What Kia Can Tow a Boat?
When it comes to investing in a car, it is not too much to want a car that can do it all…or do most of it. You want a car that fits your budget, performs well, has great safety features, is comfortable, fuel-efficient, and is…able to tow a boat? Okay maybe the last factor is specific but if you were thinking about buying a Kia and wondered which ones are capable to tow a boat, then you are not alone.
While Kia may not be the first brand people think of when they are looking into cars with great towing capacities, it does not mean that Kia vehicles cannot get the job done. Down below is a list of great Kia vehicles that are not only able to tow a boat, but also have plenty of outstanding factors as well. Let’s get started.
What Kia Vehicles Can Tow a Boat?|Pros and Cons
Here is a list of Kia vehicles ranked from the best and highest towing capacity to the lowest towing capacity:
2020 Kia Sorento
- Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
- Yes, you read that right. The 2020 Kia Sorento towing capacity is 5,000 and that is mighty impressive.
- However, you are probably thinking what is the catch right?
- Well, you are not wrong. In order to get your 2020 Kia Sorento to its maximum 5,000 towing capacity, you will have to get the AWD along with the V6 engine equipped model.
- However, you will be glad to know that most of the 2020 Kia Sorento models come with the V6 engine.
- To get the 5,000-pound towing capacity you can get the 2020: LX V6, EX V6, SX, AND SX Limited.
What About Other 2020 Kia Sorento Configurations?
This is a fair question and one that is also good to know. If you just want a Kia Sorento based on its towing capacity then the option above is perfect for you. However, if you wanted more information about the other configurations then we have got you covered.
Trim levels: L, LX, LX V6, EX V6, SX, and SX Limited.
Both the L and the LX trim levels come with a 2.4-liter cylinder engine. If you want the front-wheel-drive option then opt for the L. However, if you want both the front-wheel-drive option as well as the all-wheel-drive option then the LX is your best bet.
So what does the configuration of these two trim levels give you? You get around 2,000 pounds of towing capacity . Is it amazing compared to the 5,000 you could have? Not really, but is it still impressive overall? You bet.
For most people, they do not need to tow anything that weighs 5,000 pounds so they would be more than satisfied with the 2,000 towing capacity.
However, each situation is unique and you should buy according to your needs. If you have a motorized boat that you know is well over 2,000 pounds then it would not make sense to go for these speculations.
However, if you do not tow much but would like the options of towing some heavy items then these specs are great.
For the 5,000 pounds of towing capacity then you will want to go with the higher trim levels (trim levels: LX V6, EX V6, SX, and SX Limited).
However, do keep in mind that just because you get the higher trim levels does not mean that you will automatically be able to tow 5,000 pounds. You will need to equip it with the AWD.
What about the FWD configuration you ask? Well, with the FWD configuration you will get about 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. So a little bit less than the 5,000 pounds but still more than the original 2,000 pounds.
2020 Kia Telluride
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Next on our list is the 2020 Kia Telluride which has always been an overall crowd favorite. Yet now it is made even more desirable with its impressive towing capacity.
Starting at the bottom with the base level/entry-level 2020 Kia Telluride and going up to the highest trim level, the SX Prestige AWD- the 2020 Kia Telluride will give you up to 5,000 towing capacity.
This means you can tow your trailers, boats, motorcycles and so much more. If you want to get creative, you could also tow another 2020 Kia Telluride.
However, despite the 2020 Kia Telluride impressive towing capacity please remember to do the math as well as double-checking it.
For example, if you have a non-motorized boat that weighs 1,000 pounds it does not mean that your 2020 Kia Telluride is towing 1,000 pounds. Do not forget to add in the weight of your trailer.
So if your boat is 1,000 pounds and your trailer weighs 3,000 pounds then overall weight that your 2020 Kia Telluride is 4,000 pounds.
Now in this particular situation, everything is fine because the 2021 Kia Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
However, if you had a motorized boat (those tend to be on the heavier side) that weighs 3,000 pounds and your trailer weighs 3,000 then that is too heavy for your 2020 Kia Telluride to tow. If you try to put it on your 2020 Kia Telluride then you will definitely damage it.
So be sure to add the weight of whichever item you want to tow along with the standard weight of your trailer.
*If you are wondering what are considered motorized boats, here is a quick list:
- Speedboat
- Powerboat
- Any boat that is powered by an engine
Motorized boats are very heavy as well which is why towing them can be quite difficult and dangerous.
2020 Kia Sportage
Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds
Last on our list is the 2020 Kia Sportage. While it may not be as impressive as its first two predecessors, towing around 2,000 pounds is no small feat.
When it comes to a car with great towing capacity, you will need to find a car with a powerful engine and the 2020 Kia Sportage will give you that. When you choose to go with the 2020 Kia Sportage then you will realize that its towing capacity, while impressive, is just one of many impressive factors.
The 2020 Kia Sportage offers two different yet powerful engine options and the best news is that Kia does not skimp on its lower trim levels. No matter what trim level you choose to go with for your 2020 Kia Sportage, both of them are powerful enough to tow non-motorized boats.
*If you are wondering what are considered non-motorized boats, here is a quick list:
- Canoe
- Sailboat
- Stand up paddle (also known as a “SUP”) board
- Kayak
- Belly boats
- Trolling motor fishing boat (usually defined as having a 10 HP Motor or smaller)
- Paddleboat
Can a 2020 Kia Sportage Tow a Motorized Boat?
This is actually such a great question because there is a difference between a non-motorized boat and a motorized boat. So if the question is “Can a 2020 Kia Sportage tow a boat” the answer is yes, definitely yes. However, once you get into the specifics it does get a bit murky.
However, the 2020 Kia Sportage can tow a non-motorized boat well but for a motorized boat, you might want to stick with the Kia Sorento.
This is because motorized boats generally weigh around 3,000 starting, but the majority of them weigh even more than that. As mentioned above, the 2020 Kia Sportage can tow about 2,000 max so it will not be able to tow 1,000 plus pounds more than its capacity weight.
To learn more about about the 2020 Kia Sportage standard engine and engine options, please check out the list below:
Specs for the 2020 Kia Sportage standard and available engine options:
- OPTION 1: 2.4L 4-cylinder engine
- Yields 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque
- EPA-estimated 23/30 city/hwy mpg
- 6-speed automatic transmission
- OPTION 2: 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine
- Yields 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque
- EPA-estimated 20/28 city/hwy mpg
- 6-speed automatic transmission
The Conclusion | What Kia Vehicle is Right For You?
When it comes to investing, a vehicle may be on the lower end of the spectrum after housing and business but it does not mean that it should not be taken seriously.
To want a vehicle that is able to act as a day-to-day commuter car as well as a step to help tow is not too much to ask for but it does mean that you will need to make some sacrifices here and there.
There are also many great used Kias on the market today so if any of the newer models are out of your budget, then do not forget to look into their older counterparts. After all, Kia is consistent with their models so you can rest assure that their used models are still great performing vehicles.