Two of the best off-road trucks around
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Nissan Frontier PRO-4X are remarkably capable off-road pickup trucks. Both look unique compared to their lesser brethren, are more capable on paper than the trucks they replace, and both have a history of reliability. They are also the most (or nearly the most) expensive versions of their platforms, but are not the best in class. The Ford Ranger Raptor, Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, and GMC Canyon AT4X AEV are just as good, if not better, in many ways.
Nissan
Still, the Frontier and Tacoma are compelling alternatives, with unique gifts that can be easily seen. I was lucky enough to not only take both off-road, but also live with both trucks day-to-day, back-to-back. For my money, one of these two simply makes more sense, while the other is the stuff dreams are made of. Let’s look at both before we get to which one makes more sense.
The 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X: serious bang-for-your-buck
Nissan
The Nissan Frontier PRO-4X waltzes into 2025 with a few changes. There is a restyled bumper, grill, and front headlights, which look a bit more aggressive. New wheels and the new “Afterburn Orange” optional color are all part of the PRO-4X package. Nissan got the memo and made tilt and telescoping steering standard. There is more standard tech, which includes safety upgrades and adaptive cruise control, a larger, well-placed 12.3-inch infotainment screen as a new option, and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The tow rating has been increased to a more competitive 7,150-lbs. Seating now has more lumbar control choices as well.
Nissan continues using the 310 horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 that makes 281 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission and an old-school 4×4 system, one that includes an electronically locking rear diff. The power numbers are closer to the non-hybrid TRD Off-Road package than the much more powerful TRD Pro from Toyota, but it’s the top and only powertrain available from Nissan. The Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is rated at 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.
Nissan
Unlike any other pickup truck in this class, the Nissan Frontier offers a King Cab option, which gives you the choice of having a smaller and less expensive cab configuration; unfortunately, it’s not available in the PRO-4X trim. What is optional on the PRO-4X is the bed length, with the standard bed at 59.5 inches in length and the long bed at 73.3 inches in length. Not every competitor offers more than one bed length, but Toyota does, in some cases.
The Nissan Frontier PRO-4X starts at under $45,000 and tops out just over $51,000. Believe it or not, that’s a bit of a bargain compared to some, and one of Nissan’s strongest selling points, along with its driving feel. You see, despite the PRO-4X packing less tech, no turbochargers or hybrid systems, it is one of the sweetest of the group to drive on a daily basis. The maneuverability is excellent, the steering weight is outstanding (if you like a heavy steering feel), and it feels smaller behind the wheel.
Toyota Tacoma TRD-Pro: a tech monster
Toyota
The Toyota Tacoma was completely renewed in 2024, so the changes this year are minimal. The TRD Pro is still the king of the hill among other Tacomas, including its i-Force MAX powertrain. There are now four auxiliary switches, a new “Mudbath” exterior color for the TRD Pro, and the bumper tow hooks are now red. That’s about it. Oh, and it has a lower tow rating than other Tacomas with a total of 6,000-lbs, which is on the lower end of the competition.
The Tacoma’s powertrain is a bit of a beast. It is part of the i-Force family, which consists of turbocharged hybrids. In this case, it’s a 326 hp turbocharged 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder that makes 465 lb-ft of torque when combined with an electric motor, thus making it a hybrid. An 8-speed automatic is the only transmission offered with the i-Force setup, but you can get a 6-speed manual on the non-hybrid Tacomas. This is also the only pickup that offers that transmission in the United States. The EPA rates the Tacoma TRO Pro at 22 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
Toyota
The TRD Pro does not offer a long bed, nor a different cab configuration. In fact, all i-Force hybrid powertrains only come with the crew-cab, short-bed configuration. As I mentioned before, the towing on the TRD Pro is much lower than other Tacomas, and that’s partially due to the advanced off-road underpinnings. More on that in a moment.
The Tacoma TRD Pro feels completely different than the Frontier PRO-4X. It feels like a much larger, more powerful truck. In many ways, it is. The short-bed Tacoma is about four inches longer than the short-bed Frontier. At the same time, the 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X long bed has an overall length of 224.1 inches. The Tacoma TRD Pro is extremely quick in traffic and has much better maneuverability than the truck it replaced. It has lighter steering than the Frontier, and it feels like you’re driving something larger than it actually is. Speaking of larger, the base price for a Tacoma TRD Pro starts at just under $64,000. Fully loaded with every package, you’re approaching $90,000.
How are they inside?
Nissan
This is more about their off-road prowess, but the interior plays a role in some of that. Right off the bat, the Nissan’s interior feels a bit cheaper, especially the door panels that are uncomfortable to rest your arm on. Toyota’s design is more cohesive and thematic, and it features a 14.0-inch center touchscreen with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It’s very clear to look at, but there’s a bit of a learning curve to master the UX. Toyota also has the Iso-Dynamic seating, which means that the front seats have their own suspension systems. This works when pounded hard off-road, but it kills off the option of having back pockets.
The front seats in the Nissan are very comfortable, but the back seats are a bit tight for adults. Similar in size to the Colorado/Canyon, they sit upright, offering mediocre leg room. Nissan’s overall design is simple and rugged, but not as interesting as Toyota’s layout. All of the buttons and switchgear are logically placed and easy to use, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster placed between analog gauges.
Nissan
Very different off-road setups
Yes, there’s no doubt that the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a better hardcore off-road vehicle. The 2.5-inch FOX Internal Bypass QS3 shocks with rear piggyback-style remote reservoirs, and its Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system are its highlights. Fox also supplied the internal floating piston hydraulic bump stops. It has Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, an electronically controlled locking rear differential, and a Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) on the TRD Pro. This is before we go into the sheer amount of under-body armor and the 33-inch rugged-terrain tires on 18-in. wheels. Additionally, there’s the IsoDynamic Performance front seats with dampening system – which work, but are a bit of a pricy gimmick from my perspective.
Nissan
It feels so capable and so composed under stress that I find the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro to be one of the best high speed dune-running pickup trucks out there. The combination of the power, suspension, and sophisticated 4×4 system are leaps and bounds beyond the Nissan’s capabilities. Articulation is pretty good, but it lags behind the competition. Still, the Nissan can go nearly everywhere the Tacoma goes.
The 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO 4X has all-terrain Hankook Dynapro AT2 tires, Bilstein off-road suspension system work well together, and allow the Frontier PRO-4X to climb aggressively when mixed with the rear locker. Unfortunately, its 8.6 inches of ground clearance can be an issue when rock crawling, or going over uneven terrain. The Tacoma TRD Pro has 11.5-inches of ground clearance, which is far better off-road.
Final thoughts
Here’s the deal: the Tacoma TRD Pro is an amazing truck with an amazingly huge price tag. I had to keep asking myself, “Is this Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro $20,000 better than a Frontier PRO-4X?” I simply don’t think it is. It’s slightly more efficient, faster, and has much more off-road tech, but I don’t think it’s that much better off-road. To put it another way, if it were my money, I think the Frontier makes more sense overall.
