30-01-2025
These Pickup Trucks Just Won Best Truck of Texas at the Texas Truck Rodeo
Every fall they roll into the North Texas town of Decatur to throw down: Rams and Ineoses and Tundras and Nissans. They run the off-road course at Eagles Canyon Raceway with automotive writers at the wheel. The writers will measure, test and evaluate the performance of each truck and how it conquers, or doesn't, the off-road obstacles laid out on the hilly Texas grassland, all to determine the best pickup truck of Texas.
The Texas Truck Rodeo is an annual gathering of the Texas Auto Writers Association, a group of truck-savvy off-road experts who are also journalists, YouTube personalities and content creators. This is not a competition for the middling off-roader; there are hills, ditches and creeks and in many cases, 4WD know-how is required.
The winners were just announced at the Houston Auto Show where guests can see and test drive most of these trucks. Or, head to your local auto show or dealership to see the best trucks on the road. Here are the winners, as well as the contenders for the Best Trucks of Texas.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used.
After a day of driving by the 50 or so TAWA members, they'll vote on the best pickup truck of Texas in several categories: Full size, mid-size and luxury. Semi-finalists in each category are eligible to be named the Truck of Texas.
Additionally, jurors vote on best towing, best powertrain and best driver assist systems. For 2025 the winners of those categories are:
Best Towing Technology: Toyota Wireless Trailer Camera System
Best Powertrain: Ram 1500 3.0L Hurricane High Output Straight-Six Turbo
Best Driver Assist or Safety Feature: Toyota Safety Sense 3.0
Read: Which Family SUVs Go Off-Road with Rugged Double Duty and Durability?
Competition classes: Off-Road, Full Size Pickup Truck, Luxury Truck; Priced from $44,125
The Ram 1500 got a full makeover for 2024 with a whole new look, a new Hurricane engine option and even more luxuries, which is saying a lot; it was pretty luxe before, but the new Tungsten trim puts the possibilities over the top.
Also new to the Ram 1500, and not exclusive to the top end, is the UConnect multimedia system on a standard 12' screen or an upgraded 14.5' screen; it's customizable and voice activated, so you never have to take hands or eyes off the trail.
Last year Ram introduced the Tungsten trim as the top of the line, a glowingly gorgeous pickup with luxuries such as quilted leather seats, front and rear heated seats, digital phone-as-key technology and a premium sound system with 23 speakers. With a starting price of $87,000, the Tungsten model is also the most powerful, driven by a 6-cylinder 540 HP engine. Other Ram 1500 specs include:
Tow Capacity: 8,110 lbs. (up to 11,500 in the Hurricane)
Engine: V6
Transmission 9 speed automatic with shift by wire
Drivetrain: 4 wheel drive
305 HP
269 Torque
Ground Clearance: 8.4'
Competition classes:Off Road, Mid-size Pickup Truck, Luxury Truck; Priced from $39,400
Fresh off a full makeover, the Toyota Tacoma is sparking in all its new features and ready to get dirty on the trail. So ready, in fact, that there are two off-road versions: TRD Off-Road and Trailhunter. The TRD model is better for rock and sand crawling, while the Trailhunter is designed for higher speed Baja-type driving.
Inside, all Toyota Tacoma models are updated with Toyota's new multimedia system, larger screen and all the comforts, including plenty of of hand grips, which you'll need.
Engine: 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain: 4 wheel drive
326 hp
465 torque
Tow capacity: up to 6,500 lbs.
Competition class: compact pickup truck; Priced from $28,500
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a fun pickup truck has produced remarkable results from its humble DNA. Built on the platform of the Hyundai Tucson compact SUV, the Santa Cruz was adapted to be the ultimate weekend sport truck. But then, Hyundai further adapted it to run it in the Rebelle Rally where it proved its capability.
We love the Santa Cruz for its comfortable interior, lockable truck bed and agile, manageable size, which is one of the things that makes it a master on the off-road course.
Tow Capacity: up to 5,000 lbs.
Engine: 4-cylinder
Transmission 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain: All wheel drive option
191 HP
181 Torque
Ground Clearance: 8.6'
Competition classes: Off Road, Luxury Pickup Truck; Priced from $88,500
The Ineos Grenadier might be the luxury truck of the century, not just the year. Ineos, perhaps better known as an F1 sponsor and provider of racing fuel, is also the company that builds luxury off-roaders Grenadier SUV and Greandier Quartermaster, the truck version of the SUV.
Ultra rugged and capable, the Quartermaster adds a pickup truck bed to the Grenadier framework, allowing for luxury and more capability.
6-cylinder turbo built by BMW
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive train: 4 wheel drive
Tow Capacity: 7,716 pounds
Ground Clearance: 10.3 inches
Maximum Wading Depth: 31.5 inches
Competition classes: Off Road, Mid-size Pickup Truck; Priced from $41,150
We are fans of the redesigned Honda Ridgeline for a lot of reasons: an improved transmission and better engine, it's all wheel drive only and it's designed for handling more rugged roads including off-road driving.
Honda also updated the interior with a new multimedia system and passenger comforts, filling in what it needed to make this truck a go-to for Honda fans need for every day and adventurous weekends. For the off-road competition, Honda brought the Trailsport edition which adds skid plates and all-terrain tires for even better off-road performance.
Related: How do these Crossover AWD SUVs compare in the Rebelle Rally?
Key Specs:
Tow Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
Engine: V6
Transmission 9-speed automatic with shift by wire
Drivetrain: All wheel drive
280 HP
262 Torque
Ground Clearance: 7.64'
Competition classes: Off Road, Mid-size Pickup Truck; Priced from $37,690
We love compact pickup trucks on the off road course for their ability and agility. But if they look good, all the better. Nissan recently updated the Frontier with a new exterior look including a new grille and lights, and new wheels for the PRO-X and PRO-4X models. Adding to the off-road capability is a surround view camera with that now works at higher speeds for more confident off-roading. Adding to overall comfort are a larger touch screen with more function and a sliding rear window.
Tow Capacity: 7,150 lbs. (max)
Engine: V6
Transmission 9-speed automatic
Drivetrain: 4 wheel drive
310 HP
281 Torque
Ground Clearance: 7.8'
Competition classes: Off Road, Full Size Pickup Truck; Priced from $44,960
When Toyota started the redesign journey of its full model lineup a few years ago, the first to get a makeover was the Tundra pickup truck. And it wowed. More off-road capability. More tech. An ode to the Toyota heritage, inside and out. And hybrid power that delivers both more performance and better fuel economy. The Tundra was named the Truck of Texas in 2024 and it's back to see if it can stage a repeat.
Engine: V6 twin turbo hybrid,
437 Horsepower
583 lb-ft of Torque
10-speed automatic transmission
Drivetrain: 4 wheel drive on demand
Tow capacity: up to 12,000 lbs.
Not all trucks are represented at the Texas Truck Rodeo this year; some truck makers choose not to compete, others are waiting for next year and a new model that'll show up the competition. The winners of the best pickup truck competition become semifinalists eligible to be named the Truck of Texas, which will be announced later this fall. Follow the hashtag #txtruckrodeo24 on Instagram to see all the fun.
Trucks are not the only thing that the Texas Auto Writers Association evaluates at the Truck Rodeo; they also test SUVs. A lot of SUVs, one of which will be named the SUV of Texas this fall, too.
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