2016 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity

The Toyota Highlander was introduced into Toyota’s lineup as a mid-size crossover SUV in 2001 and is still made today. The Highlander has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2016 Toyota Highlander?

A 2016 Toyota Highlander has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2016 Toyota Highlander tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.

How Much Can The 2016 Toyota Highlander Tow?

The 2016 Toyota Highlander has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2016 Toyota Highlander tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.

You can always reach out to your local Toyota dealership for details to confirm how much your Highlander can tow.

2016 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity Chart

You can check out our guide to Toyota Highlander towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.

You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.

2016 Highlander Tow Capacity By Trim Level

There are several trim levels for the 2016 Highlander, and some engines and features are not available on certain trims, so they can each have different max towing limits.

Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2016 Toyota Highlander:

2016 Toyota Highlander Trim LevelTowing Capacity
2016 Toyota Highlander LE5,000 pounds
2016 Toyota Highlander LE Plus5,000 pounds
2016 Toyota Highlander XLE5,000 pounds
2016 Toyota Highlander Limited5,000 pounds
2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited3,500 pounds
2016 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity by Trim Level Chart

Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain

2016 Toyota Highlander Engine Towing Specs

There are three engine options for the 2016 Highlander, which are a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder engine that makes 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, a 3.5L V6 engine that makes 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.5L 4 cylinder hybrid engine that makes 2186 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque.

2016 Toyota Highlander 2.7L 4 Cylinder Engine Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds

2016 Toyota Highlander 3.5L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2016 Toyota Highlander 3.5L Hybrid Engine Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds

2016 Toyota Highlander Drivetrain Towing Specs

The 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with front wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available as an option.

2016 Toyota Highlander FWD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2016 Toyota Highlander AWD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds

Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2016 Toyota Highlander engine. Your Toyota Highlander may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.

2016 Toyota Highlander Payload Capacity

The maximum payload capacity of the 2016 Toyota Highlander is 1,602 pounds.

Note that the max payload capacity of your 2016 Highlander will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.

You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.

2016 Toyota Highlander Tow Package

The 2016 Toyota Highlander does not come standard with a tow package, but one is available as an add-on for all trim levels of the Highlander.

The 2016 Toyota Highlander tow package includes a trailer hitch receiver and a wiring harness. and ball mount receiver.

We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2016 Highlander.

toyota highlander towing a travel trailer
The 2016 Toyota Highlander has a max tow capacity of 5,000 pounds, making it capable of pulling medium to heavy loads.

2016 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity Vs Competitors

The 2016 Toyota Highlander has a maximum tow capacity of 5,000 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer pulling.

The 2016 Highlander’s tow capability is similar to its main competitors which are the 2016 Chevy Traverse and the 2016 Ford Explorer.

Here are some similar vehicles to the 2016 Toyota Highlander and their towing capacities below:

2016 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2016 Chevy Traverse Towing Capacity: 5,200 pounds

2016 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2016 Dodge Durango Towing Capacity: 7,400 pounds

2016 Toyota SUV Models Towing Capacity Chart

2016 Toyota SUV ModelTowing Capacity
2016 Toyota Sequoia7,400 pounds
2016 Toyota Highlander 5,000 pounds
2016 Toyota 4Runner5,000 pounds
2016 Toyota Rav41,500 pounds
2016 Toyota SUVs Towing Capacity Chart

Data Accuracy

We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2016 Toyota Highlander Owner’s Manual on Toyota’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.

Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2016 Toyota Highlander.

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