Which 2026 Hyundai Tucson Trim Tows the Most
October 14 2026,
Fall in New Brunswick means closing up the camp, hauling firewood, or pulling a utility trailer on one last supply run before the cold sets in. If a trailer is part of that picture, the powertrain under the hood of a 2026 Hyundai Tucson matters more than almost any other spec on the sheet.
Towing capacity on the Tucson is not one number. It splits by powertrain, and the gap between the gas engine and the electrified options is wide enough to change which trim actually works for your trailer. Here is how the numbers break down, and which one fits a New Brunswick driver’s actual hauling plans.
2026 Tucson Towing Capacity By Powertrain
|
Trim |
Powertrain |
Horsepower |
Max Towing (with trailer brakes) |
Max Towing (without trailer brakes) |
|
Preferred |
2.5L gas |
187 hp |
3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) |
1,650 lbs (748 kg) |
|
Preferred Trend |
2.5L gas |
187 hp |
3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) |
1,650 lbs (748 kg) |
|
N Line |
1.6T Hybrid |
231 hp |
2,000 lbs (907 kg) |
1,650 lbs (748 kg) |
|
Ultimate (Hybrid) |
1.6T Hybrid |
231 hp |
2,000 lbs (907 kg) |
1,650 lbs (748 kg) |
|
Ultimate Plug-in Hybrid |
1.6T PHEV |
268 hp |
2,000 lbs (907 kg) |
1,650 lbs (748 kg) |
Trailer pre-wiring comes standard on the Preferred, Preferred Trend, and Ultimate Plug-in Hybrid, so a factory harness is already there before you add a hitch.
What These Towing Numbers Actually Mean
The gas-powered Preferred and Preferred Trend top out at 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) with trailer brakes connected. That is the highest rating in the 2026 Tucson lineup, and it applies specifically to the 2.5L engine paired with the 8-speed automatic transmission.
The hybrid N Line and Ultimate, along with the plug-in hybrid Ultimate, are each capped at 2,000 lbs (907 kg) with brakes. More horsepower on paper (231 hp for the hybrid, 268 hp for the plug-in hybrid) does not translate into a higher tow rating here. Hyundai sets that ceiling lower than the gas engine’s.
Without trailer brakes, every Tucson powertrain is limited to 1,650 lbs (748 kg). That number does not change by trim, so a light trailer without its own braking system is capped the same whether you buy the gas or the hybrid.
All five trims run HTRAC All-Wheel Drive, and every one includes Drive Mode Select with Snow, Mud, and Sand terrain modes plus adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Those features do not add capacity, but they matter once you are backing a trailer down a wet boat launch or pulling out of a soft gravel shoulder.
Which Tucson Fits Your Trailer
Occasional, light towing looks different from regular, heavier towing, and the Tucson lineup answers each case differently.
If your trailer use is a personal watercraft, a small utility trailer, or a pop-up camper under roughly 2,000 lbs (907 kg), the hybrid Ultimate or the plug-in hybrid Ultimate covers that without giving anything up. The hybrid returns 6.7 L/100 km combined, and the plug-in hybrid adds a 51 km electric-only range on top of its own 6.7 L/100 km gas rating, which matters for the daily commute between trailer trips.
If you regularly pull a small camper, a boat on a trailer with its own brakes, or a loaded equipment trailer closer to the 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) ceiling, the 2.5L Preferred or Preferred Trend is the trim built for that job. The trade-off is fuel economy: 8.8 L/100 km combined against the hybrid’s 6.7 L/100 km, a real gap if most of your driving is not towing at all.
That is the actual decision. It is not gas versus hybrid on general terms, it is 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) versus 2,000 lbs (907 kg), weighed against how often the trailer actually comes out of storage.
Confirming The Right Tow-Ready Tucson
The 2026 Tucson’s towing capacity depends entirely on which powertrain sits under the hood, from the 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) gas-engine rating down to the 2,000 lbs (907 kg) hybrid and plug-in hybrid ceiling. Matching that rating to your actual trailer weight is the first step before anything else.
Visit Thomas Hyundai in Woodstock to confirm current trim availability, trailer pre-wiring, and equipment on the 2026 Tucson that matches your towing needs, and to walk through which powertrain fits the way you actually use a trailer in New Brunswick.
