The Ultimate Off-Road Mid-Size Truck Showdown: 2025 Edition
As an automotive expert with over a decade immersed in the grit and glory of off-road culture,
I’ve witnessed the mid-size pickup segment explode. What was once a utilitarian niche has transformed into a battleground for cutting-edge engineering, sophisticated suspension, and hardcore capability. For 2025, the competition among premium off-road mid-size trucks has never been fiercer, with each contender vying for the title of the best off-road pickup truck for enthusiasts who demand the absolute most from their rig. This isn’t just about tires and ground clearance anymore; it’s about integrated technology, driving dynamics, and how these specialized machines blend their extreme capabilities with everyday usability.
Our mission for the 2025 Mid-Size Off-Road Truck Challenge was clear: push these purpose-built machines to their limits across the toughest terrains and scrutinize their road manners. We gathered the crème de la crème of the segment – the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor, the 2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X, and the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro – at Michigan’s renowned Holly Oaks ORV Park. This isn’t a theoretical exercise; it’s a real-world crucible designed to mimic the diverse challenges facing any serious off-road adventure vehicle owner. We subjected each truck to grueling tests: high-speed desert-style runs, technical rock crawls, steep hill ascents, and controlled hill descents. But because even the most dedicated off-roader spends more time on pavement than trail, we meticulously evaluated their on-road composure, comfort, and performance. My team of veteran road test editors and I dove deep, uncovering insights that only years of experience can reveal, particularly for those eyeing a high-performance off-road truck or seeking advanced 4×4 capability.
After countless miles and hours spent navigating treacherous obstacles, the scores are tallied. This isn’t just a numerical ranking; it’s a testament to engineering philosophies and targeted performance. Our comprehensive evaluation, which heavily weighted off-road prowess (triple the points of on-road), crowned a definitive champion. Here’s how the top mid-size off-road trucks for 2025 stacked up:
2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X
Let’s break down each competitor, offering a candid look at where they excel and where they might leave discerning buyers wanting more. This detailed midsize truck off-road comparison is your definitive guide to making an informed choice for your next off-road vehicle purchase.
2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X: The Desert-Rated Contradiction
As-Tested Price: $66,905
Powertrain: 285-hp, 3.6L V-6; 8-speed automatic
Ground Clearance: 11.6 inches
Angles (Approach/Departure/Breakover): 44.7 / 25.5 / 20.9 degrees
Jeep positions the Gladiator Mojave X as its “Desert Rated” specialist, a direct challenge to the high-speed aspirations of trucks like the Ranger Raptor. Equipped with Fox internal bypass shocks, a 1-inch front lift, a locking rear axle, and 33-inch all-terrain tires, it certainly looks the part. However, my time behind the wheel confirmed a long-held suspicion: the Gladiator, at its core, remains a purpose-built crawler. While it boasts an impressive approach angle — best in our test — allowing it to tackle vertical obstacles with minimal fuss, its Achilles’ heel is its notoriously long wheelbase. This translates to the worst breakover angle in the group, meaning its undercarriage often scrapes and bumps where others clear with ease, a significant drawback for aggressive trail use.
On the technical low-speed terrain, the Mojave X shines. In 4-Low, its naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 delivers predictable, easily controllable throttle response, allowing for precise placement over rocks and ledges. This “analog” feel, with plenty of physical controls for essential functions like climate and audio, is a welcome throwback, appealing to experienced drivers who prefer direct interaction over screen-based menus. The interior quality, too, stands out with rugged, high-quality materials that embody the Jeep ethos. Visibility during hill climbs was exceptional, aided by a low hood and an excellent forward camera view, instilling confidence when cresting blind inclines.
However, the Mojave X struggles significantly when pushed beyond its comfort zone. Its Selec-Speed Control, intended for controlled descents, proved frustratingly inconsistent, often bringing the truck to an abrupt halt rather than maintaining a smooth crawl. More glaringly, its solid front axle and vague, numb steering make it a handful on high-speed off-road courses. It simply lacks the agility and composed handling required for rapid desert navigation. On pavement, this vagueness persists, demanding constant steering corrections, making highway travel more of a chore. The front seats, while adequately bolstered, are overly firm, and the rear seat space is notably cramped, undermining overall occupant comfort. Furthermore, the Pentastar V-6, while reliable, feels underpowered for a truck of this size and capability, especially when trying to maintain highway speeds or execute passing maneuvers. For those seeking Jeep Gladiator performance upgrades, the engine is often a primary target.
The Gladiator Mojave X is a niche player. It’s a fantastic slow-speed off-road truck for drivers who value a traditional, tactile experience and excel at navigating tight, technical trails. But if your vision of off-road adventure involves significant high-speed desert running or long highway hauls, its inherent design limitations become pronounced. It’s a testament to Jeep’s heritage, but perhaps less a glimpse into the future of high-performance mid-size pickups.
2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: Hybrid Power, Mixed Results
As-Tested Price: $66,410
Powertrain: Turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid (326 hp total); 8-speed automatic
Ground Clearance: 11.5 inches
Angles (Approach/Departure/Breakover): 35.7 / 25.3 / 27.4 degrees
Toyota’s redesigned Tacoma, especially the TRD Pro trim with its all-new gas-electric hybrid powertrain, arrived with immense anticipation. This aggressive iteration boasts Fox shocks, 33-inch tires, and the much-hyped IsoDynamic front seats, designed to minimize body motions during extreme driving. On our high-speed off-road course, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro proved its mettle, showcasing excellent stability and control, second only to the Ranger Raptor. This is undoubtedly the “go-fast” variant of the Toyota Tacoma lineup, making exhilarating sounds that evoked a sense of a dirt muscle car. The IsoDynamic seats, too, earned praise for effectively holding drivers in place during demanding maneuvers.
On the road, the hybrid powertrain truly impressed. The immediate torque delivery from the electric motor, combined with the turbocharged engine, provides brisk acceleration and responsive power, making it genuinely fun to drive on pavement. Its camera system also stood out as perhaps the best in the test, offering clear, expansive views crucial for precise rock crawling and cresting hills. For buyers seeking fuel-efficient off-road trucks without sacrificing power, the hybrid Tacoma presents a compelling case.
However, the Tacoma TRD Pro is not without its significant drawbacks, particularly when the going gets slow and technical. The accelerator pedal proved bizarrely jumpy in 4-Low and Rock modes, making smooth modulation exceptionally difficult. This required a frustrating two-foot driving method for precise obstacle navigation. Compounding this, the TRD Pro’s tires lacked the consistent traction of its rivals, noticeably struggling for grip during our arduous hill climb.
Beyond off-road specific issues, the interior quality was a consistent point of contention. For a truck commanding this price, the abundance of hard, cheap-feeling plastic panels was disappointing. There were even alarming instances of hood shake at highway speeds, which undermine the perception of robust build quality. The massive multimedia screen, while visually impressive, feels disconnected from the truck’s core systems, which are inconveniently controlled by fussy gauge cluster menus and steering wheel buttons. Navigating these digital menus to adjust settings was a constant source of frustration, further exacerbated by “eyechart” small off-road readouts. The IsoDynamic seats, while functional, come at a cost: they severely compromise rear seat space, rendering the backseat nearly unusable for adults on anything but the shortest trips. This is a crucial consideration for those needing a versatile family off-road vehicle.
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a bold step forward in terms of powertrain technology and high-speed performance. It offers a glimpse into the future of hybrid off-road trucks. Yet, its ergonomic shortcomings, interior quality, and low-speed off-road manners suggest that while Toyota has made significant strides, there are still areas where this highly anticipated new model needs refinement to fully justify its premium off-road truck price.
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor: The Desert Demon’s Daily Drive
As-Tested Price: $60,730 (2025 model-year equivalent pricing)
Powertrain: 405-hp, twin-turbo 3.0L V-6; 10-speed automatic
Ground Clearance: 10.7 inches
Angles (Approach/Departure/Breakover): 33.0 / 26.4 / 24.2 degrees
The Ford Ranger Raptor made its U.S. debut for the 2024 model year, bringing the acclaimed “Raptor” philosophy – high-speed desert running – to the mid-size segment. With its wide-track suspension, Watts-link rear setup, Fox Live Valve shocks, locking front and rear axles, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and seven drive modes (including Baja), this truck is engineered for velocity over harsh terrain. And it delivered. The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor dominated our high-speed off-road course with unparalleled comfort and composure. Its steering and handling are superb in this environment, making it incredibly easy to control through sweeping corners and undulating terrain, even when carrying significant speed. It was the only truck in our test that landed jumps without issue, allowing for seamless transitions into subsequent corners – a true testament to its advanced suspension system.
The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 powertrain is a revelation. Whether on-road or off, its 405 horsepower and ample torque are linear, predictable, and immediately responsive. During the hill climb, the Raptor delivered precisely the punch needed to crest the summit. On pavement, this translates to confident passing power and an engaging driving experience. Remarkably, the Ranger Raptor also emerged as our editors’ top pick for on-road driving, boasting segment-leading ride comfort. In its Normal setting, the Fox suspension effortlessly smooths out road imperfections, providing a level of feedback and control that the other trucks simply couldn’t match. Even in Sport mode, performance sharpens noticeably without sacrificing too much comfort. The front seats, a rarity for Ford in my experience, were exceptionally comfortable, providing excellent support for longer drives. Its hill descent system also functioned flawlessly, easing the truck down inclines with smooth, controlled precision. This combination of Ford Ranger Raptor performance and surprising on-road refinement makes it a compelling choice for a daily driver that can truly tackle the wilderness.
However, the Ranger Raptor isn’t perfect. Its massive side steps, while aesthetically aggressive, are utterly useless for ingress/egress and proved to be a liability on rock obstacles, getting torn up easily. The portrait-oriented 12-inch touchscreen, while large, offered a smaller viewing area for external cameras compared to the horizontal setups of its rivals, making precise off-road maneuvering slightly more challenging. The transmission gear selector also proved unintuitive, with editors frequently fumbling to engage the correct gears quickly. While the front seats are comfortable, they lack sufficient lateral bolstering in the bottom cushion for truly aggressive off-road driving, despite the well-bolstered backrest. And with the lowest ground clearance in the test, it’s not quite the rock-crawling specialist some buyers might expect.
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor truly lives up to its name, offering a thrilling blend of high-speed off-road capabilities and surprising on-road refinement. For those prioritizing blistering desert performance and a comfortable daily commute, this mid-size Ford truck sets a high bar. It’s a showcase of Ford’s advanced off-road technology and a formidable competitor in the performance truck segment.
2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison: The Unstoppable Trail King
As-Tested Price: $64,915
Powertrain: 310-hp, turbo 2.7L four-cylinder; 8-speed automatic
Ground Clearance: 12.2 inches (Best in Test)
Angles (Approach/Departure/Breakover): 38.2 / 26 / 26.9 degrees
Emerging as the undisputed champion of our 2025 Mid-Size Off-Road Truck Challenge, the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison is simply a monster. Co-developed with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), this truck arrived equipped with colossal 35-inch mud-terrain tires, towering 12.2 inches of ground clearance (the best in our test), Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) shocks, locking front and rear axles, and robust boron-steel skid plates and rocker protection. This combination instantly established it as the dominant force in our slow-speed off-road tests, decisively winning our rock crawl, hill climb, and hill descent evaluations. For enthusiasts seeking the ultimate trail performance, the Bison delivers in spades.
During rock crawling, the advantages of those 35-inch tires became immediately apparent. They effortlessly smoothed out steps and large rocks, providing exceptional damping and adding to the truck’s already impressive ride height. Traction was supreme, allowing the Bison to ease over hilltops with remarkable confidence. Its extra ground clearance, combined with the second-best breakover angle in the test, enabled it to crest hills with ample room to spare. Chevy’s off-road tech usability is also a highlight. Engaging various off-road modes and activating systems is intuitive, thanks to simplified controls and a large, horizontal display with outstanding graphics. The overall user interface, a thoughtful blend of touchscreen controls for less frequent functions and physical buttons for climate and audio, struck the perfect balance. This thoughtful design, along with a bright, vivid customizable digital instrument panel and the responsive Google Built-In infotainment system (with seamless Apple CarPlay), led to the Colorado scoring highest in screen and control usability. The underbody cameras, too, were invaluable, making precise wheel placement far easier – a crucial detail for technical off-road driving.
While the ZR2 Bison shines brightest when navigating extreme terrain, its sheer capabilities come with some inherent compromises. Those massive 35-inch tires, while invaluable off-road, contribute to a bouncier, floatier, and less precise ride on pavement compared to the Tacoma or Ranger. Handling suffers from vagueness and slower responses, and traction on asphalt felt somewhat lacking. On our higher-speed off-road course, the Bison struggled somewhat. Its higher center of gravity, coupled with those aggressive tires, limited confidence and pace, making it the only off-road test it didn’t outright win. This isn’t a desert racer in the same vein as the Ranger Raptor. Another practical consideration is the truck’s height; the 35-inch tires necessitate a significant climb into the cabin, even for taller drivers. The absence of a driver’s-side grab handle was a missed opportunity. Perhaps the most glaring on-road flaw is the lack of a rearview camera mirror. The bed-mounted full-size spare tire severely obstructs rear visibility, making highway driving less safe and more stressful. This is a crucial area for Chevrolet Colorado accessories or factory improvements.
Despite these on-road quirks, the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison stands as the reigning champion for serious off-road enthusiasts. Its unparalleled ground clearance, robust protection, and sophisticated Multimatic suspension make it a true force of nature on the trails. If your primary objective is to conquer the toughest terrain and you’re willing to accept some minor daily driving trade-offs, the ZR2 Bison is the clear choice for a heavy-duty off-road truck and the benchmark for 2025 off-road capability.
Market Insights for 2025: Investing in Your Off-Road Future
The mid-size off-road truck segment in 2025 is a testament to incredible automotive innovation. We’re seeing a clear trend towards specialization: some trucks are meticulously engineered for high-speed desert blasting, while others are built to crawl over the most challenging rock gardens. Hybrid powertrains, like that in the Tacoma, are emerging as viable options, promising a blend of power and efficiency previously unseen in this segment. Advanced suspension systems, integrated off-road technologies, and robust underbody protection are becoming standard, reflecting a consumer base that demands authentic, capable vehicles. These aren’t just trucks; they are sophisticated adventure machines. When considering your next off-road truck purchase, think deeply about your primary use case. Are you a desert runner, a rock crawler, or a balanced adventurer? Each of these 2025 mid-size pickup models offers a distinct flavor of capability, influencing everything from truck financing rates to long-term resale value.
Your Next Adventure Awaits.
Navigating the landscape of new off-road trucks can be daunting, but with this comprehensive breakdown, you’re now equipped with expert insights. The best mid-size off-road truck for 2025 isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer; it’s the truck that perfectly aligns with your personal definition of adventure. Whether it’s the rock-crushing prowess of the ZR2 Bison, the high-speed thrills of the Ranger Raptor, the hybrid innovation of the Tacoma TRD Pro, or the analog charm of the Gladiator Mojave X, your ultimate trail companion is out there.
We encourage you to delve deeper into the specifications, explore dealer inventories, and most importantly, experience these incredible machines firsthand. Visit your local dealerships for a test drive, compare off-road truck prices, and see which one truly speaks to your adventurous spirit. What terrain calls your name? Which truck will you choose to conquer it? The open road, or rather, the open trail, is waiting.
