If there is one thing that gets an Aussie’s blood pumping more than a cold beer on a Friday arvo, it’s the debate over what’s hitched to the back of the car. Whether it’s a three-tonne caravan heading for the Ningaloo Reef or a weekend boat for a run out to the Seaway, the “Tow Rating” is the holy grail of Australian motoring.

For years, the skeptics have sat at the boat ramp, arms folded, watching the electric revolution with a smirk. “Yeah, she’s quick off the lights,” they’d say, “but can it pull a real load without dying halfway to Dubbo?”

Well, it’s January 2026, and the smirk is starting to fade. The new fleet has arrived, and the numbers are finally matching the ambition. Today at EV Evolution, we’re putting the three biggest names in the 2026 towing conversation—the Porsche Cayenne Electric, the Toyota HiLux BEV, and the BYD Shark 6—into a virtual head-to-head.

Is 2026 the year we finally stop asking if an EV can tow, and start asking which one does it better?

The Luxury Heavyweight: Porsche Cayenne Electric

Let’s start with the “Eye-Popping Stat” that has everyone talking. The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric has officially landed on Aussie shores, and it isn’t just a status symbol—it’s a beast.

Porsche knew that if they wanted to win over the Australian market, they couldn’t just offer a fast SUV; they needed a workhorse. When fitted with the Off-Road Pack, the Cayenne Electric boasts a 3,500kg braked towing capacity.

• The Tech: It uses an 800-volt architecture and a massive 108kWh battery.
• The Experience: Because the electric motors provide 100% of their torque from 0 RPM, pulling a heavy load off a slippery boat ramp is arguably smoother in the Cayenne than in any diesel V8. There’s no “hunting” for gears or turbo lag—just relentless, silent pull.
• The Catch: You need that specific Off-Road Pack (which adds underbody protection and a different bumper) to hit the 3.5t mark. Without it, you’re limited to 3,000kg—still plenty, but in the world of best EVs for towing in Australia, every kilo counts.

The Reality Check: Toyota HiLux BEV

Now, let’s talk about the legend. For decades, the HiLux has been the backbone of Aussie trades and weekend warriors. So, when the Toyota HiLux BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) was confirmed for an early 2026 release, expectations were through the roof.

However, we need to be intellectually honest here: the first-gen HiLux BEV is a different beast than its diesel brother.

• Towing Capacity: Early data shows the HiLux BEV is rated for approximately 1,600kg braked towing.
• The Mission: Toyota has been clear that this isn’t a “Grey Nomad” special designed to pull a 22-foot caravan across the Nullarbor. It’s an urban workhorse. With a 240km WLTP range and a roughly 60kWh battery, this ute is built for the “inner-city tradie” or fleet owners who need a zero-emission tool for the job site.

If you’re looking for the electric ute towing capacity to replace your 3.5t diesel HiLux for long-haul trips, the 2026 BEV model isn’t there yet. But for the plumber moving a small trailer of tools around Melbourne or Sydney, it’s a game-changer.

The Middle Ground: BYD Shark 6

If the Porsche is the “Dream” and the HiLux is the “Workmate,” then the BYD Shark 6 is the “Disruptor.”

As we enter 2026, BYD has just updated the Shark 6 with a more potent 2.0-litre hybrid engine and beefed-up electric motors. This update was a direct response to Aussie feedback. While the early models were capped at 2,500kg, the 2026 Shark 6 is aiming squarely for the 3,500kg towing benchmark.

• PHEV Advantage: Because it’s a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), it solves the “Range Anxiety” that comes with towing a caravan with an EV. You can do your daily commute on pure electricity, but when you hook up the 3-tonne van for a trip to the coast, the petrol engine kicks in to support the battery.
• Torque on Demand: With a combined output often exceeding 320kW, it has more “grunt” on paper than many high-end diesel utes.

The Torque Advantage: Why Towing with an EV is Just… Better

At EV Evolution, we’ve spent a lot of time behind the wheel of these new 2026 models. Beyond the raw numbers, there’s a “feeling” to towing with an electric powertrain that diesel can’t match.

1. Regenerative Braking: When you’re coming down a steep range (like the Clyde Mountain in NSW), the electric motor actually uses the weight of the trailer to charge your battery. It saves your brakes from overheating and gives you incredible control.
2. Stability: EVs are heavy. A Cayenne Electric or a Shark 6 has a very low center of gravity because of the battery placement. This makes the whole rig feel much more “planted” on the road, reducing that annoying “tail wagging the dog” feeling when a truck passes you.
3. Low-Speed Control: Backing a trailer into a tight spot is a dream when you have millimetre-perfect throttle control without a vibrating diesel engine or a slipping clutch.

The “Fifty Percent” Rule: Range and Infrastructure

We won’t sugarcoat it: towing kills your range. Whether you’re burning diesel or electrons, pulling a giant square box (a caravan) through the air at 100km/h requires massive energy.

In 2026, the rule of thumb is still: Expect to lose 45-50% of your solo range when towing a heavy load.

If your EV gets 500km normally, it’ll get 250km with a big van on the back.

The Good News for 2026:

The Australian charging network has finally caught on. We are seeing more “pull-through” charging bays at NRMA and Chargefox stations—meaning you don’t have to unhitch your trailer just to get a 20-minute top-up.

Summary: Which One Wins?

The “Best EV for towing in Australia” depends entirely on your lifestyle:

• The Luxury Nomad: Go the Porsche Cayenne Electric. It’s the only pure BEV that currently matches the 3.5t diesel standard with world-class tech.
• The Local Tradie: The Toyota HiLux BEV is your zero-emission tool, perfect for tool trailers and urban runs.
• The Long-Hauler: The BYD Shark 6 (PHEV) remains the king of versatility for those who want to tow heavy and far without stopping every two hours.

🤖 Ask Our AI: Your Towing Expert

Buying a car for towing is a high-stakes game. You need to know GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass), GCM (Gross Combination Mass), and exactly how much range you’ll have left when you hit the highway.

Start a conversation with the EV Evolution AI chatbot! Our AI is loaded with the verified 2026 towing specs for every EV and PHEV on the Australian market.

Ask our AI chatbot anything about towing, such as:

• “Which EV can tow my 2-tonne boat to the ramp and back?”
• “What is the real-world range of a Porsche Cayenne Electric when pulling 3,000kg?”
• “Can the BYD Shark 6 handle a 3.5-tonne caravan on a 10% incline?”
• “Which charging stations between Sydney and Brisbane have pull-through bays for trailers?”

Click the chat icon to get your towing questions answered instantly. Let’s get you—and your gear—on the road.

About EV Evolution

EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.