Midsize car for towing

[Ayrehead]

I want to buy a new midsize car that can tow a small trailer. The trailer and load together weigh just 500 pounds. I use it on flat terrain. The car does not have to be "rated" for towing, but towing must not void the warranty. My old 2006 Corolla tows good, but new ones forbid towing. Any suggestions for a make or model that can do it?

[deltabravo]

jerem0621 wrote:
The Subaru cars have decent towing.

I tow a small trailer once in a while with my Crosstrek.

Outback is a bigger car, redesigned for 2020.

[Grit_dog]

What car you find?
Corolla is midsize, not compact?

[mkirsch]

LittleBill wrote:
as far as i am concerned the ratings are generally ****. reason being.

You may be right, but common sense often has very little to do with warranty coverage.

[carringb]

Fusion would be my pick. The 6-speed auto is durable, and the EcoBoost is torquey.

I tow 2,000 pounds with my Focus ST, which shares the 2.0 EcoBoost with the Fusion, but has the 6-speed manual instead. Towing 2,000 pounds effortless, and if they offered the 3,500# receiver like they do in Europe and Asia, I wouldn't hesitate to tow more.

[Grit_dog]

Anything midsize, new and you can buy a trailer hitch for it will tow 500lbs.
My criteria would be 1. Do I want this car? 2. Can I buy a receiver for it.

[Cobra21]

I would get a car that has a tow rating of 1,000 pounda or more. Why pust the envelope and question if it can or can't. I wouldn't be comfortable always looking at the guages and wondering if I'm going to have a problem. Just don't go there for piece of mind.
Brian

[mleekamp]

Subaru's have mid-2000 lb ratings. The biggest limiting factory of the ratings on any car is the CVT transmissions. More and more, cars are made w/o conventional gear based transmissions, limiting what they can do...this is why you don't see CVT trans cars/suv's able to be towed all 4 wheels down behind a motorhome.

[LittleBill]

as far as i am concerned the ratings are generally ****. reason being.

the chevy cavalier had 2 motors, 2 trannys and a 20 hp difference, one was rated 1k one was not rated to tow anything. do you think the lower one had any trouble towing? it didn't and the cars were known well, same EVERYTHING short of the tranny and engine, and you could get the 4 speed in the lower engine which i had.

[Bedlam]

My 2003 Jetta and 2015 Sonic both have occasionally pulled trailers up to 2000 lbs but I limit mountain passes to 1000 lbs. You need to watch the gauges rather than speed to keep the transmission cool. If you plan to do this more than occasionally, then look for a car with sufficient ratings and configure it properly.

[wanderingaimles]

Ayrehead wrote:
In answer to some questions, the current Corolla owners manual says:

Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

And yes, the weight is 500.

That they even downplay a receiver for a mobility scooter or bike rack makes me wonder if the problem isn't the total lack of a frame or any structural supports.
There probably isn't a single piece of metal on there capable of any added stress beyond carrying the vehicle itself.

[Ayrehead]

In answer to some questions, the current Corolla owners manual says:

Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

And yes, the weight is 500.

[BenK]

Not the power that limits the OEM product team from allowing towing, but duty cycle required to tow

[winniman]

My Toyota Matrix only has the 1.8 litre motor. The manual states no trailer hitch is allowed, and voided the warrantee if one is installed. The exact same car with the 2.4 litre engine has a hitch listed for it. I guess the 1.8 doesn't have the power to pull extra weight. 500 lbs isn't much. Any car that can have a hitch can pull 500 lbs.

[Merrykalia]

Back in the day (80s), I towed a small popup with my Subaru Impreza. It had a 2500 lb tow rating at that time. The 2019 and 2020 Subaru Foresters (their mid-size) has a 1500 lb tow rating and something called their TSA (trailer safety assist), which I'm not sure what it is.

I've had other cars, but my 4 Subarus have been my favorites. Just purchased a new Outback Touring model that is FABULOUS!