Truck Trend's 2012 Best In Class: Mainstream SUV - Towing More Than 3500 Pounds
SUVs that can tow more than 3500 pounds
Winner: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Runner-Up: Toyota Highlander
Runner-Up: Toyota Highlander
The Grand Cherokee combines off-road capability in an easy-to-use four-wheel-drive system with a luxury interior and up to 7400 pounds of towing capacity. While the 5.7-liter engine is excellent in this SUV, the 3.6-liter V-6 is very good as well, and you can get the Grand Cherokee for less than $30K. If you need space for seven people and aren't as interested in off-roading, runner-up Toyota Highlander is another good option.
| Mainstream SUV (Towing More Than 3500 Pounds) | ||||
| Vehicle | Chevrolet Traverse/ GMC Acadia | Dodge Durango | Ford Explorer | Ford Flex |
| Base price | $30,335/$33,510 | $29,945 | $29,105 | $30,290 |
| Wheelbase | 118.9 in | 119.8 in | 112.6 in | 117.9 in |
| Engine | 3.6L DOHC V-6 | 3.6L DOHC V-6 | 3.5L DOHC V-6 | 3.5L DOHC V-6 |
| Opt engine | None | 5.7L V-8 $6395 | 2.0L T I-4 $995 | 3.5L T V-6 $12,435 |
| Power, SAE | 281-288 hp | 290 hp (360) | 290 hp (240) | 262 hp (355) |
| Torque, SAE | 266-270 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft (390) | 255 lb-ft (270) | 248 lb-ft (350) |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 245/70R17 | 265/60R18 | 245/65R17 | 235/60R17 |
| Fuel cap | 22.0 gal | 24.6 gal | 18.6 gal | 18.6 gal |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 16-17/23-24 mpg | 16-17/23-25 mpg | 17-18/23-25 mpg | 16-17/22-24 mpg |
| Opt engine | -- | (13/20) | (20/28) | (16/22) |
| Seating cap | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Curb weight | 4720 lb | 4756 lb | 4503 lb | 4448 lb |
| Max GVWR | 6459 lb | 7100 lb | 6100 lb | 5500 lb (est) |
| Cargo cap | 116.4 cu ft | 84.5 cu ft | 80.7 cu ft | 83.2 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 5200 lb | 7400 lb | 5000 lb | 4500 lb |
| Vehicle | Honda Pilot | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Jeep Liberty | Nissan Pathfinder |
| Base price | $29,280 | $29,920 | $24,255 | $29,765 |
| Wheelbase | 109.2 in | 114.8 in | 106.1 in | 112.2 in |
| Engine | 3.5L SOHC V-6 | 3.6L DOHC V-6 | 3.7L SOHC V-6 | 4.0L DOHC V-6 |
| Opt engine | None | 5.7L V-8 $1695, 6.4L V-8 | None | 5.6L V-8 $14,680 |
| Power, SAE | 250 hp | 290 hp (360, 470) | 210 hp | 266 hp (310) |
| Torque, SAE | 253 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft (390, 465) | 235 lb-ft | 288 lb-ft (388) |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 235/65R17 | 245/70R17 | 225/75R16 | 245/75R16 |
| Fuel cap | 21.0 gal | 24.6 gal | 19.5 gal | 21.1 gal |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 17-18/24-25 mpg | 16-17/23 mpg | 15-16/21-22 mpg | 14-15/20-22 mpg |
| Opt engine | -- | (13-14/20, 12/18) | -- | (13/18) |
| Seating cap | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Curb weight | 4295 lb | 4470 lb | 4076 lb | 4428 lb |
| Max GVWR | 5500 lb | 6800 lb | 5400 lb | 6499 lb |
| Cargo cap | 87.0 cu ft | 68.7 cu ft | 62.4 cu ft | 79.2 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 4500 lb | 7400 lb | 5000 lb | 7000 lb |
| Vehicle | Nissan Xterra | Toyota 4Runner | Toyota FJ Cruiser | Highlander |
| Base price | $25,715 | $31,900 | $26,925 | $29,050 |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 109.8 in | 105.9 in | 109.8 in |
| Engine | 4.0L DOHC V-6 | 4.0L DOHC V-6 | 4.0L DOHC V-6 | 2.7L DOHC I-4 |
| Opt engine | None | None | None | 3.5L V-6 $1155, 3.3L H $10,300 |
| Power, SAE | 261 hp | 270 hp | 260 hp | 187 hp (270, 280) |
| Torque, SAE | 281 lb-ft | 278 lb-ft | 271 lb-ft | 186 lb-ft (248, 215) |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt, f knee | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt, knee |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 265/70R16 | 265/70R17 | 265/70R17 | 245/65R17 |
| Fuel cap | 21.1 gal | 23.0 gal | 19.0 gal | 19.2 gal (17.2) |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 15-16/20-22 mpg | 17/22-23 mpg | 15-17/18-20 mpg | 17/22 mpg |
| Opt engine | -- | -- | -- | (28/28) |
| Seating cap | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| Curb weight | 4143 lb | 4400 lb | 4050 lb | 3946 lb |
| Max GVWR | 5399 lb | 6300 lb | 5570 lb | 6000 lb |
| Cargo cap | 65.7 cu ft | 89.7 cu ft | 66.8 cu ft | 95.4 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 5201 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb |
