Posted on May 5, 2025
For families across Canada, the SUV has become more than just a mode of transportation—it’s the gateway to creating lasting memories. Whether you’re towing a camper for weekend getaways, hauling boats for lakeside adventures, or bringing along bikes and gear for outdoor excursions, having the right vehicle with proper hauling capability transforms family possibilities.
2025 White Kia Sportage
Kia has developed its SUV lineup with family adventures in mind, offering vehicles that combine substantial towing capacities with the space, safety features, and comfort that parents and children need. From the three-row Telluride to the efficient hybrid options, these SUVs deliver hauling capabilities ranging from 750 kg to 2,495 kg while ensuring everyone travels in comfort and style.
The thoughtful engineering behind these vehicles creates impressive towing numbers and a confident, stable experience that keeps precious cargo safe across varied Canadian driving conditions, from city highways to remote camping destinations. Let’s explore the best options in the Kia lineup for families who need serious capability for their next adventure.
The flagship Telluride X-Pro leads the Kia family haulers with an impressive 2,495 kg maximum capacity—enough for family-sized campers, boats, and adventure gear. This three-row SUV combines this capability with seating up to eight, creating the perfect adventure vehicle for extended families or those travelling with friends.
Powered by a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 GDI engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a refined 8-speed automatic transmission, the Telluride delivers the smooth, confident power families need when towing heavy loads. The X-Pro trim enhances this foundation with 18-inch black alloy wheels fitted with all-terrain tires and a specialized tow mode that optimizes power delivery and transmission behaviour.
Parents will appreciate the advanced safety features that function seamlessly even when towing, including the trailer stability assist that helps prevent dangerous trailer sway before it becomes a problem, keeping precious family cargo secure on every adventure.
The all-electric EV9 in Long Range AWD configuration proves that family adventures don’t require compromise or emissions, offering a remarkable 2,267 kg capacity with zero tailpipe emissions. This seven-seater electric SUV powers family journeys with dual electric motors generating a combined 379 horsepower and an impressive 516 lb-ft of near-instantaneous torque.
For families transitioning to electric vehicles, the EV9 demonstrates that going green doesn’t mean leaving the camper behind. The instant torque delivery characteristic of electric motors provides exceptionally smooth towing performance, particularly reassuring when travelling with children who appreciate steady, predictable vehicle movement.
The spacious interior of the EV9 provides three rows of comfortable seating with easy access to car seats and booster seats, making it ideal for growing families who need space for children and their accompanying gear.
The Sorento X-Pro delivers an impressive 2,041 kg of capacity in a slightly more compact package, perfect for smaller families or those navigating urban environments. Powered by a 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder GDI engine generating 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, the Sorento X-Pro enables family adventures without requiring an oversized vehicle.
With three rows of seating for up to seven passengers, the Sorento maintains family-friendly dimensions while delivering serious towing capability, perfect for parents who want adventure-ready performance without the footprint of a larger SUV. The X-Pro 8-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic transmission can handle substantial loads while maintaining responsive performance, which is important when merging onto highways with precious cargo aboard.
All three of these family adventure leaders come standard with trailer stability assist systems, integrated trailer pre-wiring for simplified hookups, and all-wheel drive systems that optimize traction across varied surfaces, delivering peace of mind for parents transporting their most valuable possessions.
The Sorento X-Line delivers a substantial 1,588 kg capacity while maintaining the three-row flexibility growing families need. This makes it perfect for pulling smaller family campers, personal watercraft for lake days, or utility trailers loaded with bikes and outdoor gear.
The same potent 2.5L turbocharged engine found in the X-Pro model powers the X-Line, but with a suspension calibration focused on balancing on-road comfort with towing performance—a combination parents will appreciate during longer family road trips when comfort keeps backseat complaints to a minimum.
Standard Telluride models deliver exceptional family-hauling credentials with a 2,267 kg capacity across all non-X-Pro trims. This consistent capability throughout the lineup means parents can select their preferred comfort and technology features without sacrificing towing performance.
The standard Telluride combines family practicality with premium features, offering the same powerful 3.8L V6 GDI engine as the X-Pro but with wheel and tire combinations optimized for everyday comfort and efficiency. This makes it an excellent choice for families who need serious hauling capability without compromising on daily driving refinement during school runs and commutes.
The spacious interior of the Telluride, with available second-row captain’s chairs, creates a premium travel experience for children and adults alike, maintaining comfort even on longer journeys to distant camping destinations.
For smaller families transitioning to electric vehicles, the EV6 electric crossover offers a respectable 1,225 kg maximum towing capacity in its Land AWD configuration, perfect for lightweight campers or trailers filled with family adventure gear. The dual electric motors in the EV6 deliver a combined 320 kW of power and 446 lb-ft of torque for confident family journeys.
What makes the EV6 particularly suited to family hauling duties is its 800V electrical architecture, enabling ultra-fast charging that regains up to 80% battery capacity in just 20 minutes at compatible 350kW stations. This quick recharging ability is especially valuable for families on road trips, minimizing stops while towing, and naturally increasing energy consumption.
The sleek, sporty appearance of the EV6 belies its practical family capabilities, including ample cargo space for strollers, sports equipment, and the inevitable accumulation of family gear.
The Sportage offers up to 1,134 kg of towing capacity in a compact, family-friendly package with its 2.5L 4-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, the Sportage provides a balanced approach to family utility in an easy-to-park size.
Perfect for young families with lighter hauling needs, the Sportage can easily handle small utility trailers loaded with camping gear, bicycles, or kayaks—opening up weekend adventure possibilities without requiring a larger vehicle. The available X-Line trim enhances its off-road capability with design elements complementing its family adventure functionality.
All these mid-range options include thoughtful features designed with family safety in mind. The available surround view monitor system provides clear visibility around the vehicle and trailer during low-speed maneuvers, particularly valuable when children may be nearby during campsite setup or boat launches.
On higher trim levels, the blind spot monitoring systems are calibrated to account for the additional length when towing, providing extra confidence for parents navigating busy highways with family in tow. The drive mode selectors include specialized terrain modes on AWD models, optimizing vehicle behaviour for confident hauling across varied driving conditions families might encounter on their adventures.
The electrified Kia SUV lineup brings a fresh perspective to family adventures by combining capable towing power with exceptional efficiency, helping parents maximize adventure budgets by minimizing fuel costs. The Sportage HEV and PHEV models offer a 907 kg towing capacity for small family campers or gear trailers.
Powered by a hybrid system featuring a 1.6L turbocharged engine paired with electric motors, the hybrid version generates a combined 227 horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid produces 261 horsepower. Both deliver 258 lb-ft of torque—ideal for pulling family adventure gear while maintaining impressive fuel economy that stretches family vacation budgets.
The three-row Sorento HEV continues the efficient family adventure approach with a 1.6L Turbo HEV powertrain that combines a gasoline engine with a permanent magnet synchronous motor. This system produces 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, delivered through a 6-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.
With a capacity between 750 and 907 kg and seating for up to seven, the Sorento HEV balances family utility with efficiency, achieving an impressive 7.0/6.9 L/100km city/highway fuel consumption rating even when equipped for hauling, making it perfect for families who want to maximize their adventure radius.
The Sorento PHEV takes the electrified family adventure concept further with its plug-in hybrid system. Generating 261 combined horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, this model can tow between 750 and 907 kg while offering an all-electric range of up to 48 kilometers.
This dual-capability allows families to handle daily school runs and commutes with zero emissions, then seamlessly transition to hybrid operation for weekend towing adventures without range anxiety. With three rows of seating, the Sorento PHEV accommodates growing families while providing the versatility parents need for both everyday life and special adventures.
The electrified models offer unique advantages for family adventures. Their instant torque delivery provides confident pulling power from a standstill, often the most challenging part of towing, especially with impatient young passengers. The regenerative braking systems also offer an advantage when hauling downhill, helping to control speed while simultaneously recharging the battery system, creating smoother, more controlled descents that keep everyone comfortable.
When towing with the plug-in hybrid models, families can travel up to 55 kilometres in all-electric mode for daily driving, then seamlessly transition to hybrid operation for longer journeys. This dual-nature capability means these vehicles serve as both zero-emission school run vehicles and weekend adventure enablers with minimal compromise.
The sophisticated power management systems in these electrified models continuously optimize between gasoline and electric power sources to maintain stable, consistent performance regardless of load, creating the predictable, drama-free driving experience families prefer.
For families considering a Kia SUV, the towing experience extends beyond raw capacity numbers to include thoughtfully designed features that make family adventures simpler and safer. From the integrated trailer pre-wiring that simplifies electrical connections to the advanced driver assistance systems calibrated to function effectively with trailers attached, these vehicles reflect a comprehensive approach to family adventure functionality.
By matching the right model to specific family needs, parents can find the ideal balance of capability, efficiency, technology, and seating capacity for their unique requirements:
The diversity within the Kia SUV lineup ensures that virtually any family towing requirement can be met, whether it’s hauling a substantial family camper with the Telluride X-Pro, towing a boat for family water adventures with the zero-emission EV9, or pulling a small utility trailer while maximizing fuel efficiency with one of the hybrid models.
The engineering focus on creating stable, confident towing experiences through purpose-built features like trailer stability assist, specialized drive modes, and optimized suspensions means these vehicles deliver on their promised capabilities without compromising the safety and comfort families prioritize.
These SUVs transform from everyday family transportation to weekend adventure enablers with ease, maintaining the safety, comfort, and convenience features parents rely on while adding the capability to bring along the equipment that creates lasting family memories.
The Kia SUV lineup demonstrates how modern family vehicles can serve multiple roles—efficient daily transportation, comfortable road trip companions, and capable towing platforms that expand family adventure possibilities. Whether your family needs to tow occasionally or regularly, there’s a Kia SUV engineered to safely transport your most precious cargo while bringing along the gear that makes family adventures possible.
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Categories: Kia