Towing in 2017 Volkswagen cars and SUVs

How much can 2017 VW models tow?

If there’s one thing Volkswagen is known for, it’s probably not towing. This isn’t because VW doesn’t design capable models, but rather that the automaker has been putting its focus on cars and smaller crossovers, rather than your fuel-guzzling 4×4 trucks and full-size SUVs. Still, if you suddenly find yourself in a pinch with your 2017 VW model, you’ll likely wonder how much you can tow. Obviously, you’ll find more hope with SUV options than smaller models, but it’s something to consider.

Can I tow with my 2017 Volkswagen Jetta?

In America, we love the idea of towing things. Whether it’s taking to boat to the lake, or simply tugging along a smaller U-Haul when moving, we don’t want to be held back by our vehicles. For this reason, it’s hard for us to tell you not to hook a trailer up to your 2017 VW Jetta, but it’s not recommended by the manufacturer. One reason compact cars aren’t recommended for towing is because you really don’t want to tow something heavier than your vehicle. Need to swerve suddenly? Well your car is suddenly going to get tugged back with your trailer. The curb weight of your VW Jetta is going to come in at 2,939 pounds, which is not difficult to exceed.

Read More: Standard features for the 2017 VW Jetta

Technically speaking, you could tow with some of these models, but it is not recommended and may void your warranty, cause increased service visits and overall could be dangerous. That said, the below chart shows the maximum towing capacities for 2017 VW models.

As you can see, most vehicles in the lineup remain compact and are not recommended for towing. If you insist on risking it, we’d recommend you go no more than half the weight of your unloaded vehicle, but you do risk harming your car and causing an accident, for4 either of which you would be held liable. Instead, it would be easier to rent a truck for the day and leave your car for the things it was meant to do.

Also note, Volkswagen has announced the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, a larger three-row SUV set for release in spring of next year. There’s no information yet on its towing capability, but it will be larger than the Touareg and has the same available V6.

Interested in knowing more about VW capability? Stay tuned here at the Compass VW Blog for more on all things Volkswagen.