How Much Can A Toyota Prius Tow? [Answered]

The Toyota Prius, which was a pioneer in the field of electric vehicles by Toyota Motor Corporation, was not initially designed to be capable of towing, but from 2015, its towing capability has been reported as 1,598 pounds.

But, how much can a Toyota Prius tow?

The supple steering and spacious cabin of the Prius were developed to make it an ideal vehicle for navigating city streets, but this does not necessarily apply while carrying baggage.

Although adding a trailer hitch can make the Prius more capable of towing, it is necessary to be aware of its capabilities and limitations in this regard.

Can A Prius Be Used To Pull A Trailer?

To answer your question, you can use a Prius to tow.

The fourth generation of the Toyota Prius is the first model of the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle to be able to be equipped with a trailer hitch in the vehicle’s entire 19-year history of production.

Available as an aftermarket add-on at dealerships, it has a maximum towing capacity of 1,650 pounds (750 kg) (1598 lbs).

This trailer hitch can be purchased as an original accessory from the dealerships of the Japanese company for a total cost of $475.

This price does not take into account the cost of assembly.

To this, an additional sum of $238 must be paid for the electrical connection with 7 pins; if a connection with 13 pins is required, the total cost must be increased to $277.

Not only is it able to be towed from a caravan that has a maximum weight of 750 kilograms thanks to this new rear hitch, but it is also able to be fitted with functional supports for transporting bicycles, for example, an accessory that the Japanese company also offers for this new Toyota Prius for the price of $359 and that allows transporting two bicycles.

This accessory allows for the transport of two bicycles. There is a different folding that can be purchased for $556.

To claim that this hitch can be disassembled and stored in a cover when it is not in use so that its support is not apparent and, more importantly, that it does not impair the sophisticated aerodynamics of this efficient vehicle that continues to astonish us is to suggest that it can be disassembled.

How Much Trailer Weight Can A Toyota Prius Handle?

The Toyota Prius towing capacity is 1,600 pounds.

Toyota Prius engine is 1.8L in 4-cylinder.

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle, so it does not excel in terms of its engine’s power.

When it was first introduced, the manufacturer strongly advised owners against attaching any trailers to their vehicles.

However, the company has since made some adjustments.

Since the year 2015, the Prius has had a towing capacity that is listed at 1,598 pounds.

The Prius V has a maximum towing capacity of 1,600 pounds, despite the fact that different models may have very tiny differences in this regard.

If, on the other hand, pulling trailers is high on your list of priorities, you might want to look into a different type.

The Toyota 4Runner, for instance, has a capacity of 5,000 pounds when it comes to towing.

What is the maximum amount of weight that a Toyota Prius can pull behind it?

According to Toyota, the Prius is not designed to be capable of pulling anything behind it.

Towing anything is something that Toyota owners in the United States are strongly discouraged from doing.

On the other hand, the Prius has a towing capability that is rated at 1,598 pounds ever since the year 2015.

Although this varies marginally from model to model, even the Prius V has a maximum towing capacity of only 1,600 pounds.

The Toyota Corolla can be compared to this.

Other versions of Toyota feature engines that are more powerful and are able to pull greater weight. For instance, the towing capacity of a Toyota Forerunner is up to 5,000 pounds.

If you are willing to take the chance, you may buy an aftermarket hitch for your Prius online and install it yourself.

This will give you the capacity to pull trailers behind your Prius.

Although they appear to be meant solely for lighter and more compact goods, such as a trailer for a motorcycle or a bike, some users have reported successfully hauling up to 1,500 pounds with them.

You might want to give it a shot.

Nevertheless, you are playing with fire by doing this. It has been suggested that the continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the Prius is to blame for the issue that arises when a hitch is installed.

To avoid any potential problems, you should probably steer clear of towing with your Prius.

The continuously variable transmission (CVT) may be adversely affected.

Towing is going to be hard on the battery, which is not going to be good for the gas mileage of your vehicle.

Towing a trailer places an increased demand for the vehicle’s torque capabilities, which in turn puts the transmission under more stress.

Is it safe to pack the container to its utmost capacity?

To answer your question in a nutshell, no, it is not safe to tow at the absolute limit of your vehicle’s capability. It is in your best interest to keep the load in your car at no more than 10 percent of its maximum capacity.

Because of this, any unwanted accidents involving the tow package will be avoided.

The maximum amount of weight that may be carried by your automobile is referred to as the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating, or GCVWR.

This comprises the number of passengers, the vehicle’s towing capacity, the weight of whatever is in the car, as well as the vehicle’s curb weight.

It is very simple to make a calculation error and inadvertently exceed any of these weights.

Because you will be responsible for installing the tow kit on your own, you should proceed with extreme caution when towing a Prius.

In addition, it is possible to surpass the capacity of the towing system by overloading either the car itself or the vehicle that is being towed.

Installation of Trailer Hitch For Trailers On Toyota Priuses

Even while Priuses do not come standard with a trailer towing package that has been pre-installed, you are still able to add a trailer hitch on your own.

The CURT 11276 Class 1 Trailer Hitch is an excellent choice in this category.

Just make sure that any tow hitch carrier you choose is compatible with the model that you have before purchasing it.

It is important to keep in mind that although the specific towing capability of a Prius C may differ slightly from that of a Prius V, the three models all have a capacity that is within a few pounds of 1,600.

How to Increase the Prius’s Capacity to Pull Trailers and Other Objects

There are not many things that can be done to improve Prius’s ability to pull trailers.

Because it is a hybrid engine, the vehicle cannot draw more than 1,600 pounds of weight using its propulsion system.

In addition to that, the framework of the vehicle was designed to be as light as possible.

It is possible for a heavier trailer to tear the frame apart.

The car was not designed to draw larger goods, even when equipped with a more powerful towing equipment.

You won’t have to worry about other aspects of towing, such as whether or not the trailer you’re pulling has brakes, whether or not you install signals, or whether or not you weigh in at checkpoints.

If you wish to use a Prius as a tow vehicle, you will have to acknowledge that the weight limit is absolute.

Is there anything at all that a Prius is capable of pulling behind it?

The first generation of Priuses sold in the UK, which went on sale in 2015, were equipped to pull trailers.

Because of this, the market is becoming more accessible to the kind of individual who enjoys camping in the great outdoors or who is particularly outdoorsy to begin with.

The greatest weight that can be towed is 1598 pounds. In order to use this model of the Prius, you are required to purchase hitches that are sourced by Toyota rather than just any old aftermarket hitch.

This is a requirement that cannot be waived.

If you do so, there is a possibility that your warranty will be voided.

Even though the rating criteria are significantly more stringent now than they were in the past, these UK Priuses were awarded a perfect score of five stars in the crash test, indicating that their degree of crash protection is uncompromised.

To put it another way, there weren’t a whole lot of alterations done to the vehicle as a whole in that regard.

They are not in any danger at all.

 If you make any alterations, such as adding cables or other hardware, and then you have servicing performed, Toyota may be able to correlate this hardware to the fact that you’re towing.

If this happens, they may charge you more for the service.

There is a possibility that your warranty will not cover any problems involving the transmission, as well as those involving the motor becoming overheated.

The Toyota Prius C Braked Towing Capacity

Year	Breaked Capacity From	Break Capacity To
2020	0kg	0kg
2019	0kg	0kg
2018	0kg	0kg
2017	0kg	0kg
2016	0kg	0kg

The 2021 Toyota Prius V Braked Towing Capacity

2021 Toyota Prius V	Breaked Capacity From	Break Capacity To
Prius V	0kg	0kg
Prius V i-Tech	0kg	0kg

Toyota Trucks/SUV Models That Can Tow

• Toyota Tundra
• Toyota Tacoma
• Toyota RAV4
• Toyota Highlander
• Toyota 4Runner

Other Toyota Models

• Toyota Sequoia
• Toyota Venza
• Toyota Yaris
• Toyota C HR
• Toyota Land Cruiser

FAQ On How Much Can A Toyota Prius Tow?