If you have a 2021 Toyota Rav4 and need to know your towing capacity, you have come to the right place.
Here you will find max trailer towing weights and payload capacities of the 2021 Rav4 as well as previous years.. The information is collected from the 2021 Toyota Rav4 Owners Manual, 2021 Prime Manual, 2021 Hybrid Manual, and 2021 Toyota Rav4 Brochure.
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has a towing capacity between 1,500 and 3,500 lbs.
Toyota says that the tongue weight for any towing should be no more than 11% of the trailer weight and as low as 9% and anything being towed over 1,000 lbs requires a separate braking system.
2021 Toyota Rav4 Towing Capacity by Trim
The 2021 Rav4 has 13 different trims. These can be grouped into the following three trim families: standard, hybrid, and prime.
2021 Toyota Rav4 Towing Capacity
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has a towing capacity of either 1,500 or 3,500 lbs.
Trim | Towing Capacity |
LE | 1,500 lbs |
XLE | 1,500 lbs |
XLE Premium | 1,500 lbs |
Adventure | 3,500 lbs |
TRD Off-Road | 3,500 lbs |
Limited | 1,500 lbs |
2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Towing Capacity
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid has a towing capacity of 1,750 lbs.
Trim | Towing Capacity |
Hybrid LE | 1,750 lbs |
Hybrid XLE | 1,750 lbs |
Hybrid XLE Premium | 1,750 lbs |
Hybrid SXE | 1,750 lbs |
Hybrid Limited | 1,750 lbs |
2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime Towing Capacity
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime has a towing capacity of either 2,500 lbs.
Trim | Towing Capacity |
Prime SE | 2,500 lbs |
Prime XSE | 2,500 lbs |
2021 Toyota Rav4 Tongue Weight
Tongue weight refers to the weight exerted on a trailer hitch/ball mount. Generally speaking the tongue weight should usually be between 10-15% of the total trailer weight.
However, Toyota specifies that for the Rav4 this should be between 9 and 11% of the total weight.
Towing Features of the Toyota Rav4
Through the owners manual, Toyota mentions that there is the option to have a towing package, but when looking through the website and brochure, there is no mention of the towing package.
There is, however, an option to add a trailer hitch.
This could be referring to the capacity of just using the bumper as a hitch or an actual hitch which is optional for all Rav4s.
When towing anything over 1,000 lbs, a trailer with brakes should be used.
Payload Capacity of 2021 Toyota Rav4
The best way to check the payload capacity is to find the GVWR listed on the certification sticker inside the driver’s side door and subtract the curb weight from it.
The payload capacity of the 2021 Rav4 family is between 1,050 and 1,295 lbs.
2021 Rav4 Payload Capacity
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has a payload capacity of 1,050 and 1,240 lbs.
Trim | Payload Capacity |
LE | 1,240 lbs |
XLE | 1,205 lbs |
XLE Premium | 1,205 lbs |
Adventure | 1,050 lbs |
TRD Off-Road | 1,050 lbs |
Limited | 1,125 lbs |
2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Payload Capacity
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid has a payload capacity between 1,140 and 1,230 lbs.
Trim | Payload Capacity |
Hybrid LE | 1,230 lbs |
Hybrid XLE | 1,165 lbs |
Hybrid XLE Premium | 1,165 lbs |
Hybrid SXE | 1,165 lbs |
Hybrid Limited | 1,140 lbs |
2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime Payload Capacity
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime has a payload capacity between 1,230 and 1,295 lbs.
Trim | Payload Capacity |
Prime SE | 1,295 lbs |
Prime XSE | 1,230 lbs |
2021 Toyota Rav4 Engine Specs
2.5 L Plug-In Hybrid
The 2.5 L PHEV is the standard engine on the 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime trims.
This engine is a 4-cylinder engine that supplies a combined net 302 hp.
2.5 L Hybrid
The 2.5 L Dynamic Force 4-cylinder engine is the standard engine on the Hybrid Rav4 models.
It supplies a combined 219 hp.
2.5 L DOHC
The 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine in the Rav4 is the standard engine in the Rav4 and is the only fully gas engine in the family.
It supplies 203 hp @ 6,600 rpm and 194 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm.
Additional Resources
- 2021 Toyota Rav4 Brochure
- 2021 Toyota Rav4 Owner’s Manual
- 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Owner’s Manual
- 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime Owner’s Manual
Conclusion
The max towing capacity of the 2021 Toyota Rav4 is between 1,500 and 3,500 lbs.
The hybrid Rav4 has a towing capacity of 1,750 and the Rav4 Prime has a towing capacity of 2,500 lbs.
Though this guide provides good guidance on how much you can tow with your 2021 Rav4, you should always calculate your own towing capacity.
Not sure how? Read: How is Towing Capacity Calculated? Here you will find a helpful calculator as well.