If you’re towing for recreational purposes, there’s likely a Subaru that will meet your needs as a tow vehicle.
According to Chris Charles, Subaru Carline Planning Manager, Subaru advertising promotes roof rails and towing capabilities because that’s how Subaru drivers tend to use the vehicles.
“We develop the cars with accessories in mind,” says Charles. “People are buying a Subaru not just because of the tow rating but because they fit the outdoor lifestyle.” When it comes to accessories like hitch-mounted bicycle racks, for example, “the value of the hitch is well beyond towing,” he says.
Product Public Relations Manager, Todd Hill, explains that factory accessories are ideal for towing, and Subaru has made improvements to the current lineup to increase capability. The Ascent, in particular, benefits from a Trailer Stability Assist that senses any unsafe yaw conditions (when a trailer sways back and forth instead of following straight behind the tow vehicle) and automatically applies braking to specific wheels to help drivers maintain vehicle control.
Subaru also notes that the receiver hitches offered in the accessories catalog are developed with the vehicle and undergo the same testing as the vehicle, including crash testing. “Aftermarket companies don’t do that,” explains Hill.
We talked with several Subaru owners who use their vehicles’ towing capacity to help them better enjoy the terrain they visit – and, in some cases, even the skies.
Subaru Forester
Max. Towing Capacity: 1,500 to 3,000 pounds1
The Subaru Forester previously had a modest towing capacity compared to other Subaru models, with a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity. When the Subaru Forester Wilderness was added to the lineup in 2022, the maximum towing capacity increased to 3,000 pounds.1
Kathleen Mongeon chose a 2022 Forester Wilderness to haul her Bushwhacker camper (1,500 to 1,940 pounds), both purchased new. After installing 9-pin trailer brakes and a Curt Bluetooth-enabled brake controller, it’s a great setup, Mongeon says. She, her husband and their dog have plenty of room for all their gear.
“I went to some pretty hilly areas … and was very happy with the ability of the transmission, engine and brakes to handle the hills and cover the 1,500-mile return trip, no problem,” says Mongeon. “I will be throwing a canoe on top for this year’s trips!”
Subaru Crosstrek
Max. Towing Capacity: 1,500 to 3,500 pounds1
The compact but mighty Crosstrek has a towing capacity that rivals its larger siblings, earning dedicated fans. As a single father of three, Ryan Jacquot needed an SUV that could do it all, and a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek Limited (standard towing capacity 1,500 pounds1) filled the bill.
“I wanted a versatile and capable vehicle that could keep up with my adventurous lifestyle and hobbies,” he says. “I prefer to be off-grid versus a campground. A Subaru helps me get off the beaten path while still comfortably having an everyday car to take the kids to school and run errands.”
Jacquot tows a customized Vietnam War-era military surplus M416 trailer (weighing 670 pounds) with space for kayaks, bikes and gear.
Larry Byrum benefits from the increased towing capacity in his 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness. The Crosstrek Base, Premium, Sport and Limited trims max out at 1,500 pounds of towing capacity,1 but the 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® four-cylinder engine in the Crosstrek Wilderness increases towing capacity to 3,500 pounds.1 That enables him to tow his Can-Am three-wheeler (maximum weight 1,021 pounds) on his travels, which take him all over. “I live in Kansas City, Kansas, so pretty much the center of the U.S.,” explains Byrum, and his Crosstrek and Can-Am pair up for great adventures.
Subaru Outback
Max. Towing Capacity: 2,700 to 3,500 pounds1
The Subaru Outback is a secret weapon of adventurers. Take, for example, Luke Szczepaniak, a competitive glider who tows a Schleicher ASW 27 B 15-meter racing class sailplane (540 pounds) with his 2022 Outback Wilderness (standard towing capacity 3,500 pounds1).
Szczepaniak has raced around the world, including Australia and Poland, and he won the Pan American Championship held in Canada in 2019.
“When you fly an airplane without an engine, sometimes you end up landing off airport and the off-road capabilities of the Wilderness make retrieving from fields much easier,” explains Szczepaniak. “The sailplane and trailer combination aren’t too heavy – in my case, about 1,500 pounds – but the 30-foot trailer is long so the Outback’s long wheelbase makes a pretty stable towing platform.”
Tom Belardes owns a 2024 Outback Wilderness (standard towing capacity 3,500 pounds1) to tow a custom Hiker Trailer (1,400 to 1,600 pounds), both of which were a retirement gift for his wife. The trailer features a solar panel and an extra-large refrigerator, perfect for the Belardes’ passion for sharing their homemade mead with other home brewing hobbyists on their travels.
“With the modern look of the Subaru and the blackout rims on both the trailer and the car, it looks a little futuristic and modern,” says Belardes. “There is nothing like it on the road here.”
Subaru Ascent
Max. Towing Capacity: 2,000 to 5,000 pounds1
The Subaru Ascent is the largest Subaru SUV, and it also has the highest maximum towing capacity – up to 5,000 pounds in all trim levels but the Base trim1 – along with seating for seven or eight passengers, depending upon the trim level. Anne Marie Orlando tows a Springdale 1800BH trailer (3,396 pounds) with her 2019 Ascent Limited.
The towing capacity and Trailer Stability Assist are key for the family’s long trips. “Moving from tent camping to a travel trailer had been on my bucket list, so knowing that certain trim levels could accommodate towing a decent-sized camper, I was sold,” says Orlando.
“Our favorite camping spot is in the North Conway area in New Hampshire, and we look forward to it every year. This is where my Ascent shines, as it tows my camper comfortably. Quite a few times I have received the question ‘You tow that with a Subaru?’”
Shane Smith has a 2020 Ascent Touring (standard towing capacity 5,000 pounds1) with plenty of room for his kids and dogs. He also races with the Northwest Focus Midget Series. “We had the need to pull a race-car trailer and decided to try out towing with the Ascent instead of the diesel truck I have,” says Smith. “It exceeded my expectations for its towing ability.”
From a small utility trailer for bringing brush to the dump all the way to an enclosed 6-by-12 trailer with a race car inside, there’s a Subaru that can tow your trailer, opening a world of adventures for a wide range of hobbies and interests.
1 Maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. Trailer brakes may be needed. See your retailer for details.
