Five Cars That Can Tow Way Above Their Weight Class

Call 'em the little engines that could

May 2, 2017 9:00 am

Typically when you hear the words “Porsche” and “world record” in the same sentence, the numbers that follow are measured in miles per hour.

Not this time around.

A Cayenne S Diesel just broke the Guinness World Record for heaviest aircraft towed by a production vehicle, when it bellied up to a 285-ton aircraft, leveraged its 627 lb-ft of torque, and gave it a ride down the runway at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

This isn’t exactly a new contest. In recent years, we’ve seen a VW Touareg V10 TDI pull a Boeing 747 and a Nissan Patrol chug along with a 170-ton cargo plane strapped to its back. And just a year ago, a Land Rover Discovery Sport fitted with a 2.0-liter Ingenium diesel engine and 317 lb-ft torque towed a 100-ton train.

Nonetheless, way to go, Porsche. Completely standard with a biturbo 4.1-liter V8 engine, the ride shattered the current record by 115 tons.

It also got us thinking: What other non-traditional super-duty cars can pull above their weight? If you’re not ready to sign up for a Ford Expedition (capable of luggin’ some 15,000 lbs.) just yet, here are some rides that exceed all expectations in the braked-towing department. Reminder: we said capable. That doesn’t mean advised. Tow at your own risk and mind that warranty, kiddos.

Audi A6 Allroad: 5,511 pounds
Regardless of the powertrain, the Allroad will is load-capable. It’s essentially the rough-and-tumble answer to the the Avant, and an excellent option for travelers who would never be seen in a Passat.

Volvo S60: 3,500 pounds
Chalk it up to Swedish engineering. This little sports sedan is the AWD that could. Speedy, agile and fairly affordable. Didn’t see that one coming.

Volvo S90: 3,700-4,600 pounds
The Swedes strike again. All in all, this is the biggest surprise tow-monkey. The standard can pull well above its weight, while the T6 version will bump you up to that 4,600-lb. mark. That’s not a plane, but it’s certainly a handsome boat.  

Skoda Superb Hatch: 4,409 pounds
An overall winner in the 2016 car tow awards, the Skoda is an obvious pick. It’s got the right combination of smoothness, zippiness and tow capability measured against curb weight. They’re big on the inside — ideal for family trip — and tough on the outside. Only thing: you can’t get them in the States.

Jaguar XF: 3,745 pounds
If you’re towing behind a Jaguar, we hope someone shames you. That being said, it rated very well in push-and-pull smoothness. So if it’s luxury you want for your camping trip, then luxury you shall get.

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