There are a lot of things that are handled in a similar manner. For example: Carrying stuff in the back of a pickup. You can be well within the weight limits of your truck and be completely legal. However, you might not have your items secured properly, and they can fall out and cause an accident. You could be held legally responsible for such an event. In most states, towing seems to be handled the same way. As long as your trailer has proper lighting, brakes, etc. based onthe weight and size... then you are okay. IF something were to go wrong, then you could be (and should be) held legally responsible.
Towing limits in this country (up to now) are usually NOT based on any standardized testing. It looks like this is about to change, though. However, in many European countries, it is mandatory that car companies TEST their cars and issue a tow rating. Ironically, many of these tests are performed here in the USA! Yep, car companies like to take advantage of the varied weather and terrain here in the US, and many states make it easy for them to do vehicle testing here. I have seen towing tests that Volvo performs in Arizona.
There is no magical difference between the towing ability of cars in Europe vs. America. The physics do not change. There are little if any differences in the drive train and suspensions in most cases. And in the cases where there are differences, it is usually that there are
smaller engines in the European models. My Outback is rated to tow 2,700 pounds in the US, but is rated to tow 4,000 pounds in the UK... with the SAME engine and transmission. My previous car had a 1,700 pound tow rating in the UK and ZERO tow rating in the US, even though the car had a bigger engine here. Before that, I had a VW with a 1,200 pound tow rating here and a 3,000 pound rating in Europe.
An important thing to realize is that the MANUFACTURER of the vehicle is doing the testing and applying the rating. Here in the US, the
importer is lowering or completely dropping the rating...
NOT the manufacturer.
