Which Kia Can Tow a Trailer?

If you are considering buying a new car, especially one with the ability to tow, then opt for a new Kia's without a second thought. If you plan to tow things regularly, you must invest in a suitable vehicle that does the work nicely. Be it small towing or large objects, Kia provides a wide variety when shopping for an SUV.  The Kia lineup delivers a modern, sporty-looking range of cars with a mind-blowing towing capacity. Wondering which Kia can tow a trailer? Let's explore which SUVs have this capability. 

Which Kia models have towing availability?

If you are considering towing capacity, you must already know about the SUV's power and capabilities. The maximum or the minimum towing differs depending on the vehicle configurations. 

Kia Sorento

Kia's mid-size SUV, the Sorento, joined the lineup in 2003. It provides an attractive, sporty appearance; it also comes with a seating capacity of seven passengers across three rows. 

This vehicle is not only attractive in its looks but also has some fantastic towing features. How much any vehicle can tow depends highly on the engine of the car and the configurations you choose. On the Sorento, if you choose the base model and engine, you can expect a towing capacity of 2,500 pounds.

When you choose to upgrade your Sorento's engine, you can expect a towing capacity up to 3,500 lb; an advanced model of Kia Sorento can provide a 5,000 lb towing capacity. It is a brilliant choice to make if you have small families with fewer members or pulling small trailers or several bikes. 

 

Kia Telluride SUV

The Kia Telluride is Kia's other mid-size SUV - this model has only been around since 2020.  It seats up to eight individuals, slightly larger than the Sorento model.  It offers a 3.8L V6 engine with 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.  It comes with both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive; you can even turn on its snow mode if needed. 

The best part of the Telluride model is that it has a standard towing capacity of 5,000 lb.  No matter what model or engine size you choose, it will always be able to tow at least 5,000 lb.

Kia Carnival

The Carnival MPV is Kia's newest vehicle - replacing the Sedona minivan.  Its first year of production will be 2022.  The Carnival includes an incredible amount of cargo capacity for any family trip or adventure - its maximum cargo space is 145.1 cubic feet.

However, if the cargo space inside the Carnival still isn't enough, the MPV does have the ability to tow a small trailer.  Its maximum towing capacity reaches 3,500 lb.

Kia does not recommend that their models made before 2017 attempt to tow a trailer - their towing capacity pulls no more than 1,000 lbs, which cannot support the weight of a trailer.  With that said, the Sorento and the Telluride are the only two current Kia models properly equipped to pull a trailer.

What does the average trailer weigh?

Every trailer has its specific purpose, which may lead to it having a different total weight. Trailers have various features, different capacities, and lengths; they come in a wide variety. The littlest trailers can easily be towed by some small cars. Even a 24' trailer may not stress your mini SUV past its towing capacity limit.

In general, if a vehicle ad says it can tow up to 7,200 pounds, it is usually okay to tow a trailer under 24' in length. Be aware of the seller, and don't get taken away with face value. Every trailer today is lightweight; check your facts before buying based on advertisements.

Short trailers can weigh around 5,200 pounds in their dry state. Dry state means without the fuel in the trailer's tank. A full-filled trailer can add a large amount of weight that one would not otherwise suspect.

The trailer weight depends on the length of your trailer and the way it is constructed or built. Usually, a trailer can be expected to be around 250 pounds per foot of the trailer when filled with both water and gear.

To read the exact weight of the trailer, you may unload the whole vehicle; only the actual trailer should be there. Find out its gross vehicle weight, dry hitch weight, cargo-carrying capacity. You can open the trailer's door and check the sticker, which will tell you the towing capacity of your trailer. If you are not able to find it, you may re-confirm on Google.

The towing capacity of your vehicle will depend entirely on your vehicle packages and the considerations you have chosen at the time of buying it. The best way to figure out this is by checking the inside sticker to be sure of your model and its features.  You may also speak with the experts at your dealership for more information.

Conclusion

You may not be aware that your vehicle has a higher towing capacity than your trailer. The best way to check is to look at dry trailers that you wish to buy. Make a note that it should not exceed 80% of the total weight of your vehicle's towing capacity, in case you decide to put anything in the trailer that will add weight.