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 2021 Toyota Highlander?
A 2021 Toyota Highlander has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 2021 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 2021 Toyota Highlander Tow?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 2021 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.
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.
2021 Highlander Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2021 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 2021 Toyota Highlander:
| 2021 Toyota Highlander Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander L | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander LE | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander XLE | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander XSE | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander Limited | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2021 Toyota Highlander Engine Towing Specs
There are two engine options for the 2021 Highlander, which are 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 243 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque.
2021 Toyota Highlander 3.5L Gasoline Engine Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Toyota Highlander 2.5L Hybrid Engine Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2021 Toyota Highlander Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2021 Toyota Highlander comes standard with front wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available as an option.
2021 Toyota Highlander FWD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Toyota Highlander AWD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2021 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.
2021 Toyota Highlander Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2021 Toyota Highlander is 1,715 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2021 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.
2021 Toyota Highlander Tow Package
The 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Highlander.
2021 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2021 Toyota Highlander has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
The 2021 Highlander’s tow capability is similar to its main competitors which are the 2021 Chevy Traverse and the 2021 Ford Explorer.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2021 Toyota Highlander and their towing capacities below:
2021 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity: 5,600 pounds
2021 Hyundai Palisade Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Chevy Traverse Towing Capacity: 5,200 pounds
2021 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Kia Telluride Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Dodge Durango Towing Capacity: 8,700 pounds
2021 Nissan Armada Towing Capacity: 8,500 pounds
2021 Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Toyota SUV Models Towing Capacity Chart
| 2021 Toyota SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2021 Toyota Sequoia | 7,400 pounds |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander | 5,000 pounds |
| 2021 Toyota 4Runner | 5,000 pounds |
| 2021 Toyota Rav4 | 3,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2021 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 2021 Toyota Highlander.