These Are the 12 Best Off-Road Pickup Trucks for 2024

Off-road enthusiasts have lifted and kitted out their pickup trucks for decades. Only in the past few years have truck manufacturers collectively decided to build these same kinds of upgraded 4x4s in-house sand send them to dealerships with a full warranty.

Where there once was only the Ford F-150 Raptor and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, there are now a several factory off-road trims on the market. We've gathered a dozen pickups we've recently run through our instrumented testing and reviewed on- and off-road. At such high prices, these shiny pickups probably won't be bashing rocks right off the bat. But from small to huge, they are the best off-road-ready 4x4 pickup trucks you can buy right off the showroom floor.

Compact: Ford Maverick Tremor

Base Price: $39,945

While a little Maverick won't make anyone tremble, the Tremor trim is viable as a light off-roader. The package includes retuned springs and special dampers, along with a mechanically torque-vectoring rear axle and an 1-inch suspension lift. The turbo-four's has 277 pound-feet of torque, and Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires are standard. It's one stability control switch away from a rally car. But ground clearance stands tall at 9.4 inches, plus the redesigned front bumper and skid plate allow a generous 30.7 degree approach angle, which is more than a huge off-roader like the Ram 2500 Rebel. On pavement, the Tremor's unibody frame and eager handling prove that small can be better. That's why it's been on our 10Best Trucks list for two years running.

Mid-Size: Ford Ranger Raptor

Base Price: $57,065

Now that we finally get the Ranger the rest of the world enjoyed for years, the Ranger Raptor has stolen our hearts from the Colorado ZR2 and Canyon AT4X. It's also a hell of a deal (some $35,000 cheaper than the Bronco Raptor with which it shares a twin-turbo V-6 engine and four-wheel-drive system). Compared to a standard Ranger, the track is wider, the tires are 33 inches tall, and there are Fox internal bypass shocks and a snorty active exhaust. The fact that it's just as quick as an F-150 Raptor yet easier to drive on narrow trails should make the Ranger Raptor most appealing.

Mid-Size: Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road

Base Price: $43,295

Taco owners are in committed relationships. That's why this rugged Toyota outsells all mid-size pickups every year. But even the beloved Tacoma needs a makeover once a decade, as the fourth-generation TRD Off-Road proved in our tests. The new turbo-four and eight-speed automatic transmission are peppier than the old V-6 with its laborious six-speed, especially when passing from 30 to 50 mph. The brakes are stronger (stopping nine feet shorter than a 2017 TRD Pro) and the engine burns less gas. A new TRD Pro will go hard as a turbo hybrid with shock-absorbing seats, but take it from us, now's the time to break up and leave your Taco for a new one.

Mid-Size: Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

Base Price: $48,395

A ZR1 is Chevy-speak for the ultimate Corvette, but ZR2 means a badass truck. When the ZR2 package is applied to Chevy's smallest pickup, it creates the Colorado ZR2 pack mule. The key bits are the Multimatic DSSV dampers, which are effective way to soften abrupt wheel travel when the ZR2's 33-inch tires come off the mud. It's no quicker than the last ZR2, and the turbo-four guzzled more and groaned just as loudly as the old V-6, but there's no arguing with 430 pound-feet of torque and a Baja mode that allows for big slides. A fraternal twin, the GMC Canyon AT4X, does the same job with a different front end. Both are available with parts from American Expedition Vehicles that up the ante on the standard 3.0-inch suspension lift.

Mid-Size: Jeep Gladiator Mojave

Base Price: $64,890

The Gladiator is the pickup-truck version of the legendary Wrangler, and it's just as old-school as its SUV sibling. Both are updated for 2024, though, with new features including available power front seats and upgraded infotainment. The diesel is gone, leaving the 3.6-liter V-6 as the only engine choice. In our long-term test with a 2020 Mojave, we found the "Desert Rated" badge to be only half true, as the live front axle made it unsettled at higher speeds (and the manual transmission broke after 8400 miles). Jeep has made some meaningful improvements for 2024, including three upfit packages from AEV that offer 37-inch BF Goodrich tires and a 57-degree approach angle. We recently drove the 2024 Gladitor Mojave and appreciated the interior upgrades, though it remains a bit expensive for what it is.

Full-Size: Ram 1500 TRX

Base Price: $98,335

The worst we can say about the Ram 1500 TRX is that it will soon ditch the Hellcat V-8 for a tamer twin-turbo six. 2024 will be the final year of the current model, and it's being sent off with a Final Edition trim. Until the 2025 model arrives, we'll remember what 11 mpg and 702 hp felt like when we had one as a long-term tester. The TRX does everything. As testing director Dave VanderWerp summarized: "It's a Hellcat with a Mercedes S-class–size rear seat and a 3.5-ton truck with a suspension that enables great leaps through the air. Plus, it's still useful as a pickup." We recorded a 60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. We slept over it inside a bed-mounted tent. And one year of fuel cost us more than $16,000.