2026 Hyundai SUV Camping and Towing Guide for British Columbia Drivers
2026 Hyundai SUV Camping and Towing Guide for British Columbia Drivers
Posted on July 31, 2026
Camping season puts a real number on what an SUV can do. A tent and a couple of coolers ask little of a vehicle, but a travel trailer, a pair of kayaks on a rack, or a small camper unit changes the equation fast. Match the wrong SUV to that trailer and the trip stalls before it starts.
The 2026 Hyundai SUV lineup covers a wide range of towing capacity, cargo space, and traction, from the compact Tucson to the three-row Palisade and the electric IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9. Here is what each model offers for a weekend built around a trailer hitch and a loaded cargo area.
How Much Can Each 2026 Hyundai SUV Tow?
Towing capacity depends on the powertrain and whether the trailer has its own brakes. Every model below includes standard trailer pre-wiring, and HTRAC all-wheel drive is standard on the Santa Fe Hybrid and every Palisade trim.
| Model | Towing Capacity (w/ Trailer Brakes) |
| Tucson (2.5L AWD) | 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) |
| Santa Fe Hybrid | 2,000 lbs (907 kg) |
| Palisade (V6) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) |
| Palisade (Hybrid) | 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) |
| IONIQ 5 | 2,698 lbs (1,224 kg) |
| IONIQ 9 (RWD) | 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) |
| IONIQ 9 (AWD) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) |
The Palisade V6 and the IONIQ 9 with AWD share the top spot in the lineup at 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg), enough for a mid-size travel trailer or a loaded boat trailer. The Tucson’s 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) rating covers a small camper or a utility trailer packed with gear, while the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 2,000 lbs (907 kg) rating suits a lighter tent trailer or a couple of personal watercraft.
Cargo Space for Camping Gear
Towing capacity only tells half the story. A loaded trailer still needs room in the SUV itself for coolers, folding chairs, and sleeping bags, especially on trips where the trailer stays hitched at the campsite rather than getting packed and unpacked at every stop.
- Palisade: up to 2,455 L with the second and third rows folded
- Santa Fe Hybrid: up to 2,267 L with the second and third rows folded
- IONIQ 9: up to 2,461 L with the second and third rows folded, plus a front trunk of up to 88 L
- Tucson: up to 2,119 L with the rear seats folded
- IONIQ 5: up to 1,655 L with the rear seats folded, plus a 24 L front trunk
Ground Clearance and All-Wheel Drive for Backroads
Paved highways only get a trailer partway to some campsites. Gravel forest service roads and rougher access routes call for ground clearance and a drive system built to hold traction on loose surfaces.
The Tucson offers 210 mm of ground clearance, with HTRAC all-wheel drive available on the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid comes with 177 mm of clearance and HTRAC all-wheel drive as standard equipment on every trim. The Palisade offers 187 mm of clearance in its standard configuration, and the XRT Pro trim raises that to 212 mm along with improved approach and departure angles for rougher trailheads and forest roads. HTRAC is standard across the Palisade lineup, along with Tow Mode, which holds lower gears longer and reduces shift frequency while a trailer is hitched.
Towing With an Electric SUV
The IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 bring their own considerations to a towing trip. Both offer an intelligent trailer mode that adjusts range predictions once a trailer is connected, since towing draws down battery range faster than unloaded driving.
The IONIQ 5 offers up to 504 km of range in long-range form and a rated tow capacity of 2,698 lbs (1,224 kg), enough for a small camper or a pair of personal watercraft on a trailer. The IONIQ 9 extends that further with up to 539 km of range and a tow rating of up to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) on AWD models, plus a front trunk for extra gear storage that a gas-powered SUV does not have. Both models support fast charging, which shortens the stop needed to top up the battery on a longer drive to a campsite.
Key Takeaways
| Model | Towing Capacity | Max Cargo Space |
| Tucson (2.5L AWD) | 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) | 2,119 L |
| Santa Fe Hybrid | 2,000 lbs (907 kg) | 2,267 L |
| Palisade (V6) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) | 2,455 L |
| IONIQ 5 | 2,698 lbs (1,224 kg) | 1,655 L |
| IONIQ 9 (AWD) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) | 2,461 L |
Learn More at Northland Hyundai
A trailer hitch, a stack of gear, and a weekend off the grid ask different things from every SUV in this lineup. Visit the team at Northland Hyundai in Prince George to talk through which 2026 Hyundai SUV lines up with the camping trips on your calendar.