Volkswagen towing capacity chart by model
Tow Ratings carries towing capacity data for 457 trim configurations across 18 distinct models of Volkswagen, covering 1991–2025. The tables below list every Volkswagen model with its model-year range and the spread between the lightest and heaviest tow rating in that lineup. The highest tow rating recorded for any Volkswagen in this dataset is 7,716 lb — full-size truck and SUV territory.
Click any model in the list to see year-by-year tow ratings, the trim and engine combination that hits the maximum, GVWR, curb weight, payload, and axle ratio. The data is split into a recent table for the last six model years and a longer table for the rest of the catalogue.
Volkswagen towing capacity snapshot
Across every Volkswagen in this dataset, the highest tow rating on record is the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg at 7,716 lb. That figure represents the maximum tow capacity published for any trim and hitch class of that vehicle — typically the gooseneck or fifth-wheel rating on heavy-duty pickups.
For the 2025 model year, Volkswagen's maximum towing capacity tops out at 5,000 lb averaging 5,000 lb across the lineup. The bar chart below ranks the top Volkswagen models of 2025 by their headline tow rating so you can spot the leader at a glance.
Across the Volkswagen catalogue: 191 between 5,000 and 9,999 lb (mid-duty), 266 below 5,000 lb (light-duty / passenger). The mix gives a quick read on whether the brand leans toward heavy-tow trucks or passenger vehicles whose tow rating is more of a footnote.
Top Volkswagen models for towing (2025)
Recent Volkswagen models (2021–2025)
Recent Volkswagen towing capacities, 2021 model year onward. 4 models are listed with the maximum tow rating across all trims, the year range covered, and a link to the full model page. Manufacturers commonly publish multiple tow figures per truck (conventional bumper, weight-distributing, gooseneck or fifth-wheel) — the headline figure below is the maximum across all hitch classes published for that model.
| Model | Years covered | Trims | Max tow (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas | 2018–2025 | 98 | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| Atlas Cross Sport | 2020–2025 | 90 | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| Tiguan | 2009–2024 | 129 | 1,500 – 2,200 |
| Arteon | 2022 | 3 | 2,000 |
Older Volkswagen models (1991–2020)
Older Volkswagen towing capacities going back to 1991. 14 models. Pre-2015 ratings predate SAE J2807, the standardised towing-capacity test that is now used industry-wide, so figures from those years may be measured under different assumptions than current ratings. Use them to track the trend within a single model rather than for direct cross-era comparison.
| Model | Years covered | Trims | Max tow (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas FWD/AWD | 2019 | 1 | 5,000 |
| Tiguan Limited | 2017 | 10 | 2,200 |
| Touareg | 2004–2017 | 56 | 7,700 – 7,716 |
| Routan | 2009–2013 | 19 | 2,000 – 3,600 |
| Golf | 2005–2011 | 15 | 1,000 |
| Rabbit | 2008 | 2 | 1,000 |
| Touareg 2 | 2008 | 2 | 7,716 |
| Touareg 4WD | 2004–2007 | 4 | 7,700 – 7,716 |
| Eurovan | 1993–2003 | 16 | 4,400 – 4,500 |
| GTI | 1999 | 2 | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Jetta | 1998 | 1 | 2,000 |
| Passat | 1994–1998 | 5 | 2,000 |
| All | 1995 | 1 | 2,000 |
| Vanagon | 1991–1993 | 3 | 2,000 |
How to read Volkswagen towing capacity figures
The headline tow rating for each Volkswagen model on this page represents the maximum tow capacity published across every trim, cab, drivetrain, and hitch class — typically the manufacturer's gooseneck or fifth-wheel rating on heavy-duty pickups, and the bumper-pull rating on light-duty vehicles. Manufacturers commonly publish three figures per pickup: a conventional bumper-pull rating, a weight-distributing rating, and a gooseneck/fifth-wheel rating. The number you can actually tow on the road is the lowest of these three, capped further by the receiver hitch installed on your specific vehicle.
Click any Volkswagen model above to open the year-by-year breakdown. The model page lists every trim the source data carries separately, with the engine, drivetrain, horsepower, torque, GVWR, curb weight, payload, and axle ratio that go with that trim's headline tow rating. Use the door-jamb sticker on your specific vehicle as the final source of truth — these figures are for reference and lookup only.
All figures sourced from manufacturer documentation. See our methodology for how the dataset is compiled.