Hyundai Elantra Towing Capacity: Can It Tow a Camper Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?

Hyundai Elantra is one of Hyundai’s best-selling cars and scores high ratings across various performance benchmarks. But does it also provide decent towing capacity? Can it tow a heavy-duty trailer in the case of an emergency? How well does it perform as compared to its competition? Let’s find out.

Hyundai does not provide official towing stats for the Elantra and recommends its users not to use it for towing purposes. However, the Elantra has been sold in other continents where it has been rated for towing loads up to 2866 pounds braked and 1322 pounds unbraked.

In this article, we’ll figure out if this towing capacity is enough to pull a heavy-duty trailer or you would have to avoid such an expedition. We’ll discuss the weighing limits of several trailer types and compare them against the towing capacity of this car. We’ll then look at its competition and analyze its performance.

Maximum Towing Capacity By Year

The following table highlights the towing capacities of several variants of this car over the years. We can note that there hasn’t been a lot of change in the towing numbers. We also have to specify that these numbers were obtained from other continents. Officially, the North American Elantra isn’t rated for towing. You should not tow with these vehicles or it could cause problems with your car.

However, in Europe and Australia, the car has also been sold (sometimes under the name of the i30 or Lantra). Research through the owner’s manuals of these continents taught us that it’s possible to tow with the car up to a specific limit. Certain models of the Hyundai Sonata and Kona also allow towing, but only within certain limits.

Can It Tow a Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?

The following table mentions the weighing limits of different types of trailers. We have then matched these weight limits against the towing capacity of the Hyundai Elantra. Note that these weights are subject to the loading/filling of these trailers. It is possible that your car may not tow a loaded trailer but may tow an empty one.

Hyundai Elantra has quite an unofficial towing capacity. It can tow a variety of trailers. However, it is not advisable to regularly tow a trailer with this car as it will damage its engine and transmission, and thus, you’ll have to incur additional repair expenses. 

• Kayak: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a kayak trailer. On average, an empty kayak trailer will weigh 200 pounds. A loaded kayak trailer will weigh an average of 400 pounds with a maximum of 800 pounds which is well within the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Jet Ski Trailer: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a jet ski trailer. On average, an empty jet ski trailer will weigh 300 pounds. A loaded jet ski trailer will weigh an average of 1,800 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds.

• Motorcycle Trailer: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a motorcycle trailer. On average, an empty motorcycle trailer will weigh 500 pounds. A loaded motorcycle trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds with a maximum of 3,500.

• Teardrop Trailer: Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a teardrop trailer. On average, an empty teardrop trailer will weigh 1,700 pounds. A loaded teardrop trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds. Some teardrop trailers will weigh a maximum of 6,000 pounds which is also outside of the limits of the  Hyundai Elantra.

• Small Open Utility Trailer: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a small open utility trailer. On average, an empty small open utility trailer will weigh 700 pounds. A loaded small open utility trailer will weigh an average of 2,500 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds.

• A-Frame Camper: Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an a-frame camper. On average, an empty a-frame camper weighs 1,700 pounds. A loaded a-frame camper will weigh an average of 2,900 pounds with a maximum of 3,600 pounds.

• Small Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an empty small enclosed utility trailer. On average, an empty small enclosed utility trailer weighs 1,000 pounds. A loaded small enclosed utility trailer will weigh an average of 3,200 pounds with a maximum of 7,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Fishing Boat Trailer: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an empty fishing boat trailer. On average, an empty fishing boat trailer weighs 600 pounds. A loaded fishing boat trailer will weigh an average of 3,300 pounds with a maximum of 6,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Pop-Up Camper: No Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a pop-up camper. On average, an empty pop-up camper weighs 2,300 pounds. A loaded pop-up camper will weigh an average of 3,400 pounds with a maximum of 4,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Small Travel Trailer: Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an empty small travel trailer. On average, an empty small travel trailer weighs 2,800 pounds. A loaded small travel trailer will weigh an average of 3,600 pounds with a maximum of 4,500 pounds, outside of the range of the  Hyundai Elantra.

• Tow Dolly: All Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an empty tow dolly. On average, an empty tow dolly weighs 600 pounds. A loaded tow dolly will weigh an average of 4,000 pounds with a maximum of 5,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Large Enclosed Utility Trailer: Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an empty large enclosed utility trailer. On average, an empty large enclosed utility trailer weighs 2,700 pounds. A loaded large enclosed utility trailer weighs an average of 7,100 pounds with a maximum of 10,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Small Horse Trailer: No Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow a small horse trailer. On average, an empty small horse trailer weighs 2,900 pounds. A loaded small horse trailer weighs an average of 7,200 pounds with a maximum of 8,000 pounds, outside of the range of the  Hyundai Elantra.

• Car Trailer: Hyundai Elantra models will be able to tow an empty car trailer. On average, an empty car trailer weighs 1,900 pounds. A loaded car trailer weighs an average of 9,000 pounds with a maximum of 15,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra

• Large Flatbed Trailer: No Hyundai Elantra model will be able to tow a large flatbed trailer. On average, an empty large flatbed trailer weighs 3,000 pounds. A loaded large flatbed trailer weighs an average of 10,400 pounds with a maximum of 26,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

• Large Boat Trailer: Hyundai Elantra model will be able to tow an empty large boat trailer. On average, an empty large boat trailer weighs 2,200 pounds. A loaded large boat trailer weighs an average of 13,600 pounds with a maximum of 34,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Hyundai Elantra.

Can You Install A Hitch On A Hyundai Elantra?

From the factory, Hyundai Elantra do not come with a trailer hitch. However, you can install an aftermarket class 1 hitch on your Accord. Class 1 hitches are rated for a maximum towing weight of 2,000 pounds and a maximum tongue weight of 200 pounds.

Therefore, they can carry more than what’s advised for the Honda Accord. Expect to pay around $150 – $200 for a class 1 hitch. But, keep in mind that just because you can install it, doesn’t mean it is a good idea. Be sure your car is recommended for towing by the manufacturer to avoid costly damage or excess wear and tear on your vehicle.

How Well Can It Tow Compared to its Competitors?

The following table highlights the towing performance of various compact sedans that compete with the Hyundai Elantra. We can note that this car is as good as some of its rivals for heavy-duty towing.  For instance, the 2021 Honda Civic provides a towing capacity of 2,645 pounds which is almost equal to the towing capacity of the Hyundai Elantra.

Closing Thoughts

In this article, we explored the towing capacity of the Hyundai Elantra, a vehicle that hasn’t been officially rated for towing and you could end up with more issues if you you’re pushing the towing limits.

Despite this, we found instances where it has been rated to tow considerable weights in other parts of the world. We delved into the specifics of its towing abilities, examining how it stacks up against different trailer types and its competition. While it may be possible to use your Elantra for towing, it’s essential to proceed with caution and be aware of the limits to avoid any safety concerns. Be sure to weigh your options carefully before deciding on using your Elantra for towing.

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

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