Can the Newcomer Ford Ranger FX4 Beat the Best-Selling Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro? Off-Road Smackdown (Video)

The search for the most capable 4x4 midsize truck continues.

We take the new and updated 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and a new Ford Ranger FX4 on an icy off-road trail to see which truck will do better. It’s the most off-road capable Tacoma versus the most off-road capable Ranger on the Iron Clads mountain trail.

2020 Toyota Tacoma

The Tacoma TRD Pro has been updated for the 2020 model year with new lights, driver’s seat, available technology, front camera, and transmission tuning.

Under the hood of this crew cab Tacoma is still the same 3.5-liter gas V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to an 6-speed automatic in this test truck, but a 6-speed manual transmission is still available.

The TRD Pro is equipped with skid plates, specially tuned FOX shocks, small lift in the front for better approach, crawl control, rear selectable locker, Goodyear Wrangler with Kevlar tires, front view camera, and more.

The Tacoma is still the sales leader in the midsize truck segment. Toyota sells nearly 250,000 Tacomas per year in the U.S.

Ford Ranger

The new Ranger has gone on sale in the United States less than a year ago. The truck’s sales quickly ramped up, but it will take some time and some doing to pass the Chevy Colorado and the Tacoma in sales.

The Ranger FX4 is currently the most off-road worthy midsize truck from Ford in the U.S. The FX4 package includes a unique front bumper with an integrated skid plate for better approach and protection. It has specially Ford-tuned FX shocks, rear selectable locker, trail control (crawl control) system, Hankook Dynapro ATM tires, and more.

Under the hood of the Ranger is a 2.3-liter turbo-4 with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Here is how the two trucks compare of off-road specs.

Toyota Tacoma TRD ProFord Ranger FX4
Ground Clearance9.4 in8.9 in
Approach Angle35.0 deg28.7 deg
Breakover Angle28.5 deg21.5 deg
Departure Angle23.9 deg25.4 deg
Crawl Ratio36.2:147.6:1

Here is how they did on the icy and rocky Iron Clads trail.