Makes · Hyundai · Hyundai Santa Fe
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 1,653 – 3,500 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
9 configurations
9 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe tow?
Across 9 configurations with published ratings, 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe towing capacity ranges from 1,653 lbs to 3,500 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 1,653 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 3,500 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 9 of 9
Highest-rated example: Limited — 3,500 lbs
Lowest-rated example: Limited — 1,653 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,082 lbs |
| Limited | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,102 lbs |
| SE | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,148 lbs |
| SE | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,168 lbs |
| GLS | — | — | — | 3.20 | 1,653 lbs | 1,195 lbs |
| GLS | — | — | — | 3.74 | 1,653 lbs | 1,191 lbs |
| GLS | — | — | — | 3.20 | 1,653 lbs | 1,016 lbs |
| GLS | — | — | — | 3.20 | 1,653 lbs | 862 lbs |
| Limited | — | — | — | 3.20 | 1,653 lbs | 1,245 lbs |
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.20 | 1,653 – 3,500 lbs | 8 |
| 3.74 | 1,653 lbs | 1 |
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 862 – 1,245 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 9
Highest-payload configurations
- Limited — 1,245 lbs
- GLS — 1,195 lbs
- GLS — 1,191 lbs
- SE — 1,168 lbs
- SE — 1,148 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.20 | 1,653 – 3,500 lbs | 2,577 lbs | 8 |
| 3.74 | 1,653 lbs | 1,653 lbs | 1 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Axle ratios: 3.20, 3.74
- Published towing range: 1,653 – 3,500 lbs
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited V6 All-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,120 lbs | 1,082 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| Limited V6 Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 3,968 lbs | 1,102 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| SE All-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,054 lbs | 1,148 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| SE Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 3,902 lbs | 1,168 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| GLS All-wheel Drive | 1,653 lbs | 3,875 lbs | 1,195 lbs | 175 | 169 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| GLS Front-wheel Drive | 1,653 lbs | 3,725 lbs | 1,191 lbs | 175 | 169 | 3.74 | 106.3 |
| GLS V6 All-wheel Drive | 1,653 lbs | 4,054 lbs | 1,016 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| GLS V6 Front-wheel Drive | 1,653 lbs | 4,054 lbs | 862 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| Limited Front-wheel Drive | 1,653 lbs | 3,825 lbs | 1,245 lbs | 175 | 169 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.