How much can the Honda CR-V tow near Hilton Head Island?
A gas Honda CR-V (LX, EX, EX-L) tows up to 1,500 pounds, the same with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and the CR-V Hybrid pulls up to 1,000 pounds. Hilton Head Honda in Bluffton sells both, so a Hilton Head Island buyer can choose by the load they pull.
A jet ski, a bike rack and a small camper weigh very different amounts, and the limit that counts is the one for your trim, model year and drive type. Honda’s own figures set those limits, and South Carolina’s trailer rules apply on top of them.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Bluffton. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
What is the Honda CR-V’s towing limit, gas versus hybrid?
Honda publishes one towing rating for the gas CR-V and a separate rating for the hybrid. Every gas trim is rated at 1,500 pounds, and every hybrid trim carries a 1,000-pound rating for the 2026 model year.
| Powertrain | Trims | Drive | Max towing (lbs), Honda 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | LX, EX, EX-L | Front-wheel or all-wheel | 1,500 |
| Hybrid | Sport, Sport-L, TrailSport, Sport Touring | Sport and Sport-L front or all-wheel; TrailSport and Sport Touring all-wheel | 1,000 |
The rating is the most the CR-V can pull, and the drive type does not change it for gas models. A buyer who plans to tow should start with the powertrain, because it sets the ceiling before any trim choice matters.
Honda CR-V towing capacity by trim, engine and drive type
Hilton Head Honda lists the CR-V and the CR-V Hybrid among its new Honda models. The 2026 lineup starts at $30,920 for the LX (2WD) and reaches $42,550 for the Sport Touring Hybrid (AWD), and every trim in the table carries a published towing rating.
| Trim | Drive | Starting MSRP (USD), Honda 2026 | Max towing (lbs), Honda 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LX | 2WD | $30,920 | 1,500 |
| LX | AWD | $32,420 | 1,500 |
| EX | 2WD | $33,150 | 1,500 |
| EX | AWD | $34,650 | 1,500 |
| EX-L | 2WD | $35,400 | 1,500 |
| EX-L | AWD | $36,900 | 1,500 |
| Sport Hybrid | 2WD | $35,630 | 1,000 |
| Sport Hybrid | AWD | $37,130 | 1,000 |
| Sport-L Hybrid | 2WD | $38,725 | 1,000 |
| Sport-L Hybrid | AWD | $40,225 | 1,000 |
| TrailSport Hybrid | AWD | $38,800 | 1,000 |
| Sport Touring Hybrid | AWD | $42,550 | 1,000 |
The LX is the lowest-priced CR-V trim. Choosing a higher trim does not raise the tow rating within the gas or hybrid group, so the towing decision and the price decision can be made separately.
What can a Honda CR-V tow near Hilton Head Island: jet skis, kayaks, bikes?
A CR-V suits light recreational loads: a bike carrier, a kayak on a small utility trailer, or a single jet ski on its trailer. A jet ski with its trailer weighs about 800 pounds loaded, which sits inside the rating of every CR-V trim (SolutionSphere, 2026).
A jet ski trailer weighs 150 to 500 pounds empty, and a small open utility trailer weighs 200 to 800 pounds empty (AmericanTrucks, 2023). A 4×6 steel utility trailer runs about 400 pounds dry and about 1,100 pounds loaded (SolutionSphere, 2026).
A lightweight teardrop camper is a heavier case. It weighs about 900 pounds dry and 1,250 pounds loaded (SolutionSphere, 2026). That loaded weight is above the hybrid’s 1,000-pound rating and under the gas rating, so the camper decides which powertrain fits.
What equipment does a Honda CR-V need to tow safely?
Pulling a trailer takes a hitch and a wiring kit that carries the trailer’s lights. Ask for the installed price of the hitch and wiring kit.
Honda Genuine Accessories carry a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty when they are installed at the time the vehicle is originally purchased (Honda Genuine Accessories, 2025).
How do you check that your trailer is within the CR-V’s tow rating?
The owner’s manual caps the whole trailer, with everything in or on it, at 1,500 pounds on the gas LX (Honda CR-V Owner’s Manual). Weigh the loaded trailer rather than the empty one, because the cap includes the cargo, the gear and the boat or bikes strapped to it.
The tongue weight, the load the trailer puts on the hitch, should be about 10% of the total trailer weight when the trailer is fully loaded (Honda CR-V Owner’s Manual).
The trailer’s Federal certification and VIN label sits on the forward half of the left side. It shows the trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating, which is the most the fully loaded trailer can weigh (Versatile Trailers).
What South Carolina rules apply when you tow with a CR-V?
South Carolina requires brakes on every motor vehicle, trailer and pole trailer that operates on a state highway (Justia, 2025).
When a vehicle tows another vehicle on a public road, the state requires a safety chain or cable in addition to the hitch connection (Justia, 2025). The chain has to be strong enough to hold the connection under all conditions while the trailer is being pulled.
Only certain campers and trailers that attach to a vehicle must be registered and receive plates (SCDMV). A camper towed by a vehicle carries a $10 registration fee every two years, and property taxes must be paid to the county before a trailer is registered (SCDMV). A boat trailer with an empty weight of 2,500 pounds or more must be registered before it is used on South Carolina roads or out of state (SCDMV).
How much do the Honda Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline tow beyond the CR-V?
The Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline each carry their own published towing rating, and each rates above the CR-V. Hilton Head Honda sells all three, so a buyer with a heavier trailer can compare them without leaving Hilton Head Island.
| Model | Lowest starting MSRP, Honda 2026 | Max towing (lbs), Honda 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| CR-V | $30,920 (LX 2WD) | 1,500 gas, 1,000 hybrid |
| Passport | $44,950 (RTL) | 5,000 on every trim |
| Pilot | $42,395 (Sport 2WD) | 3,500 on 2WD trims, 5,000 on AWD trims |
| Ridgeline | $40,795 (Sport) | 5,000 on every trim |
On the Pilot, the drive type changes the rating: the 2WD trims are rated at 3,500 pounds and the AWD trims at 5,000 pounds.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Honda CR-V’s towing rating compare across recent model years?
The 2025 CR-V carried the same ratings as the 2026 model: 1,500 pounds for the gas LX, EX and EX-L, and 1,000 pounds for the Sport, Sport-L and Sport Touring hybrids (Honda, 2025). The split between gas and hybrid has held across both model years.
How much does towing a trailer cut a CR-V’s fuel economy?
Towing a trailer decreases fuel economy, and EPA testing assumes only 300 pounds of passengers and cargo in the vehicle (fueleconomy.gov). Carrying an extra 100 pounds of unneeded items can cut fuel economy by about 1%, so clear out the cargo area before a trip (U.S. EPA and DOE, 2026).
What service does Honda recommend for a CR-V that tows regularly?
Honda’s maintenance schedule for normal and severe conditions lists towing a trailer as a severe driving condition, alongside a loaded roof rack and mountain driving (Honda). Hilton Head Honda lets you schedule service online through its website.
What does Honda offer to carry bikes or kayaks on a CR-V instead of a trailer?
A kayak attachment for the CR-V requires roof rails and crossbars (DreamShop). Genuine Honda roof crossbars for the 2023 and newer CR-V carry a 165-pound maximum load and are designed to fit with roof rails (PRL Motorsports).
What towing-related features does the Honda CR-V have, such as trailer stability assist?
Hill Start Assist is standard equipment on the CR-V (Honda Canada, 2026). The Tire Pressure Monitoring System is standard on every CR-V trim (Honda Info Center, 2026).
How Hilton Head Honda puts the CR-V, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline under one roof
Hilton Head Honda has a 4.8-star Google rating across 2,799 reviews, and 92 in 100 of them are five-star. A buyer who plans to tow can weigh the CR-V’s 1,500 pounds against the 5,000-pound Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline in the same showroom, so the trailer, not the sales pitch, makes the decision.
In a July 2026 Google review, Deborah C. wrote: “We gladly drove 2hrs from home to Hilton Head Honda to get an amazing deal on our Odyssey!! Jerome and Laren were wonderful and so kind. They were very transparent and honest every step of the way by answering all our questions! I would definitely recommend this team again and again. They even allowed us to bring our giant dog inside to meet everyone and get all the hugs and kisses.”
Hilton Head Honda is where a Hilton Head Island buyer can match the load to the model, from the 1,000-pound hybrid to the 5,000-pound Passport and Ridgeline. Browse new Honda inventory online, value a trade, or apply for financing before you visit.
Hilton Head Honda answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Bluffton showroom, or call (843) 815-2880.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Hilton Head Honda for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
