PHEV suv that can tow?

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Jul 30th, 2021 7:07 am

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Jul 27th, 2021 1:16 pm

fromage [OP]: Member; Aug 5, 2007; 429 posts; 372 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 1:16 pm

PHEV suv that can tow?

Looking for a new car. Budget $50-60k used or new. Am in Quebec.

Requirements:

1) SUV sized, needs to carry 2 adults, a dog, and a kid + (stroller and playpen and stuff) + luggage
2) tow a trailer up to 2500-3500lbs
3) while I'm at it, PHEV to make use of that sweet sweet empty carpool lane.

Will be used for 40 km roundtrip daily commute in the city, mostly highway (though stop and go for most of it).

Can likely charge level1 at work, will have a level2 charger at home.

Models I'm considering;

new Jeep 4xe
new Rav4 Prime (if any available lol)
new Volvo XC60
used 2018 MB GLE 550e
VW ID4????

It must be a plug-in hybrid, it cannot be a regular hybrid as it won't have the HOV lane permissions.

Any others am I Missing?

Last edited by fromage on Jul 27th, 2021 3:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.

39 replies

Jul 27th, 2021 1:43 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 20277 posts; 24028 upvotes; GTA

Jul 27th, 2021 1:43 pm

Pacifica PHEV Hybrid if you're planning more kids?

Last edited by engineered on Jul 27th, 2021 4:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Jul 27th, 2021 2:10 pm

Bevatron: Deal Fanatic; Jan 8, 2009; 5298 posts; 3733 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 27th, 2021 2:10 pm

engineered wrote: ↑ Pacifica PHEV Hybrid or Sienna PHEV if you're planning more kids?

Would have bought a Pacifica hybrid with $14k rebate if it had an official towing rating. I know people tow with them but Chrysler is obviously not confident in its robustness.

Sienna has proven Toyota hybrid system and is rated to tow 3500 lbs.

Jul 27th, 2021 2:44 pm

Rob_EV: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2008; 9732 posts; 8452 upvotes; Kitchener

Jul 27th, 2021 2:44 pm

engineered wrote: ↑ ...or Sienna PHEV if you're planning more kids?

This vehicle doesn't exist

Jul 27th, 2021 2:50 pm

Rob_EV: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2008; 9732 posts; 8452 upvotes; Kitchener

Jul 27th, 2021 2:50 pm

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV?
Tesla Model Y (almost impossible to buy used)

+1

Jul 27th, 2021 3:16 pm

fromage [OP]: Member; Aug 5, 2007; 429 posts; 372 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 3:16 pm

Sienna's are not PHEV yet.

Tesla Model Y is great and all, but is just too expensive for the QC rebates.

Outlander PHEV has 1500lbs max. Maybe the new model will be better?

Guys(and girls), I wanna make something clear, in Quebec, in order to use carpool/hov lanes, you must have a green plate. Only PHEV and full BEV are considered green plate cars. If its just a simple hybrid powertrain (such as CRV hybrid, rav4 non-prime hybrid, etc) it does not count.

+2

Jul 27th, 2021 3:48 pm

Blubbs: Deal Fanatic; Mar 21, 2013; 5308 posts; 8934 upvotes; Canada

Jul 27th, 2021 3:48 pm

BMW X5 PHEV
Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring

There are really no PHEVs that are both efficient and can tow significant amounts.

Jul 27th, 2021 4:59 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 20277 posts; 24028 upvotes; GTA

Jul 27th, 2021 4:59 pm

Bevatron wrote: ↑ Would have bought a Pacifica hybrid with $14k rebate if it had an official towing rating. I know people tow with them but Chrysler is obviously not confident in its robustness.

Sienna has proven Toyota hybrid system and is rated to tow 3500 lbs.

It's not an official rating?
With the best-in-class maximum towing capacity of 3,600 pounds, the Pacifica Hybrid can also be used for towing.
https://www.aventurachryslerjeepdodgera ... ca-hybrid/

But yea, Sienna is a non-plug in hybrid. Is the Highlander hybrid a PHEV?

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Jul 28th, 2021 7:39 am

Bevatron: Deal Fanatic; Jan 8, 2009; 5298 posts; 3733 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 28th, 2021 7:39 am

engineered wrote: ↑ It's not an official rating?
With the best-in-class maximum towing capacity of 3,600 pounds, the Pacifica Hybrid can also be used for towing.
https://www.aventurachryslerjeepdodgera ... ca-hybrid/

But yea, Sienna is a non-plug in hybrid. Is the Highlander hybrid a PHEV?

I believe the website you refer to along with others is incorrect / misleading.

Trailer tow group is still only an option on the non-hybrid Pacifica and 3600lbs is the rating for that vehicle.

Highlander is not available as a PHEV yet AFAIK.

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 7:59 am

Possum77: Deal Addict; May 6, 2010; 1066 posts; 421 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jul 28th, 2021 7:59 am

XC90 T8 Recharge

+4

Jul 28th, 2021 9:32 am

KevinM56081: Banned; Jun 4, 2020; 1634 posts; 1744 upvotes; Clarington, ON

Jul 28th, 2021 9:32 am

Just buy a model 3

https://www.canamrv.ca/blog/post/tesla- ... airstream/

Jul 28th, 2021 9:41 am

michelb: Deal Fanatic; Jul 4, 2004; 7249 posts; 4288 upvotes; Ottawa

Jul 28th, 2021 9:41 am

How often do you need to tow? Depending on that number, a better option might be to buy the EV or PHEV that meets your needs except for the towing and rent a vehicle when you need to tow.

IMHO, other than the RAV4 Prime and the VW ID4 (both of which are limited to 2500 (or possibly less for the ID4) towing) the others you list really aren't great PHEV and have very limited EV range (IMHO, they shouldn't even qualify for the rebates or the green plates because they really aren't very green).

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 11:40 am

fromage [OP]: Member; Aug 5, 2007; 429 posts; 372 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 11:40 am

michelb wrote: ↑ How often do you need to tow? Depending on that number, a better option might be to buy the EV or PHEV that meets your needs except for the towing and rent a vehicle when you need to tow.

IMHO, other than the RAV4 Prime and the VW ID4 (both of which are limited to 2500 (or possibly less for the ID4) towing) the others you list really aren't great PHEV and have very limited EV range (IMHO, they shouldn't even qualify for the rebates or the green plates because they really aren't very green).

Roughly every 2nd weekend in the summer. It makes no sense to rent a towing vehicle.

Couldn't care less about the actual green-ness of the vehicle, or even the fuel economy. Just want to use the HOV lanes.

+1

Jul 28th, 2021 11:42 am

fromage [OP]: Member; Aug 5, 2007; 429 posts; 372 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 11:42 am

KevinM56081 wrote: ↑ Just buy a model 3

https://www.canamrv.ca/blog/post/tesla- ... airstream/

i would, but i was told by tesla that adding an aftermarket hitch to the model 3(since it doesnt have that option from the factory) will void warranty. At the same time, the trailer driving software mode is reserved for only factory-installed trailer hitches on model Y/Xs

Jul 28th, 2021 12:02 pm

Bevatron: Deal Fanatic; Jan 8, 2009; 5298 posts; 3733 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 28th, 2021 12:02 pm

fromage wrote: ↑ i would, but i was told by tesla that adding an aftermarket hitch to the model 3(since it doesnt have that option from the factory) will void warranty. At the same time, the trailer driving software mode is reserved for only factory-installed trailer hitches on model Y/Xs

I have been looking for a fuel efficient vehicle with decent tow capability for a while. Currently I have a V6 Jeep GC..

At the moment even though I am not a "truck guy" the most viable BEV option is the F150 Lightning at $68k.

I think I will be waiting until "SUVs" are electrified but at the moment apart from the Rivian R1S there is nothing in the immediate pipeline.

I am a fan of the ZF 8 speed transmission (rear wheel drive based) and ZF has developed a PHEV version which will be fitted to Jeep products and others:

https://www.zf.com/products/en/cars/products_34949.html

I would say from a towing perspective this is the transmission to get if you are going the PHEV route but vehicles equiped with it wont be cheap.

Jul 28th, 2021 1:52 pm

michelb: Deal Fanatic; Jul 4, 2004; 7249 posts; 4288 upvotes; Ottawa

Jul 28th, 2021 1:52 pm

fromage wrote: ↑ Roughly every 2nd weekend in the summer. It makes no sense to rent a towing vehicle.

Couldn't care less about the actual green-ness of the vehicle, or even the fuel economy. Just want to use the HOV lanes.

Even at that, you should consider it and run the numbers. Is every 2nd weekend around 5 times per summer? If it is, even if it costs you $100 each weekend, it might be worth it as you might save more than $500/year in fuel costs during the rest of the year and then you aren't limited by the towing capacity of the vehicle (e.g. if you want a 28' trailer (which I don't think any current EV/PHEV will tow other than a Model X) plus you don't put the wear on your vehicle.

(FWIW, I went from about $200/month in gas to about $30/month in electricity going from a Highlander Hybrid to a Nissan LEAF so my savings are more like $2000/year).

Jul 28th, 2021 1:58 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 20277 posts; 24028 upvotes; GTA

Jul 28th, 2021 1:58 pm

fromage wrote: ↑ i would, but i was told by tesla that adding an aftermarket hitch to the model 3(since it doesnt have that option from the factory) will void warranty. At the same time, the trailer driving software mode is reserved for only factory-installed trailer hitches on model Y/Xs

Really? That's lame. I'm pretty sure it's a factory option in the EU. I really want to get one just for a bike rack on my wife's Model 3.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Jul 28th, 2021 2:09 pm

Rob_EV: Deal Fanatic; Sep 10, 2008; 9732 posts; 8452 upvotes; Kitchener

Jul 28th, 2021 2:09 pm

Bevatron wrote: ↑ At the moment even though I am not a "truck guy" the most viable BEV option is the F150 Lightning at $68k.

$70k including delivery....for the base XLT model without any options.

Jul 28th, 2021 2:24 pm

Bevatron: Deal Fanatic; Jan 8, 2009; 5298 posts; 3733 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 28th, 2021 2:24 pm

Rob_EV wrote: ↑ $70k including delivery....for the base XLT model without any options.

Yes, thank you, plus tax of course.

Never paid list for a vehicle even hot off the press Camry Hybrid but Lightning will be a challenge if I go that route.

Even got employee pricing on my FFE.

Jul 28th, 2021 3:21 pm

KevinM56081: Banned; Jun 4, 2020; 1634 posts; 1744 upvotes; Clarington, ON

Jul 28th, 2021 3:21 pm

fromage wrote: ↑ i would, but i was told by tesla that adding an aftermarket hitch to the model 3(since it doesnt have that option from the factory) will void warranty. At the same time, the trailer driving software mode is reserved for only factory-installed trailer hitches on model Y/Xs

Well now I'm conflicted. Sitting beside an eighteen foot travel trailer and I'm not sure my vehicle has trailer driving software. How am I going to get this thing back home.

+2

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