Compact SUV Towing Capacity Comparison: Pilot to CX-9

In this compact SUV towing capacity comparison, the 2026 Honda Pilot (AWD) and the 2026 Toyota Highlander (gas) share the top published rating of 5,000 lb, while the 2026 Subaru Outback tops out at "up to 3,500 pounds" and the final 2023 Mazda CX-9 is rated at 3,500 lb. The bigger finding is inside each lineup, not between brands: every one of these nameplates has a version, or a limit, that sits below its headline number. Ratings vary by configuration, so your door-jamb label and owner's manual are the final word, and no number here is permission to load past them.

Towing capacity is not a suggestion. It is a safety limit.

The Four Published Figures, With Model Years and Sources

Each figure below comes from the manufacturer, for the model year stated. We read each source on September 25, 2026.

Toyota's newsroom release for the 2026 Highlander, read September 25, 2026, states that "all Highlander 2.4-L turbo gas powered models have a 5,000-pound towing capacity," and that hybrid grades have "up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity." Subaru's own 2026 Outback page says the Outback "delivers up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity" and adds, in the same breath, "Maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. Trailer brakes may be needed."

A quick note on the label. The site groups these four under compact SUVs, but the Pilot, Highlander and CX-9 are three-row family SUVs, and the Outback is a tall wagon-style crossover. The class name matters less than the fact that all four top out at or below 5,000 lb. If you are still deciding whether this size of SUV should be towing at all, start with our class-level guide on whether a compact SUV can safely tow a small camper, then come back here to pick between models.

Compact SUV Towing Capacity Comparison, Ranked by Headline Number

Ranked purely by the biggest number each maker prints, the order is a two-way tie followed by a two-way tie:

1. Honda Pilot AWD and Toyota Highlander gas, 5,000 lb. Honda's 2026 figures split the Pilot by drivetrain: 5,000 lb for AWD and 3,500 lb for 2WD. Toyota's split is by powertrain: 5,000 lb for the 2.4-liter turbo gas models (265 hp and 310 lb-ft, per Toyota) and up to 3,500 lb for the hybrid.
2. Subaru Outback and Mazda CX-9, 3,500 lb. The Outback's 3,500 lb is a ceiling that not every trim reaches, by Subaru's own wording. The CX-9's 3,500 lb is the maximum total trailer weight in Mazda's 2023 owner's manual.

That ranking is where most comparison charts stop. It is also the least useful part of the comparison, because it tells you the best case for each nameplate, not the case for the vehicle you are actually looking at.

The Real Split Is Inside Each Lineup

Here is the pattern that the headline table hides. In every one of these four, a buyer can end up with a lower limit than the number on page one of the search results without anyone saying so.

Pilot: the drivetrain decides. A 2WD Pilot carries a 3,500 lb rating in Honda's 2026 figures, 1,500 lb below the AWD rating. Same engine across the lineup, different number. If a used-car listing says "Pilot, tows 5,000," the first question is whether it is AWD.

Highlander: the powertrain decides. Toyota builds the 2026 Highlander in four gas grades (XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum) and three hybrid grades (XLE, Limited, Platinum). Grade names overlap, so "Highlander Limited" does not tell you which rating applies. The hybrid's number is also written as "up to," which the gas number is not.

Outback: the trim decides. Subaru says outright that maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. The 3,500 lb figure is the top of the range, and Subaru's page does not say every trim reaches it. Confirm your trim's figure in the owner's manual before you shop for a trailer.

CX-9: the combination limit decides. Mazda's 2023 manual gives one trailer weight for the lineup, 3,500 lb, but two Gross Combined Weight Ratings: 8,000.4 lb for FWD and 8,337.7 lb for AWD. That means two CX-9s with identical tow ratings can reach their combined limit at different trailer weights.

If you remember one thing from this comparison, make it this: identify the exact drivetrain, powertrain and trim first, then look up the number. Doing it the other way round is how people buy the right nameplate and the wrong configuration.

The CX-9 Shows Why GCWR Can Beat the Tow Rating

Of the four, only one manufacturer source we read put a GCWR in front of us, and it makes a useful worked example. GCWR is the maximum allowed weight of the loaded tow vehicle plus the loaded trailer. The trailer towing page of Mazda's 2023 CX-9 owner's manual, read September 25, 2026, defines it as the combination weight of the trailer and its load plus the towing vehicle, "including trailer hitch, vehicle passengers, and load." If you want the three ratings straight, our guide to GVWR vs GCWR vs payload lays them out side by side.

Here is the method, using the AWD CX-9's 8,337.7 lb GCWR:

1. Load the CX-9 the way you will travel: family, cargo, hitch, full tank.
2. Weigh it on a truck-stop scale.
3. Subtract that scale weight from 8,337.7 lb. The result is the most trailer the combination allows.
4. Compare that to 3,500 lb. The lower of the two is your real limit.

Take a hypothetical scale ticket of 5,000 lb for a loaded AWD CX-9 (an illustration, not a Mazda figure). 8,337.7 minus 5,000 leaves 3,337.7 lb, which is less than the 3,500 lb trailer rating. In that case GCWR, not towing capacity, is the number that stops you. On a FWD CX-9, with its 8,000.4 lb GCWR, the same loaded weight would leave about 337 lb less room.

For the Pilot, Highlander and Outback, find the GCWR in the owner's manual for your model year and run the same four steps. Your door-jamb Tire and Loading Information placard gives you the payload side of the picture.

Tongue Weight and Payload: Where Family SUVs Run Out First

Every trailer puts weight on the hitch, and that weight counts against the SUV's payload. Mazda's 2023 CX-9 manual asks for a tongue load of 10 to 15 percent of the trailer load. Applied to a 3,500 lb trailer, that is 350 to 525 lb sitting on the hitch, before a single passenger climbs in.

The same arithmetic applies to the other three. For a 5,000 lb trailer behind a Pilot or Highlander, a 10 to 15 percent tongue load works out to 500 to 750 lb. Add a family of four and luggage, and a three-row SUV can hit its payload limit well before it hits its tow rating. Always use the tongue weight range in your own owner's manual.

No Honda, Toyota or Subaru payload figure appeared on the pages we read, so we are not printing one. Your door-jamb placard states the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo for your specific vehicle. Subtract passengers, cargo and tongue weight from that number. If the answer is negative, the trailer is too heavy for the load you are carrying, whatever the tow rating says.

Altitude and Trailer Brakes: Two Limits Most Charts Skip

Altitude. Mazda's 2023 CX-9 manual says that above 1,000 meters (about 3,280 ft), you should "reduce the towing load by 10 % for every 1,000 meter increase in altitude." That means a trailer that is within the limit at sea level can be over it on a mountain pass. Other makers handle altitude in their own manuals, so check yours. Our explainer on towing capacity at altitude covers why engines lose power with elevation and what that does to your margin.

Trailer brakes. Subaru's 2026 Outback page flags that "trailer brakes may be needed." Whether the trailer must have its own brakes depends on the manufacturer's rules for your vehicle and on state law, and the thresholds differ by state. Read the towing section of your owner's manual, then check your state's requirement before you buy a trailer without brakes.

What Each Rating Realistically Opens Up

Treat these as categories to check against a trailer's loaded weight, not a promise about any specific trailer.

• Up to 3,500 lb (Outback top trims, CX-9, Highlander Hybrid, Pilot 2WD): small utility trailers, personal watercraft and small-boat trailers, and lighter teardrop or pop-up campers, provided you use the trailer's loaded weight, not its dry weight.
• Up to 5,000 lb (Pilot AWD, Highlander gas): adds some small travel trailers and mid-size boat packages, but loaded weights climb fast once water, propane, batteries and gear go in.

Many towers keep extra margin with the 80 percent rule. It is a habit, not a manufacturer rule, but applied here it caps a 5,000 lb rating at 4,000 lb of trailer and a 3,500 lb rating at 2,800 lb. We cover the reasoning in the 80% towing rule.

How to Use This Comparison Without Getting Hurt

1. Confirm the exact configuration. Drivetrain for the Pilot, gas or hybrid for the Highlander, trim for the Outback, FWD or AWD for the CX-9.
2. Read the owner's manual towing section for your model year. It carries the tow rating, GCWR, tongue guidance and conditions like altitude and break-in.
3. Read the door-jamb placard. That gives payload for your specific vehicle as built.
4. Weigh the loaded trailer, not the brochure number. Dry weight is not what you tow.
5. Check the hitch. The lowest-rated part of the chain, whether that is the vehicle, receiver, ball mount, ball or trailer coupler, sets the limit.

Never exceed any rating in the chain. If the numbers are close, the answer is a lighter trailer or a bigger tow vehicle, not a hopeful drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these four SUVs tows the most?

The 2026 Honda Pilot with AWD and the 2026 Toyota Highlander with the 2.4-liter turbo gas engine share the top published rating of 5,000 lb. The 2026 Subaru Outback tops out at up to 3,500 lb and the 2023 Mazda CX-9 is rated at 3,500 lb. Your configuration can put you below those figures.

Does the Highlander Hybrid tow as much as the gas Highlander?

No. Toyota's 2026 release gives the gas models a 5,000-pound towing capacity and the hybrid grades up to 3,500 pounds. Because grade names overlap between gas and hybrid, check the powertrain, not just the trim badge.

Can a Subaru Outback tow 3,500 lb in every trim?

Subaru's 2026 Outback page says maximum towing capacity varies by trim level, so not necessarily. Look up your exact trim in the owner's manual or on the door-jamb label before relying on 3,500 lb.

Which Mazda CX-9 figures apply to an older model year?

The figures here are from Mazda's 2023 CX-9 owner's manual: 3,500 lb maximum trailer weight and a GCWR of 8,000.4 lb (FWD) or 8,337.7 lb (AWD). Older CX-9s are covered by their own manuals, so find the manual for your exact model year rather than borrowing these numbers.

Why does GCWR matter if I stay under the tow rating?

Because a heavily loaded SUV plus a trailer can exceed GCWR even when the trailer alone is under the tow rating. Mazda's 2023 CX-9 manual lists GCWR at 8,337.7 lb for AWD. Subtract your loaded, weighed SUV from that number to find the real trailer limit.