One of the reasons for buying a large SUV has long been the ability to tow trailers, small campers, and other equipment. Even if someone is trying to get away from it all, they usually have toys they want to bring with them. The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee has found its way to North American roads—and with it has come the question of whether it brings adequate towing ability for serious adventurers.
Towing capacity, or the lack thereof, is part of why SUV enthusiasts have bemoaned the rise of the unibody crossover. While unibodies have benefits over body-on-frame vehicles, such as on-road stability, responsive driving, and fuel efficiency, the less-rigid frame historically can’t support as much towing weight as SUVs based on trucks. However, finding a Jeep Grand Cherokee for sale lets you defy this stereotype.
How serious is the hauling capability of a 2025 Grand Cherokee? And what does Jeep do to help people navigate with these loads? Today, I’m answering those questions by looking at all three variants of this model: the Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L, and Grand Cherokee 4xe. I’ll look at the towing capacities in different configurations, the available tech and mechanical features to support towing, and how the Grand Cherokee stacks up against rivals from other automakers.
2025 Grand Cherokee
The two-row Grand Cherokee may be the “base” model, but it’s anything but basic when it comes to towing. The 3.6L naturally-aspirated V6, which has 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, offers a towing capacity of 6,200 lbs. This firmly positions the 2025 Grand Cherokee as a serious option for towing. It’s enough for a large camper, a U-Haul trailer, or a fleet of UTVs, to name a few examples.
Note that to achieve the 6,200 lb number, you must have the Trailer-Tow Package. This is standard on the 2025 Grand Cherokee Summit and an available add-on for the Laredo, Laredo X, Altitude, Altitude X, Limited, and Overland (it is not available for the Laredo A or Summit Reserve). Here’s what the Trailer-Tow Package includes:
- A Class IV receiver and hitch bolted to the frame to support the trailer and cargo.
- A 180-amp alternator with a seven-pin/four-pin wiring harness to power the trailer lights and sync them with the vehicle.
- A heavy-duty cooling system to remove the extra heat the engine generates when towing.
- A rear load-leveling suspension to prevent sagging under heavy loads.
- An automatic headlamp leveling system to improve visibility in all conditions.
- Trailer-Hitch Zoom software to help drivers line up the trailer and hitch for easy connections.
- An 18-inch full-size steel spare wheel with a matching tire in case of a flat.
2025 Grand Cherokee L
Next is the three-row version of Jeep’s midsize crossover. The longer wheelbase allows a third row of seating and a large maximum cargo area—and happily, for those who love hauling, it maintains the maximum towing capacity of 6,200 lbs. Once again, you’ll need the Trailer-Tow Package to reach this number; its availability is the same as on the standard wheelbase trims.
There’s one thing I should note: the number of passengers and total cargo affects the towing capacity of every vehicle. In other words, the more weight you’re already carrying in or on the vehicle, the less weight you can haul behind it. That means a fully loaded Grand Cherokee L will have a lower towing capacity than a fully loaded Grand Cherokee simply because there are more seats and space to fill.
2025 Grand Cherokee 4xe
If you get the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain, the story changes slightly again. The 4xe is the peppiest Grand Cherokee for sheer output, offering an impressive 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Despite this, towing capacity drops slightly to 6,000 lbs even with the required package.
How can a more powerful Grand Cherokee tow less? The reason is simple: the electric motor and battery add significant weight, meaning the SUV can’t pull quite as much. The 200 lb difference won’t impact most owners, but you should still verify the weight of any load before setting off, especially if there’s doubt. To use the old cliché, better safe than sorry.
Also worth noting is that, with a different trim lineup, the Trailer-Tow Package availability also changes. It is standard on the Trailhawk 4xe and Summit 4xe and is optional on the Overland 4xe. Buyers can also get the Trailer-Tow Package on the base Grand Cherokee 4xe, but not the Summit Reserve 4xe or Anniversary Edition 4xe.
Other Grand Cherokee Trailering Features
Beyond the Trailer-Tow Package, Jeep includes several features that help the Grand Cherokee reach your destination even when maxing out its towing capacity. The ParkSense Rear Park Assist Sensors, blind-spot monitoring system, and available adaptive cruise control automatically account for the trailering, so there are no surprises. The Grand Cherokee has electronic stability control and trailer sway control to keep this crossover running solidly in any situation.
Tow-happy owners may also be interested in the Advanced ProTech Group III package for the Grand Cherokee Overland or the Group IV package for the Summit and Summit Reserve. The ProTech Group III includes several useful features for towing, such as a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, night vision, and a rear backup camera washer. ProTech Group IV adds a digital rear-view display mirror to keep a closer eye on your trailer. Higher trims also have a larger infotainment touchscreen, added driver assistance software, and other items that may come in handy.
How Does the Grand Cherokee Compare to its Competitors?
The answer is easy: the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow more than most options in the midsize SUV class. To provide a visual, here’s the maximum towing capacity other SUVs in this segment can handle.
- Toyota 4Runner: 6,000 lbs
- Toyota Land Cruiser: 6,000 lbs
- Kia Telluride: 5,500 lbs
- Ford Explorer: 5,000 lbs
- GMC Acadia: 5,000 lbs
- Honda Passport: 5,000 lbs
- Honda Pilot: 5,000 lbs
- Hyundai Palisade: 5,000 lbs
- Mazda CX-70: 5,000 lbs (3,500 lbs for hybrid)
- Mazda CX-90: 5,000 lbs (3,500 lbs for hybrid)
- Subaru Ascent: 5,000 lbs
- Toyota Grand Highlander: 5,000 lbs (3,500 lbs for hybrid)
- Hyundai Santa Fe: 4,500 lbs (2,000 lbs for hybrid)
While a few other midsize SUVs come close to the Grand Cherokee, this machine blows most of them out of the water—especially when comparing hybrid powertrains. Among the smaller Jeep SUVs, the Grand Cherokee also reigns supreme, with only the full-size Wagoneer giving it a run for its money.
Big Hauling From a Midsize SUV
For me, the tale of the tape is clear. Anyone who wants a midsize crossover that can do some high-level hauling should choose the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Whether towing boats, campers, dirt bikes, horses, or other vehicles, this SUV lives up to its name. This comes on top of the spacious interior, powerful hybrid option, available 4×4 systems, and advanced add-ons like an air suspension and limited-slip rear differential. Whatever it’s pulling and on whatever terrain, the 2025 Grand Cherokee will pass the test and then some.
