Title: Navigating the 2025 Mid-Size Off-Road Truck Arena: An Expert’s Deep Dive
The American automotive landscape for 2025 is electrifying, particularly i
n the mid-size pickup truck segment, where off-road supremacy isn’t just a marketing slogan—it’s a fierce battleground. As an industry veteran who’s spent over a decade pushing these machines to their limits, I can tell you that picking the best mid-size off-road truck 2025 is more nuanced than ever. Manufacturers are pouring R&D into 4×4 truck capabilities, advanced suspension systems, and off-road technology features to carve out their niche. This year, we’ve witnessed an unparalleled surge in purpose-built, trail-ready trucks, making the decision for enthusiasts and weekend warriors alike both exciting and challenging.
Our comprehensive midsize off-road pickup comparison puts four titans head-to-head: the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, the 2024 (effectively 2025 market-relevant) Ford Ranger Raptor, the 2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X, and the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. These aren’t just trucks with some lifted suspension; these are specialized instruments designed to conquer varied terrains, from punishing rock crawling trails to high-speed desert running. Our objective? To determine which of these formidable off-road performance trucks truly stands out in overall capability, on-road civility, and sheer driving satisfaction for the discerning American consumer.
We didn’t just kick tires in a parking lot. Our testing regimen at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Michigan was meticulously crafted to simulate real-world off-road scenarios, pushing these vehicles to their absolute limits. We assessed performance across four critical off-road disciplines: rock crawling, hill climbing, hill descending, and high-speed off-road driving on a challenging dirt course. Beyond the mud and grit, we know that for many, these trucks double as daily drivers, so on-road driving dynamics, ride quality, and interior ergonomics were also rigorously evaluated. Our panel of seasoned road test editors scrutinized every aspect, from the efficacy of locking differentials to the intuitiveness of off-road camera systems. The stakes were high, and the results, enlightening.
Let’s cut right to the chase, because you’re here for the definitive ranking. After countless miles of brutal testing, meticulous scoring, and candid discussions, here’s how these 2025 off-road truck review contenders stacked up:
2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X
Now, let’s peel back the layers and understand why each truck earned its place.
The Contenders Unpacked: A Deep Dive into Performance
2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X: The Desert-Rated Dilemma
The 2025 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X enters the arena with a Desert Rated designation, a badge that promises high-speed desert prowess. Equipped with specialized Fox shocks, a 1-inch front suspension lift, a locking rear axle, and robust 33-inch all-terrain tires, it certainly looks the part. Its as-tested price of $66,905 houses a familiar 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic. With an impressive 11.6 inches of ground clearance and a class-leading 44.7-degree approach angle, the Gladiator certainly has its strong suits, particularly in low-speed obstacle negotiation.
The Good:
Where the Mojave X truly shines is in its approach angle, allowing it to confidently tackle steep inclines without fear of scraping the front end. Our test drivers praised its low-range operation, describing 4-Low as incredibly effective for scaling obstacles with precise, controllable throttle input—a boon for experienced rock crawling enthusiasts. The interior benefits from Jeep’s commitment to physical controls, a welcome respite in an era of touchscreen-dominated cockpits. Interior quality is another strong point, boasting rugged yet refined materials that underscore its adventurous spirit. During our hill climb tests, the Gladiator’s low, narrow hood and excellent forward camera view provided superior visibility, aiding precise steering.
The Not-So-Good:
Despite its desert-runner aspirations, the Gladiator Mojave X feels more at home with slower off-roading. Its solid front axle and vague steering made high-speed off-roading feel clumsy and difficult to control on our dirt course. A significant Achilles’ heel is its breakover angle (a meager 20.9 degrees), a direct consequence of its notably long wheelbase. This often resulted in the truck’s underbelly grinding over obstacles, inducing white-knuckle moments. The Selec-Speed Control for hill descent tech proved frustratingly inconsistent, often bringing the vehicle to an abrupt halt rather than maintaining a smooth, controlled crawl. On the pavement, on-road steering precision is lacking, with a tendency to wander, requiring constant corrections. The seat comfort was universally criticized; overly firm cushions and a cramped interior cockpit made longer drives less enjoyable. Finally, the modest Pentastar power struggles to get the truck up to highway speeds, leaving little in reserve for confident passing maneuvers. And take it from me, don’t jump this truck—its landings were jarring, punishing both the chassis and occupants.
2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: Hybrid Power, Uneven Performance
The redesigned 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro brings a fresh perspective to the midsize pickup truck reviews, particularly with its innovative gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Priced at $66,410, this model produces a robust 326 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid system, channeled through an eight-speed automatic. It features Fox shocks, 33-inch tires, and the distinctive IsoDynamic front seats designed to mitigate body motions off-road. With 11.5 inches of ground clearance and a best-in-class 27.4-degree breakover angle, it promises agility.
The Good:
The Tacoma TRD Pro excelled in its camera views, with its expansive screen offering an unrivaled forward perspective crucial for technical rock crawling and hill climbing. Its high-speed off-road performance was commendable, second only to the Ranger Raptor in stability and control, affirming its “go-fast” credentials within the Tacoma lineage. The on-road powertrain performance of the hybrid truck powertrain is genuinely impressive, delivering immediate torque and responsiveness, making it a joy to drive on pavement. The IsoDynamic seat bolsters, while controversial for backseat space, effectively held drivers in place during aggressive maneuvers. And for those who appreciate engine notes, the TRD Pro’s exhaust created a surprisingly muscular sound on the dirt course.
The Not-So-Good:
Despite its strengths, the Tacoma TRD Pro suffered from some significant drawbacks. The touchy pedals were a major complaint: in 4-Low and Rock modes, the throttle felt bizarrely jumpy, making smooth modulation nearly impossible, often forcing a two-foot driving technique. Tire slippage was another issue, as the TRD Pro’s tires struggled for grip on demanding ascents. The minimal backseat space caused by the IsoDynamic seats made the rear seating area practically unusable for adults. Lackluster interior quality was a consistent theme, with many hard plastics feeling cheap for a truck at this price point. Furthermore, the multimedia on an island criticism highlighted the large screen’s poor integration; many crucial truck systems were controlled by the fussy gauge cluster and steering wheel buttons, not the intuitive touchscreen. The instrument panel interface and eyechart gauges were universally panned for their unintuitive menus and tiny, hard-to-read off-road data.
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor: The High-Speed Hunter
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor, with its $60,730 (2025 equivalent) price tag, brings the full-size F-150 Raptor’s desert running ethos to the mid-size segment. Power comes from a potent 405-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic—a formidable V6 twin-turbo trucks setup. Its off-road features include a wide-track suspension, Watts-link rear, Fox shocks, locking front and rear axles, and 33-inch all-terrain tires, all managed through seven off-road driving modes, including an exhilarating Baja setting. While its 10.7 inches of ground clearance is the lowest in this group, its 26.4-degree departure angle is excellent.
The Good:
The Ranger Raptor’s true calling is high-speed off-roading, and it delivered a masterclass in this domain. Steering and handling are superb, allowing for composed and rapid navigation through sweeping dirt corners. The twin-turbo V-6 power is a standout, offering linear, predictable, and abundant torque both on and off-road, making hill climbs effortless and highway merges exhilarating. Ford’s hill descent system worked very well, providing smooth, controlled descents. Crucially, the Ranger Raptor redefines on-road ride comfort for a hardcore off-roader; its suspension beautifully soaks up imperfections, providing a level of composure unmatched by the others. Seat comfort was the best in test, with supportive cushions perfect for long hauls. And for those who enjoy catching air, the Raptor was the only truck that landed jumps without issue, maintaining momentum into subsequent turns—a testament to its robust suspension design.
The Not-So-Good:
Not everything is perfect in Raptor land. The unnecessary side steps were a point of contention, frequently scraping on rock obstacles despite the truck being low enough for easy ingress. The portrait-style touchscreen, while large at 12 inches, felt less practical for external camera views compared to horizontally oriented displays. The unintuitive shifter proved fiddly, often confusing test drivers with its button placement. While comfortable, the front seats missing bolstering for lateral support was noted, especially during aggressive off-road maneuvers.
2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison: The Unstoppable Crawler
Taking top honors is the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. This truck is a veritable monster, boasting an astonishing 12.2 inches of superior ground clearance and massive 35-inch mud-terrain tires (Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT LT315/70R17). Priced at $64,915, it’s powered by a 310-horsepower, turbo 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic. The Bison benefits from AEV Bison enhancements like specialized bumpers and wheels, Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve shocks, locking front and rear axles, and boron-steel skid plates for ultimate protection. Its 38.2-degree approach and 26.9-degree breakover angles are among the best.
The Good:
The Colorado ZR2 Bison is a rock-crawling machine. The advantages of its 35-inch tires and towering ride height were immediately apparent, providing exceptional damping over large rocks and steps. Its hill descent control was flawless, allowing the massive tires to grip and ease the truck down steep inclines with minimal drama. Hill climb performance was equally dominant, cresting hills with ample room to spare thanks to its ground clearance and impressive breakover angle. Chevy’s off-road tech usability is class-leading; simplified controls and a large horizontal display with outstanding graphics make engaging various off-road modes incredibly intuitive. The overall user interface perfectly blends physical controls for frequently used functions with touchscreen controls for less common settings, providing an excellent balance. The screen tech is bright, vivid, and highly responsive, with Google Built-In infotainment and seamless Apple CarPlay integration. Crucially, underbody cameras provided down-low visibility that made precise wheel placement effortless—a massive advantage in technical off-road driving.
The Not-So-Good:
While supreme off-road, the Bison makes some compromises on pavement. Those massive tires on-road lead to a bouncier, floatier ride quality compared to the Ranger or Tacoma, and handling suffers from vagueness and slower responses. On our higher-speed off-road course, the Bison struggled, with its higher center of gravity limiting confidence and pace. Its poor forward visibility in these scenarios was also a factor. Getting into the driver’s seat is a tough climb due to the truck’s height, making a driver’s-side grab handle a sorely missed feature. Finally, the absence of a rearview camera mirror is a significant oversight, especially with the bed-mounted full-size spare tire severely obstructing rear visibility—an undeniable safety concern on highways.
The Verdict: A New King for the Trail
In 2025, the mid-size off-road truck market is more competitive and specialized than ever. Each of these trucks brings a unique set of skills to the table. The Jeep Gladiator Mojave X appeals to those who appreciate a more analog, focused approach to slow-speed crawling, despite its on-road and high-speed limitations. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro offers an exciting hybrid powertrain and strong high-speed dirt performance, but its interior quality and fussy controls hold it back. The Ford Ranger Raptor is the undisputed king of high-speed desert running, offering an exhilarating blend of power, composure, and surprising on-road refinement.
However, when considering the full spectrum of off-road challenges—from rock crawling to hill ascent/descent—combined with practical usability and an expertly integrated technology suite, the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison emerges as the best mid-size off-road truck of the year. Its monstrous 35-inch mud-terrain tires, superior ground clearance, and sophisticated Multimatic DSSV shocks give it an almost unfair advantage in extreme off-road conditions. What truly elevates it is the masterful integration of off-road tech and an intuitive user experience, making its formidable capabilities accessible to both novices and seasoned wheelers. It’s a truck that inspires immense overall confidence when the pavement ends.
Whether you’re an avid overland adventurer, a dedicated rock crawler, or someone who simply demands the utmost truck reliability off-road, the choices are richer than ever. Our deep dive into these incredible machines reveals that while each has its distinct personality and strengths, the Colorado ZR2 Bison delivers the most comprehensive and dominating performance for the diverse American off-road landscape.
Ready to find your perfect trail companion? Explore the full capabilities of these leading mid-size off-road trucks at your local dealership or connect with our experts for personalized advice on your next 4×4 truck investment!
