Hybrid Tow Vehicles Make The Grade

Hybrid electric SUVs deliver the best of both worlds for a tow vehicle: better fuel economy with more low-rpm power than a conventional gas-powered model. That’s the beauty of hybrid drivetrain technology these days: Hybrid electric vehicles, also known as HEVs, apply the instant torque of an electric motor (or motors depending on the vehicle) to quickly get the vehicle moving. Once the vehicle is at higher speeds, the gas engine takes over.

The instant power of the electric motor is very noticeable in smaller tow vehicles when pulling a boat up a launch ramp, accelerating from a stop with a boat in tow, and in other loaded situations. While a conventional four- or six-cylinder gas engine takes a while to get the rpm up from an idle, the electric power is there in an instant to give the feeling of a bigger engine under the hood.

The electric part of the vehicle’s drivetrain also kicks in when the vehicle’s computer system automatically senses a need for additional pulling power, such as when passing or climbing a steeper section of highway. The transition to adding the extra muscle from the electric motor is seamless and instantaneous in most applications.

MHEV vs. HEV vs. PHEV

The word “hybrid” is often used generically in the electric vehicle (EV) automotive world to lump together all vehicles that incorporate electric motors in the drivetrain. But it’s how the battery system in an EV gets recharged, and the size of the battery pack, that differentiates between a “mild hybrid” (MHEV),” “hybrid” (HEV), and a “plug-in hybrid” (PHEV) vehicle.

Both MHEVs and HEVs use the vehicle’s engine (and what’s called “regenerative braking”) to replenish the battery pack automatically while you drive, while PHEVs require the vehicle to be plugged into a charger to replenish the batteries.

Both HEVs and PHEVs can power the vehicle via the onboard battery. MHEVs, however, have a small electric motor and battery designed only to give the gas engine a little extra muscle under loaded driving conditions. Unlike HEVs and PHEVs, MHEVs can’t move the vehicle via the electric motor alone.

Hybrid Technology On Tap

An HEV’s electric motor(s) also work to maximize fuel efficiency when cruising down the highway. That’s why the mpg of hybrids is always better than that of a non-hybrid-powered vehicle of the same make and model.

Another nice aspect of HEV technology, unlike the PHEV, is it utilizes the vehicle’s engine to recharge the battery system that powers the electric part of the drivetrain. If you drive a PHEV it means locating a charging station, or paying $1,000-plus to have one built into your home/garage. HEVs provide a charge to the battery during moments of braking and deceleration.

How long do the batteries last in a hybrid EV? Typically, the standard battery life warranty among today’s hybrids is 8 to 10 years, or 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Replacement battery costs range from $1,500 to more than $8,000 depending on the vehicle.

HEVs Make Great Tow Vehicles

All of the above make a hybrid electric vehicle a great choice in a tow vehicle for those who embrace such technology and do a lot of recreational boating or fishing as well as work-related commuting or long-distance travel.

On the boating side of towing, hybrids, like their non-hybrid counterparts, have towing capacity limitations. The smaller crossovers, midsize SUVs, and cars are often limited to towing trailers weighing less than 2,000 pounds. That’s why it’s important to know how much the boat/trailer that is being towed weighs before you buy an EV hybrid.

The best and most accurate way to find your boat/trailer weight is to take it to a scale, which can be found at moving companies, truck stops, waste transfer stations, and even landfills. You can also look for your boat’s specifications on the manufacturer’s website. Be sure the boat weight includes the engine(s), gear, and accessories – anything you’d have on the boat while towing it.

As for the weight of the trailer, check out the manufacturer’s website for that particular make/model. Tandem-axle boat trailers typically weigh between 800 and 1,500 pounds, depending on how they’re made. Single-axle boat trailers usually weigh 400 to 800 pounds.

Once the weight of both boat and trailer is known, compare that to the listed towing capacity of the hybrid(s) you’re eyeing. It’s always safest to find a tow vehicle that has at least 20% greater towing capacity than the weight of boat/trailer combo.

Top Picks: 2026 HEVs Up To Boat Towing Tasks

When it comes to towing, Toyota leads the hybrid market with a handful of SUVs including the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser (6,000 lbs.), Grand Highlander (5,000 lbs.), and Lexus TX 500h (5,000 lbs.), which are all well-suited to tow a wide variety of recreational boats over 20 feet in length. Boaters who need more towing power should look at the Toyota Sequoia SR5 Hybrid, which comes with the 437 hp i-FORCE MAX 3.5L V6. It has the greatest tow rating of the HEV SUVs on the market at 9,520 pounds.

The all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid can tow 4,000 pounds, which matches a large number of recreational boaters’ needs, too.

The remainder of manufacturers’ midsize and crossover AWD hybrids vary widely in towing capacities. For example, the HEV Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, Volvo XC60, and Kia Carnival can tow a maximum trailered weight up to 3,500 pounds.

Hyundai’s Tucson Hybrid can tow 2,000 pounds, while Subaru’s Forester Premium Hybrid is only rated for 1,500 pounds, as is the Ford Escape 2.5L Hybrid. Honda’s CR-V Hybrid maxes out at 1,000 pounds.

Weigh The Pros And Cons

The bottom line is today’s HEV offerings span a wide range of styles, sizes, prices, features, and capabilities. What they all bring to the table is an increase in fuel economy, as much as 20% in some SUVs, over their combustion-engine-only counterparts. That said, all vehicles see a significant drop in fuel economy while towing. How much of a drop depends on the tow vehicle and the size/weight of the boat, trailer, and all your gear.

Buyers of hybrids should also know that there can be an added up-front cost of purchase over a conventional fuel-burning model. For instance, car insurance on hybrids can be about 10% higher than the same model with a conventional gas engine. Also, depending on the car maker, some hybrids can add 20% or more to the price tag of the same vehicle in gas-only configuration. However, it’s important to consider that, currently, HEVs are retaining better resale value than non-hybrids and electric vehicles. That, along with real fuel savings, will offset some of the additional costs.