T's 420-mile number and assume you'll get 300+ miles with a big camper attached. A heavy, tall trailer can easily cut usable range roughly in half.
The Lightning's maximum rating is 10,000 lb, but only in the appropriately equipped configuration. Ford's 2026 towing guide shows configurations ranging from 7,700 to 10,000 lb.
Its biggest advantage isn't the specification sheet—it's that it's fundamentally an F-150. If you already understand F-150 dimensions, accessories, hitches, bed equipment and dealer support, the Lightning is easy to live with.
The downside is battery/range. Its maximum EPA range is around 320 miles, considerably less than the big GM trucks.
Interestingly, Edmunds' real towing test found the Lightning and R1T surprisingly close in efficiency despite their differences. With a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer, the Lightning averaged about 1.0 mi/kWh and the R1T about 0.9 mi/kWh.
If you don't actually need a pickup bed, the Kia EV9 is one of the more compelling answers.
When it comes to towing with an electric truck or SUV, the golden rule of physics applies across the board: **towing a heavy, un-aerodynamic trailer will cut your EV’s range roughly in half (a 50% to 60% loss)** . Because of this, avoiding a "catastrophic" range loss isn't about finding an EV that defies physics—it’s…
When it comes to towing with an electric truck or SUV, the golden rule of physics applies across the board: towing a heavy, un-aerodynamic trailer will cut your EV’s range roughly in half (a 50% to 60% loss) . Because of this, avoiding a "catastrophic" range loss isn't about finding an EV that defies physics—it’s about choosing a vehicle with a massive battery pack (high kilowatt-hours) and rapid DC fast charging so your stops are manageable.
The top electric trucks and SUVs for occasional towers who need high capacity and the largest possible buffer against range anxiety include:
Chevrolet Silverado EV / GMC Sierra EV (Max Range Pack)
Rivian R1T (Pickup) / R1S (SUV - Gen 2)
Tesla Cybertruck (AWD / Cyberbeast)
Ford F-150 Lightning (Extended Range)
To help narrow down the ideal choice, could you share:
If you tow **occasionally** and your priority is *“I want serious towing capability without turning a 300–400-mile EV into a 100-mile EV every time I hook up a trailer,”* the field narrows considerably. ### My ranking for 2026 | Vehicle | Max tow | EPA range, depending on version | Towing-range outlook | My take |
If you tow occasionally and your priority is “I want serious towing capability without turning a 300–400-mile EV into a 100-mile EV every time I hook up a trailer,” the field narrows considerably.
| Vehicle | Max tow | EPA range, depending on version | Towing-range outlook | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 12,500 lb | Up to ~450 mi | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best overall |
| GMC Sierra EV | 12,500 lb | Up to ~470 mi | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Silverado's more upscale twin |
| Rivian R1T | 11,000 lb | Up to ~420 mi | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best smaller/more maneuverable choice |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 11,000 lb | ~320 mi | ⭐⭐⭐ | Good towing tech, less range margin |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 10,000 lb | ~320 mi | ⭐⭐⭐ | Good occasional hauler, but range hit is substantial |
| Rivian R1S | 7,700 lb | Up to ~410 mi | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best SUV if you don't need >7,700 lb |
The Silverado EV Extended Range is probably the EV I'd buy specifically for your use case.
GM offers an Extended Range configuration rated for 12,500 lb, while the Max Range version actually has a lower tow rating because of how the configurations are engineered.
More importantly, its huge battery gives it something EV towing desperately needs: energy reserve. In an independent mountain towing comparison with a 6,500-lb trailer, the Silverado EV was the only truck to complete the entire 472-mile route with one charging stop and 14% remaining.
That's the key distinction. Towing still causes a massive efficiency penalty, but starting with a ~200-kWh battery means you have much more usable range left after that penalty.
The GMC Sierra EV is essentially the luxury/upscale alternative and offers the same basic advantage. GMC lists the 2026 Sierra EV with up to 12,500 lb of towing depending on configuration.
The R1T is my choice if you don't need a full-size truck.
It's rated up to 11,000 lb, and the Max battery can provide an exceptionally large unloaded range.
But there's an important caveat: don't interpret the 400+ mile EPA figure as a 400-mile towing vehicle. Car and Driver got only about 110 miles at 70 mph while towing a 6,100-lb trailer in its test.
On the other hand, a separate long-term towing dataset found considerably better results with a more aerodynamic trailer, illustrating just how much trailer aerodynamics and speed matter.
That's actually the lesson for any EV tow vehicle: a 5,000-lb low-profile boat or utility trailer can be dramatically easier on range than a 5,000-lb tall enclosed trailer.
The Cybertruck is legitimately capable: 11,000-lb maximum towing and very good towing/reversing technology. In a MotorTrend comparison, its range fell roughly a third with a relatively aerodynamic 3,170-lb trailer.
I'd put it behind the GM trucks for your particular requirement because starting range is less generous. You can tow well, but you don't have the same giant battery/range cushion as the Silverado/Sierra.
It's a perfectly reasonable occasional tow vehicle, particularly if you're already an F-150 person. But it's not my first choice if minimizing range loss is the specific goal.
A Lightning rated for 10,000 lb can lose roughly a third or more of its highway range with a trailer, depending heavily on trailer size and speed. MotorTrend saw approximately a one-third range reduction even with a relatively light, aerodynamic trailer.
So I'd choose it for F-150 familiarity, price, utility and occasional towing, rather than maximum EV towing efficiency.
The Rivian R1S is the one I'd look at first. It can tow up to 7,700 lb and offers up to roughly 420 miles of EPA range depending on configuration.
The catch is that a heavy/high-profile trailer can still devastate range. If you're towing a 5,000–7,000-lb camper, I'd favor the Silverado/Sierra rather than trying to make an R1S do full-size-truck duty.
For EV towing, maximum tow rating is almost the wrong metric.
I'd rank them this way:
Long-distance towing:
Silverado EV ≈ Sierra EV > R1T > Cybertruck > Lightning
Occasional towing + normal daily driving:
R1T > Silverado EV/Sierra EV > R1S > Lightning > Cybertruck
Heavy camper/horse trailer:
Silverado EV/Sierra EV by a wide margin
And I'd specifically seek out the Silverado/Sierra Extended Range configuration, rather than automatically buying the version with the largest advertised EPA range. The 2026 Silverado trailering tables show that the Extended Range version gets the 12,500-lb tow rating, while the Max Range configuration is rated substantially lower.
If you tell me what you tow (boat, camper, car trailer, utility trailer), approximate trailer weight, and how far you typically tow it, I can narrow this to the 2–3 configurations that make the most sense and estimate your realistic towing range between charges.
When it comes to towing with an electric truck or SUV, it helps to understand a fundamental rule of physics: **aerodynamic drag and weight dictate range** , meaning *every* EV suffers a roughly 40% to 50% drop in range when pulling a heavy, non-aerodynamic trailer (like a boxy camper or utility trailer) at highway…
When it comes to towing with an electric truck or SUV, it helps to understand a fundamental rule of physics: aerodynamic drag and weight dictate range , meaning every EV suffers a roughly 40% to 50% drop in range when pulling a heavy, non-aerodynamic trailer (like a boxy camper or utility trailer) at highway speeds.
Because you cannot cheat the aerodynamics of the trailer, the secret to avoiding "catastrophic" range loss—where you are forced to stop every 80 to 90 miles—is massive starting battery capacity . Trucks with smaller packs see their usable range shrink to stressful levels, whereas giant-battery trucks still retain 180 to 220+ miles of actual towing range.
The top electric trucks and SUVs providing the best towing capacity and staying power under load are organized below:
Chevrolet Silverado EV / GMC Sierra EV (Max Range)
Rivian R1T (Pickup) / R1S (SUV) - Large/Max Pack
Tesla Cybertruck
Ram 1500 Ramcharger (Extended-Range PHEV)
To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:
When it comes to towing with an electric truck or SUV, the golden rule of physics is unavoidable: **aerodynamic drag and weight will cut your range roughly in half (50% to 60% loss)** across almost all current EVs. Because "catastrophic range loss" is the baseline for towing an arbitrary trailer at highway speeds, the…
When it comes to towing with an electric truck or SUV, the golden rule of physics is unavoidable: aerodynamic drag and weight will cut your range roughly in half (50% to 60% loss) across almost all current EVs. Because "catastrophic range loss" is the baseline for towing an arbitrary trailer at highway speeds, the best choices are not those that defy physics, but those that start with a massive battery pack so that a 50% drop still leaves you with a usable 150 to 180 miles of towing-leg distance.
The top options on the market that balance high towing capacities with large enough buffers to survive the towing penalty include:
Chevrolet Silverado EV / GMC Sierra EV (Max Range)
Rivian R1T (Pickup) / R1S (SUV) (Large/Max Pack)
Ford F-150 Lightning (Extended Range)
Tesla Cybertruck (AWD / Cyberbeast)
If you tell me what you plan to tow (e.g., a small utility trailer, a 6,000-lb boat, or a massive travel trailer) and your typical one-way trip distance , I can give you a better breakdown of expected charging stops for these specific models.
If you tow **occasionally** rather than every week, I’d focus less on the headline tow rating and more on the combination of **battery size, highway efficiency, charging speed, and how badly towing cuts usable range**. The big caveat: **there is no current EV that avoids a substantial range penalty with a large, boxy…
If you tow occasionally rather than every week, I’d focus less on the headline tow rating and more on the combination of battery size, highway efficiency, charging speed, and how badly towing cuts usable range.
The big caveat: there is no current EV that avoids a substantial range penalty with a large, boxy trailer. Aerodynamic drag matters enormously. In Edmunds’ real-world test with a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer, both a Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T ended up around 0.9–1.0 mi/kWh, despite having roughly 300+ miles of unloaded range.
| Vehicle | Max tow | Max/typical range | My take for towing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 12,500 lb | up to 493 mi EPA | 🥇 Best overall |
| GMC Sierra EV | 12,500 lb | 410 EPA / 478 GM-est. | 🥇 Excellent alternative |
| Rivian R1T | 11,000 lb | up to 420 mi EPA | 🥈 Best smaller truck |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 10,000 lb | up to 320 mi EPA | 🥉 Good occasional-use choice |
| Kia EV9 | 5,000 lb | ~270–304 mi | Best moderate SUV |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 5,000 lb | up to ~335 mi | Best SUV for range + towing |
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is unusually well suited to your use case. The 2026 model can tow 12,500 lb, while the biggest-battery version reaches roughly 493 miles EPA-estimated depending on configuration.
That enormous battery is the key. Even if towing cuts your efficiency dramatically, you're starting with substantially more energy than something like a Lightning.
I'd specifically look at the Extended Range rather than automatically paying for the Max Range battery. The 410-ish-mile versions already give you a huge buffer, and the Extended Range configuration retains the 12,500-lb tow rating.
For an occasional 4,000–7,000-lb trailer: excellent.
For frequent 10,000+ lb towing: still expect charging stops to become a major part of the trip.
The GMC Sierra EV shares the same basic GM Ultium architecture and is arguably the most compelling alternative.
The 2026 Elevation/Denali Extended Range versions are rated at 410 miles EPA and 12,500 lb towing. The Max Range versions reach a GM-estimated 478 miles, but their maximum tow rating drops to 10,200 lb.
That's an interesting tradeoff:
410-mile + 12,500-lb configuration = my sweet spot.
You don't necessarily want the biggest battery if it costs you towing capacity and adds a lot of weight.
The Rivian R1T is probably my favorite driver's truck here.
The current Dual-Motor R1T with the Max battery is rated for 420 miles EPA, while towing capability varies by configuration; the higher-output configurations can tow 11,000 lb.
The problem is that its excellent unloaded range doesn't translate proportionally to towing range.
Edmunds actually tested an R1T against the Lightning with a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer. Both ended up around 0.9–1.0 mi/kWh, and both experienced roughly the sort of range reduction you'd expect from a large aerodynamic trailer.
So I'd choose the R1T if your typical trailer is something like:
rather than a huge fifth-wheel or 10,000-lb enclosed trailer.
The Ford Motor Company F-150 Lightning remains a very practical occasional tow vehicle, particularly because it behaves like a conventional F-150 and has excellent trailer integration.
But its 10,000-lb maximum tow rating and ~320-mile maximum EPA range put it behind the newer GM trucks.
Real-world testing is the bigger concern. In one Edmunds test, a 7,420-lb enclosed trailer reduced the Lightning to roughly 1 mi/kWh.
That's roughly 100–150 miles of realistic towing range between comfortable charging stops, depending heavily on trailer shape, speed, weather and terrain.
For occasional local towing, that's perfectly workable. For a 500-mile vacation with a camper, I'd pick the Silverado/Sierra instead.
If you don't actually need a pickup bed, things get more interesting.
The Hyundai Motor Company Ioniq 9 can tow up to 5,000 lb and has versions rated around 335 miles of range.
That's probably the SUV I'd pick if your trailer is ≤5,000 lb and you care about minimizing the range penalty.
The Kia EV9 also reaches 5,000 lb towing in its higher trims, although range is roughly 270–304 miles depending on configuration.
It's a very good choice for something like a small boat, utility trailer or lightweight camper, but I'd favor the Ioniq 9 for longer towing trips.
This is the part EV buyers sometimes miss.
A 5,000-lb flat utility trailer carrying something relatively aerodynamic can be much easier on an EV than a 3,500-lb 8-foot-tall travel trailer.
The latter can absolutely hammer range because aerodynamic drag dominates at highway speeds. In testing, adding a tall enclosed trailer caused the Lightning's efficiency to fall dramatically; another test found that even substantial differences in trailer weight mattered less than the aerodynamic profile.
So I would roughly think:
If I were buying today specifically as an occasional tower:
1. Silverado EV Extended Range — best overall combination
2. Sierra EV Extended Range — essentially tied, choose based on truck preference/deal
3. Rivian R1T Max — best if you want something smaller and more fun
4. Ioniq 9 — best SUV if 5,000 lb is enough
5. F-150 Lightning — good value if you don't tow far
And I'd avoid choosing solely by maximum tow rating. The Silverado/Sierra's ability to start with a ~400-mile battery makes a much bigger difference to the ownership experience than whether one truck can theoretically pull another 1,000 pounds.
One interesting upcoming/near-term option is the Ram 1500 REV, which Ram advertises at up to 14,000 lb towing and 500 miles of range. www.ram.com If you're not in a hurry, that's potentially the EV I'd wait to evaluate—but I'd want independent towing tests before putting it above the Silverado/Sierra.
If you tow **occasionally** rather than hauling every day, the sweet spot is less about the absolute tow rating and more about **battery size + efficiency + real-world towing range**. Towing can easily cut an EV's highway range by 40–60%, especially with a tall enclosed trailer. ### My picks for 2026 | Vehicle | Max…
If you tow occasionally rather than hauling every day, the sweet spot is less about the absolute tow rating and more about battery size + efficiency + real-world towing range. Towing can easily cut an EV's highway range by 40–60%, especially with a tall enclosed trailer.
| Vehicle | Max tow | Max EPA range | What I'd expect while towing | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 12,500 lb | 478 mi | ~200–250 mi with a substantial trailer | 🥇 Best overall |
| GMC Sierra EV | 12,500 lb | 478 mi | ~200–250 mi | 🥇 Essentially tied with Silverado |
| Rivian R1T Max | 11,000 lb | 420 mi | ~150–220 mi depending on trailer | 🥈 Best smaller/adventure truck |
| Rivian R1S Max | 7,700 lb | ~400 mi | ~150–200 mi | 🥈 Best towing-oriented SUV |
| GMC Hummer EV SUV | ~10,000 lb | ~315 mi | ~140–180 mi | Powerful, but inefficient |
| Kia EV9 | 5,000 lb | ~300 mi | ~130–180 mi | Good for lighter trailers |
The Silverado EV/Sierra EV are the standouts. GM offers up to 478 miles of range in the Max Range versions, while the trucks can tow up to 12,500 pounds. www.chevrolet.com That's an unusually favorable combination.
The important caveat: don't interpret 478 miles as "478 miles while towing." A reasonable planning assumption for a sizable trailer is roughly 40–50% of the unloaded range. One GMC dealer's technical analysis puts a Max Range Sierra at roughly 190–240 towing miles, which is consistent with what I'd use for trip planning.
If you're towing a boat, utility trailer, camper, car trailer, etc. a few times a year, this is the EV truck I'd buy.
Why:
The Silverado EV is currently rated at up to 12,500 lb, while the Sierra EV offers the same basic capability.
For occasional towing, I'd actually favor the Max Range configuration over the most aggressive/off-road configuration. Bigger all-terrain tires, lifts and less-aerodynamic equipment work against you when towing.
The R1T Max is attractive because it combines a 420-mile maximum EPA range with an 11,000-lb tow rating.
But there's a major catch. In Car and Driver's testing, an R1T towing a 6,100-lb camping trailer at 70 mph managed only 110 miles of range.
That's why I'd rank it below the Silverado/Sierra for someone specifically concerned about towing range.
The R1T is nevertheless a great choice if your trailer is relatively aerodynamic and your typical towing distances aren't enormous.
If you don't need a pickup bed, I'd look closely at the Rivian R1S.
It can tow up to 7,700 lb, substantially more than the Kia EV9's 5,000-lb rating, while offering up to roughly 400 miles of range depending on configuration.
It's a particularly compelling option for:
I'd still expect a major range hit with a large boxy trailer. Aerodynamics matter enormously.
Hummer EV. It's spectacularly capable, but it's a poor answer to "towing without catastrophic range loss." In testing, a 6,100-lb trailer reduced the Hummer pickup to about 140 miles at 70 mph. www.caranddriver.com The SUV has plenty of capability, but its enormous mass and poor efficiency work against it.
F-150 Lightning. It's a very good truck, but its 240–320-mile EPA range leaves less margin once you attach a trailer. www.caranddriver.com Edmunds' towing test showed how dramatic the effect can be: the Lightning's indicated range initially fell to 150 miles with their trailer, and real-world consumption settled around 1 mi/kWh.
If you're willing to consider an EREV/range-extended electric truck rather than a pure battery EV, the upcoming Ram 1500 REV is potentially the answer to this entire problem.
Ram claims:
Its V6 acts as a generator rather than mechanically driving the wheels. Ram currently lists projected availability for 2026.
That means towing can consume dramatically more energy without leaving you dependent on DC fast chargers every 100–150 miles. For someone who tows occasionally but wants EV driving the rest of the time, this could be the most practical solution. The caveat is that real-world production availability and towing-range testing are much less established than for the Silverado/Sierra.
I'd rank them:
Pure EV pickup
SUV
If you're willing to use an engine as a generator: the Ram 1500 REV is the one I'd watch most closely.
If you tell me roughly how heavy your trailer is (e.g. 3,000 / 5,000 / 7,000 / 10,000 lb) and your typical towing trip length, I can narrow this down considerably—including estimating how many charging stops you'd actually need.
When evaluating electric trucks and SUVs for towing, it helps to understand a fundamental physical reality: **towing any heavy or non-aerodynamic load roughly cuts an EV's driving range in half** (a 40% to 50% reduction is standard, mirroring the MPG drop a gas truck experiences under heavy…
When evaluating electric trucks and SUVs for towing, it helps to understand a fundamental physical reality: towing any heavy or non-aerodynamic load roughly cuts an EV's driving range in half (a 40% to 50% reduction is standard, mirroring the MPG drop a gas truck experiences under heavy load).
Because you cannot completely escape range loss, the secret to "towing without catastrophic range loss" isn't stopping the penalty—it’s starting with a massive baseline battery capacity . Trucks with giant battery packs can lose 50% of their range and still deliver 190 to 220+ usable miles, keeping you out of a constant cycle of roadside charging stops.
The top electric trucks and SUVs on the market provide the best combination of high towing capacity and large battery buffers to mitigate range anxiety:
Watch this real-world towing test to see how the Chevy Silverado EV handles long-distance trailer hauls:
Rivian R1T (Truck) / R1S (SUV)
Ford F-150 Lightning
Tesla Cybertruck
To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:
