How to Choose the Right Volvo for Towing Your Summer Gear

Before you back down to a Lake Hartwell boat ramp or load a pop-up camper for the Blue Ridge, one question shapes the whole plan: how much can your Volvo actually pull?

The answer depends on two things most drivers overlook. First, towing capacity varies significantly across the Volvo lineup -- the range runs from 2,000 pounds in the compact EX30 to 5,000 pounds in the XC90, and picking the wrong model means leaving the pontoon in the driveway. Second, even within a single model, powertrain choice matters: Volvo lists the 2026 XC90 at 5,000 pounds maximum, but that rating belongs to the B6 and T8 Recharge configurations. The B5 tops out at 4,000 pounds -- a gap wide enough to determine whether a family-size trailer makes the trip or stays home.

Get those two variables right, and every Volvo SUV in the current lineup is a genuine, refined tow vehicle for Upstate SC summer adventures.

Explore the Volvo XC90 at Volvo Cars Greenville

What Actually Determines How Much Your Volvo Can Tow?

Three variables decide the answer, and understanding them prevents the most common summer towing mistake: assuming the number on a spec sheet tells the whole story.

Powertrain selection within the same model. The clearest example is the 2026 XC90. Volvo lists its maximum towing capacity at 5,000 pounds, but that figure applies specifically to B6 mild-hybrid and T8 Recharge configurations. The B5 mild-hybrid -- the base engine -- carries a 4,000-pound rating, per Volvo's published specifications. That 1,000-pound difference can be the margin between towing a loaded 20-foot pontoon and leaving it behind.

The factory towbar hitch package. Without the factory-installed hitch receiver and wiring harness, no Volvo is rated to tow anything at all. The package is an available option on purchase and must be installed before the rated capacity applies.

Payload capacity and tongue weight math. Tongue weight -- typically 10 to 15 percent of total trailer weight -- counts against the vehicle's payload limit, not the towing limit. That means passenger weight, cargo, and tongue weight all compete for the same payload budget. Exceed it, and braking performance and suspension behavior both suffer, even if the trailer total is within towing spec.

The XC90 Powertrain Split Matters More Than Most Buyers Realize

The 2026 XC90 is Volvo's headline tow vehicle, and for the Greenville family heading to Lake Keowee or Lake Jocassee with a boat in tow, it earns that billing -- but only if the configuration matches the load. Volvo confirms the B6 mild-hybrid produces 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, unlocking the 5,000-pound maximum. The XC90 T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid reaches the same 5,000-pound ceiling while adding an electric-first daily commute -- a useful pairing for a household that tows on summer weekends but uses the vehicle for Greenville school runs the rest of the year.

Choose the B5 and the ceiling drops to 4,000 pounds. That is still enough for a 17-foot aluminum fishing boat, a loaded cargo trailer, or a jet ski with room to spare. But if your trailer gross vehicle weight sits above 4,000 pounds, the B6 is the configuration to specify.

The XC90 also offers an available air suspension system that lowers the rear cargo area by up to two inches at the press of a button inside the cargo area -- a thoughtful detail when lining up a trailer hitch on a sloped concrete ramp.

The Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid sits at 3,500 pounds across the entire lineup, regardless of trim or powertrain. The XC60 plug-in hybrid's 523 lb-ft of torque makes trailer launches from lake ramps feel effortless; the 35 miles of EPA-estimated electric range covers the drive from Greenville to the ramp and back on electrons alone on most summer days.

Match the Gear to How You Actually Drive

The right tow vehicle is the one that fits both the trailer and the rest of the year.

The XC90 or EX90 -- for families with serious trailers. If a pontoon, a travel trailer, or a horse trailer is part of the summer plan, the three-row 5,000-pound or 4,850-pound configuration is the correct answer. The EX90 is worth a conversation for the family ready to go all-electric: Volvo rates its Twin Motor at 4,850 pounds with standard AWD and up to 305 miles of EPA-estimated range on a full charge. That is enough range to tow a modest trailer on a Greenville-to-Lake-Hartwell day trip, with charge to spare -- though tow range will be lower than the rated figure with a trailer attached.

The XC60 or XC40 -- for the lake weekend crew. Both models cap at 3,500 pounds, which covers the personal watercraft trailer, a single-axle boat, and most pop-up campers without requiring a full-size SUV. The Volvo XC40 is particularly practical for Greenville families who navigate tighter campground loops and crowded boat launches along SC-11 -- the compact footprint pays off in those spaces.

The EX30 -- for the light hauler. A 2,000-pound rating handles a jet ski on a single-axle trailer, a compact cargo load, or a teardrop camper. It is not the vehicle for a pontoon, but for the owner who needs occasional light-duty towing from a fully electric compact, it does the job.

Regardless of model, the factory towbar hitch package is the non-negotiable starting point. A Volvo product specialist can confirm installation availability, wiring requirements, and any accessory needs before you finalize the order.