Volvo XC90 Towing Capacity

Volvo’s XC90 SUV provides up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity across all three trim levels.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Volvo XC90 SUV offers plenty of towing capacity—5,000 pounds’ worth across all three trim levels, to be precise. So if you need to pull some serious loads, the XC90 is up to the challenge.
Your vehicle’s size, engine type, transmission, and other features will impact exactly how much weight you’re able to tow. That said, you’ll want to double-check the towing capacity before you hitch anything to your SUV. 
To help you out,
car insurance
broker and comparison shopping app
Jerry
has put together this handy guide on your Volvo XC90’s towing capacity. We’ll look at the limits, discuss how to calculate weight, and explore ways to potentially increase your towing power (as well as lessen your
Volvo XC90 car insurance costs
!).
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How much can a Volvo XC90 tow?

Base towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Maximum towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Engines: 250-hp, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder (Momentum trim); 316-hp, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder (Inscription trim); 400-hp, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder gas/electric (Recharge Plug-In trim) 
The luxury XC90 comes in either a gas or gas-electric hybrid powertrain and offers elegant styling both inside and out, a spacious passenger area, and great acceleration and fuel economy (especially with the hybrid). The icing on the cake is the 5,000-pound towing capacity that both the gas and hybrid models provide.

Trailer hitches for the Volvo XC90

A trailer hitch is a device that connects your towing vehicle (in this case the XC90) with your hauling load. If you want to
pick out and install a Volvo trailer hitch
to your XC90, the top-rated
Curt Class 3 Trailer Hitch
is a solid choice and can hold 6,000 pounds total gross trailer weight. 

How to calculate the towing capacity you need

You’ll have to determine exactly how much you can tow with your XC90 before hitching up and heading out. While the XC90 can haul up to 5,000 pounds, it is always recommended to tow less than your vehicle’s towing capacity.
The exact weight for each load will vary, but here’s an idea of what you should be able to tow with your Volvo XC90 (total loaded weight):
  • Canoe or kayak trailer (600 to 800 lbs.)
  • Jet Ski trailer (up to 1,800 lbs.)
  • A-frame camper (2,900 lbs.)
  • Fishing boat trailer (3,300 lbs.)
  • Tow dolly (4,000 lbs.)
You’ll be able to tow plenty with your XC90—just remember to keep your load’s weight well below 5,000 pounds. Note that you must include passenger weight and any cargo within your vehicle or the vessel you’re towing when calculating the overall weight.
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How to increase towing capacity

If your total weight is edging toward 5,000 pounds, consider some of the following tips:
  • Install a weight-distribution hitch to help control sway and take some pressure off your suspension
  • Upgrade your rotors and brake pads to mitigate
    wear and tear
  • Install a bigger radiator, which can do a better job increasing your engine’s cooling ability
  • Install stronger axles, such as an RV axle
Another thing to remember—some upgrades on your vehicle can actually decrease your car’s overall towing capacity. Rims are a good example. If you swap out your XC90’s original rims for a bigger pair of aftermarket rims, this can reduce towing capacity. 
If 5,000 pounds of towing power just isn’t enough for you, you might want to consider splurging on a bigger vehicle to tow bigger loads. If you want to stick to the luxury category, the
Land Rover Discovery
can haul up to 8,200 pounds, while the
Infiniti QX80
can tow 8,500 pounds. 
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How to find affordable car insurance

Whether you’re looking to tow up to 5,000 pounds with your Volvo XC90 or you need a bigger vehicle to haul even more, be sure to protect your SUV with a robust (but affordable)
Volvo car insurance
policy by using
Jerry
, the car super app!
Sign-up takes under a minute, and then our
trustworthy insurance comparison app
gets to work—comparing quotes from more than 55 name-brand providers like
Nationwide
and
AAA
and delivering the best deals straight to you. Once you make your pick, Jerry will secure your new insurance and help to cancel your old policy straight through the app. 
The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance! 
“My monthly insurance payment went from $469 to $362 and
Jerry
gave me a $25 gift card from Amazon! I’m so happy they helped me switch companies. I sent my sister their link and she’s saving money now too!” —Wanda P.
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FAQs

Yes, the Volvo XC90 can haul up to 5,000 pounds, which is a solid range for an SUV. If you're looking to haul more than that, you might have to consider buying a bigger SUV with a larger towing capacity.
Yes, you can add a Class 3 trailer hitch to your XC90. They’re available at auto parts stores, big-box stores, and online.
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