Video: Ultimate 2024 Midsize Off-Road Truck Buyers Guide!

Looking at each midsize truck and ranking the most off-road-worthy versions from the best and most expensive, down to the more basic and more affordable.

• Ford Ranger:
  • Raptor (starts at $57,065)
    • 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6
      • 405 horsepower; 430 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: 11.1 inches
    • Approach: 33 deg. / Breakover: 24.2 deg. / Departure: 26.4 deg.
    • Off-road features:
      • Upgraded suspension (2.5-inch Fox Live Valve shocks); Terrain Management with 7 drive modes (including Baja); Trail Control; heavy duty skid plate, front and rear recovery points; electronic rear locking differential; 33” BFGoodrich KO3 all-terrain tires 
  • NO TREMOR
    • The previous-generation Ranger had a mid-range Tremor off-road trim, but this new one does not have that option…at least not for 2024
  • FX4 Off-Road Package (starts at $42,380 for the XLT model)
    • 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline-four
      • 270 horsepower; 310 lb-ft of torque
    • XLT and Lariat trims will be available with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 in summer 2024
      • 315 horsepower; 400 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: 9.3 inches
    • Approach: 30.2 deg. / Breakover: 23 deg. / Departure: 25.8 deg.
    • Off-road features:
      • FX4 Off-Road Package costs $1,295 on top of whichever trim you choose
        • FX4 adds  Goodyear Wrangler AT/S all-terrain tires on 17 or 18” wheels; electronic locking rear differential, skid plates for engine, transfer case, and fuel tank; off-road screen (shows pitch/roll, other important off-road information); off-road-tuned shocks (but not Fox units); Terrain Management (without Baja mode); Trail Control
        • The electronic rear locker is available without the FX4 package as a $420 option
    • Why include the Ford Ranger first?
      • The wild card: We haven’t driven the 2024 model yet, but we have plenty of hands-on experience
      • The drive is coming up very soon (within the next couple of months)

• Honda Ridgeline:
  • TrailSport (starts at $46,355)
    • Another one we haven’t technically driven yet, but this one’s fairly straightforward
    • 3.5-liter V6 (naturally aspirated)
      • 280 horsepower; 262 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: 7.6 inches (same as the standard truck, though the A/T tires might give it a little bit more)
    • Approach: 20.4 deg / Breakover: 19.6 deg. / Departure: 19.6 deg. (the specs haven’t changed for 2024 – this model is mainly an appearance update)
    • Off-road features:
      • All-terrain tires (General Grabber A/T Sport); off-road suspension tuning (softer to handle off-road obstacles); extra steel underbody protection
  • HPD “Adventure Package” (starts at $45,590 for the Sport model)
    • Adds a slightly more off-roadish wheel/tire package, while you get styling upgrades
    • The package costs $4,465 on top of the regular Ridgeline
    • For the price difference…just get the TrailSport

• Rivian R1T:
  • “Adventure Package” (starts at $82,850 for Dual Motor, Large battery pack with “All-Terrain Upgrade”)
    • Dual Motor or Quad Motor AWD setup
      • 533, 665 or 835 horsepower, depending on the model
    • Ground clearance: 7.9 to 14.4 inches (adjustable)
    • Approach: 35.5 deg. / Breakover: 30 deg. / Departure: 26.4 deg.
    • Off-road features:
      • Mainly comes down to tires (All-Terrain package adds 34” all-terrains); underbody protection; multiple drive modes (including multiple Off-Road modes: Auto/Rock Crawl/Rally/Drift that change ride height, ride comfort, brake regen and stability control) 

• Nissan Frontier:
  • Pro-4X (starts at $40,955)
    • 3.8-liter V6 (naturally aspirated)
      • 310 horsepower; 281 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: 9.5 inches to the front diff; 9.8 inches to the rear diff
    • Approach: 32.3 deg. / Breakover: 19.6 deg. / Departure: 23 deg.
    • Off-road features:
      • Steel skid plates (rather than composite pieces), including over the transfer case and fuel tank; 32” Hankook Dynapro AT2 tires; Bilstein shocks
  • Pro-X (starts at $37,955)
    • Similar to the Pro-4X, but not four-wheel drive

• Chevy Colorado:
  • ZR2 Bison (starts at $60,095)
    • 2.7-liter turbocharged “High Output” inline-four
      • 310 horsepower; 430 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: 12.2 inches
    • Approach: 38.2 deg. / Breakover: 26.9 deg. / Departure: 26 deg.
    • Off-road features:
      • 35” Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires; 17” beadlock capable wheels; AEV winch capable front bumper; Boron steel skid plates; power-locking front and rear differentials; Multimatic DSSV dampers
  • ZR2 (starts at $48,690)
    • 2.7-liter turbo “High Output” inline-four (same as the Bison)
    • Ground clearance: 10.7 inches
    • Approach: 38.6 deg. (better than the Bison b/c of the different bumper) / Breakover: 24.8 deg. / Departure: 25.2 deg. 
    • Off-road features:
      • 33” Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires; Multimatic DSSV dampers; power-locking front and rear differentials; modified axle from the rest of the Colorado lineup (3.42 axle ratio); rocker panel protection
  • Trail Boss (starts at $38,495)
    • 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four
      • Same output as the ZR2 – no more “mid-output trim”
    • Ground clearance: 9.5 inches
    • Approach: 30.5 deg. / Breakover: 21 deg. / Departure: 22.4 deg.
    • Off-road features:
      • 32” Goodyear Territory AT tires; 2-inch suspension lift from the base models; wider chassis (3-inch wider front track)
        

• Chevy Colorado (continued)
  
  • Z71 (starts at $41,395)
    • 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four
      • Same output as the Trail Boss, ZR2 (no more mid-tune option)
  • Ground clearance: 8.9 inches
  • Approach: 29.1 deg. / Breakover: 19.5 deg. / Departure: 22.3 deg.
  • Off-road features:
    • Autotrac 2-speed transfer case with push-button controls; automatic rear locking differential; red recovery hooks; 32” Goodyear Territory AT tires
  • Why is the Z71 more expensive than the Trail Boss?
    • The Z71 focuses more on features over off-road capability
    • The Z71 gets standard cruise control as well as the automatic locker, larger wheels, heated mirrors and a 120-volt bed-mounted power outlet

• GMC Canyon:
  • AT4X AEV Edition (starts at $65,995)
    • 2.7-liter turbocharged “High Output” inline-four
      • 310 horsepower; 430 lb-ft of torque (same as the equivalent Chevy Colorado)
    • Ground clearance: 12.2 inches
    • Approach: 38.2 deg. / Breakover: 26.9 deg. / Departure: 26 deg.
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • 35” Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires; 17” beadlock capable wheels; AEV winch capable front bumper; Boron steel skid plates; power-locking front and rear differentials; Multimatic DSSV dampers
  • AT4X (starts at $56,995)
    • 2.7-liter turbocharged “High Output” inline-four
  • Ground clearance: 10.7 inches
  • Approach: 36.9 deg. / Breakover: 25 deg. / Departure: 24.5 deg.
  • Off-road upgrades:
    • 3” suspension lift over the non-offroad trims; wider stance; available underbody cameras; full-locking front and rear differentials; 33” Goodyear Territory MT; Multimatic DSSV dampers; Off-road drive modes with “Baja” mode;
  • AT4 (starts at $45,395)
    • 2.7-liter turbocharged “High Output” inline-four
    • Ground clearance: 9.6 inches
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • 2” suspension lift over non-offroad trims; red recovery hooks; automatic locking rear differential; Autotrac two-speed transfer case; 32” Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires; Off-Road and Terrain drive modes

• Jeep Gladiator (prices are for 2023 models):
  • Rubicon (starts at $53,770)
    • 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (standard across the lineup; no diesel or “4xe” option)
      • 285 horsepower; 260 lb-ft of torque 
    • Ground clearance: 11.1 inches
    • Approach: 43.4 deg. / Breakover: 20.3 deg. / Departure: 26 deg.
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • 33” BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires; Dana 44 axles; front and rear selectable locking differentials; electronic sway-bar disconnect; Rock-Trac part-time transfer case; Off-Road+ mode
  • Mojave (starts at $53,770) (yes, same as the Rubicon)
    • Ground clearance: 11.6 inches
    • Approach: 44.7 deg. / Breakover: 20.9 deg. / Departure: 25.5 deg.
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • 33” Falken Wildpeak AT3W all-terrain tires; Dana 44 axles; steel rock rails; Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks; 1-inch suspension lift over lower Gladiator models; Off-Road+ mode; “Performance” hood
  • Willys (starts at $48,960) (based on the entry-level Sport model)
    • Ground clearance: 10 inches
    • Approach: 40.8 deg. / Breakover: 18.4 deg. / Departure: 25 deg.
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • 32” Firestone Destination M/T2 tires; steel rock rails; rear locking differential; Off-Road+ mode
  • Sport/Sport S (starts at $41,515)
    • Ground clearance: 10 inches
    • Approach: 40.8 deg. / Breakover: 18.4 deg. / Departure: 25 deg.
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • It’s a Jeep (you get Bridgestone Dueler A/T tires by default)

• Toyota Tacoma:
  • Trailhunter (pricing TBA) – coming in 2024
    • 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four hybrid (i-Force Max)
      • 326 horsepower; 465 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: ~11 inches (1.5 – 2 inches over TRD Off-Road)
    • Approach: TBA (no official specs published yet, that we can see)
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • 1.5 (rear) to 2-inch (front) lift over the TRD Off-Road; Old Man Emu 2.5-inch position-sensitive shocks; ARB bed rack; rear recovery points; 33” Goodyear Territory RT tires
      • Trailhunter is more of the rock crawl/overland option as opposed to the TRD Pro
        
        
        
  • TRD Pro (pricing TBA) – coming in 2024
    • 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four hybrid (i-Force Max)
      • 326 horsepower; 465 lb-ft of torque
    • Ground clearance: ~11 inches (1.5 – 2 inches over TRD Off-Road)
    • Approach: 33.8 deg. / Breakover: 23.5 deg. / Departure: 25.7 deg.
    • Off-road upgrades:
      • Fox 2.5-inch “Quick Switch 3” shocks; 1.5 (rear) to 2-inch (front) lift over the TRD Off-Road; 33” Goodyear Territory RT tires; IsoDynamic Performance Seat; ARB rear metal bumper with red recovery hooks; TRD skid plate
      • Toyota bills the new TRD Pro as the “go fast” option against the Trailhunter

• TRD Off-Road (starts at $44,395)
  • 2.4-liter turbocharged line-four nonhybrid (i-Force)
    • 278 horsepower; 317 lb-ft of torque (8-speed automatic); manual puts out 370 horsepower/310 lb-ft)
  • Ground clearance: 9.5 inches
  • Approach: 32.5 deg. / Breakover: 24.7 deg. / Departure: 26.6 deg. without tow hitch
  • Off-road upgrades:
    • Bilstein monotube remote reservoir shocks; 32” all-terrain tires as stock (33” Goodyear Territory RT tires are optional); Crawl Control; Multi-Terrain Select; Downhill Assist Control, Multi-Terrain Monitor (the off-road tech also comes on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter)
• PreRunner (starts at $39,595)
  • 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four nonhybrid (i-Force)
    • 278 horsepower; 317 lb-ft of torque (8-speed automatic); manual puts out 370 horsepower/310 lb-ft)
    • Ground clearance: 10.8 inches
    • Approach: 34.4 deg. / Breakover: 25.5 deg. / Departure: 25.5 deg. without tow hitch
• SR5 4×4 (starts at $38,395 for Double Cab model)
  • 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four nonhybrid (i-Force)
    • 278 horsepower; 317 lb-ft of torque (8-speed automatic); manual puts out 370 horsepower/310 lb-ft)
    • Ground clearance: 10.7 inches
    • Approach: 32.8 deg. / Breakover: 23.8 deg. / Departure: 26.2 deg. without tow hitch