2025 Full-Size Pickup Truck Comparison

Last year, four of America’s top 10 best-selling vehicles — and the two best-selling overall — were full-size trucks. Those four models alone sold more than 2 million units. While it may seem clear from looking at our highways that trucks are popular, the data backs it up. America is truck country. It’s easy to see why. These days, a 1/2-ton pickup has excellent towing and payload capacity and off-road capability in a vehicle that is roomy and comfortable enough to be a family car. These pickups are the modern-day family trucksters.

We rounded up three of the five full-size trucks available in 2025 and drove them back-to-back in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Shenandoah National Park (Cue John Denver’s “Country Roads” here). Unfortunately, Chevy and GMC politely declined the opportunity to participate.

We’ve rated and ranked these trucks based on what we determine to be the best choice for the most people. That doesn’t necessarily mean that our top-ranked choice will be the choice for you. We came away from this drive even more impressed with how many terrific truck options there are today. In a comparison like this, we must pick a winner and rank all the competitors. However, the options in the full-size truck segment are so good that these rankings came down to minor differences. We prioritized capability, range of choices and features, power and refinement, ride, and handling. We also factored in price, value, and Kelley Blue Book’s data-based insights. Here are the results of our latest full-size truck comparison.

Third Place: 2025 Toyota Tundra

Reliable, Fast, and Fun

Senior Editor Sean Tucker noted, “We live in a world where the third-best truck out of three is a pretty good truck.” He’s right. The Toyota Tundra is a great pickup that’s very easy to recommend. When Toyota introduced this generation of the Tundra for the 2022 model year, it was powered for the first time by a choice of a 389-horsepower twin-turbo V6 or a hybrid based on the same engine. That combination made the Tundra faster and more fuel-efficient while providing up to 12,000 pounds of towing capacity. We did note turbo lag when accelerating from a stop, but the power was very good from then on.

All three of our test trucks were 4-wheel-drive (4WD) crew cab short-beds, a combination that consistently proves to be the heart of the market. The Tundra we tested was the SR5 with the new TRD Rally package. Toyota’s TRD choices are now up to three. The cab offered plenty of room in both rows. Tall drivers should note that the Tundra had the best headroom in this test group. In addition, controls are easy to reach, and the interior is user-friendly. The cabin feels comfortable, and the TRD styling cues and red/orange/yellow heritage stripes on the dash and ghosted into the seat cushions add some pop. Those 3-color stripes add great style to the exterior, which also benefits from 18-inch TRD off-road wheels and additional off-road features.

The Tundra makes that transition very easy for someone looking to step up to a full-size truck from a car or a smaller SUV. Senior Editor Lyn Woodward observed, “The Tundra offers up more of a unibody SUV driving experience than any of the trucks tested. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It could appeal to those new to the truck segment who don’t like the idea of bouncing down the road as much. The ride felt quiet and comfortable, more composed than a full-size truck traditionally does.”

Sean Tucker noted, “If you’re a veteran truck owner who wants a truck that drives trucky, there will be too much Camry in this for you. If your truck will be the family car and your commute ride, maybe you want a little Camry in your suspension. Designing a truck that rides well with an empty bed is a real engineering challenge, and Toyota engineers have done it. Plenty of trucks feel a little rough until they have a load. The Tundra feels smooth.” The test team noted that the steering was a little too light in the Tundra. For some, the seats were too firm. One of the other drivers on this test was not into trucks, but he was pleasantly surprised by the entire Tundra package.

Since day one, resale value has been one of the Tundra’s biggest strengths and is not showing any signs of fading.

Learn more about the Toyota Tundra in our Expert Review

Second Place: 2025 Ram 1500

Smooth, Good-looking, and Ready to Work

Ram significantly updated the 1500 pickup for the 2025 model year. The most notable change was Ram’s decision to replace the V8 engine with a twin-turbo inline-6. With this update, Ram improved upon what was already so appealing about this 1/2-ton truck: its terrific combination of comfort, capability, and power. There are two 6-cylinder engines, and a Ramcharger plug-in hybrid and electric Ram 1500 REV are coming soon. The Ram can tow up to 11,600 pounds.

Our Ram tester was the Warlock. This trim level is the most affordable way to get an off-road Sport Truck specialist in the Ram 1500 lineup. Regarding the interior, the Ram was consistently in second place regarding headroom, shoulder room, and overall legroom. Here, overall legroom is the average of the front and rear. Comparing legroom based on where the default seat position is in the front row does not tell the whole story. The Warlock had the best hip room in both rows and the most comfortable seats.

Ram bases the Warlock on the Tradesman trim level. As such, it does not share the amenities you can get at the highest luxury level. The Warlock impressed us with the thoughtful packaging of features in a more accessible trim level. As Lyn Woodward explains, “The infotainment screen might feel small to some, but it’s nicely integrated into the dash and with sharp graphics that more than gets the job done. The jump seat is an interior X-factor that might be expensive (as it is on the Land Rover Defender), but it comes as standard equipment. The base model Tradesman, on which the Warlock gets built, gets nice cloth seats that feel durable, are comfortable, and look great.”

The interior of the truck was more spartan than the others we tested. Still, we know that Ram offers larger screens, a stellar range of elegant cabins—yes, truck cabins can be elegant—and several creature comfort options. In addition to notes about the lack of features in the second row, there were mixed feelings about the lack of a specific lever to tilt up the rear seat and/or a latch to hold it in place. However, the folding rear seats are easy to use and create an ample, easy-to-use space for cargo when folded.

The Warlock also comes with the Ram’s newest engine: the 420-hp twin-turbo inline-6 known as the “Hurricane.” This engine felt responsive, and while it doesn’t sound like a V8, the Hurricane feels more powerful.

Not only do you have plenty of power at hand, but the ride and comfort in the Ram is excellent. Even with our tester’s off-road-biased tires, this truck would be comfortable for long-distance drives. Steering was predictable, and some editorial staff felt the handling was the best of the three.

While styling isn’t the primary reason someone should buy a truck, the Ram got rave reviews for its appearance. We all thought the Ram’s updated styling improved an already attractive truck, and the Warlock wore it well. Sean Tucker said, “I thought I was done with blackout packages, which seem overdone at this point, but Ram reminds me they can look cool. I’m a sucker for color in a world of too many white, black, and gray trucks. Ram’s Forged Blue Metallic is gray in some lighting and from some angles but subtle blue with a hint of shimmer in other lighting and from other angles. Is that a reason to buy a truck? Rationally, no. But maybe it’s a reason to buy a sport truck named after a cool magic user.” Lyn Woodward felt the Ram had “subtle and tastefully rugged styling. I think this truck looks boss.” Add the off-road gear the Warlock comes with, and the stance and capability are very easy to like.

Ram is not resting on its laurels; we noticed that in the 2025 model we drove. As Lyn Woodward said, “I’m impressed with how Ram keeps innovating in the truck space, and the Warlock continues that tradition.”

Learn more about the Ram 1500 in our Expert Review

First Place: 2025 Ford F-150

The Handiest Multitool You Can Get

The Ford F-150 was the unanimous pick as the winner of this comparison. It offers the most trim levels, cab and bed combinations, and powertrain varieties of any truck here: two twin-turbo engines, a traditional V8, a hybrid, an EV, and two high-performance Raptor engines. It also boasts the best towing and payload capacity in the segment and up to 430 hp in the hybrid. Whichever engine you choose, power feels plentiful for most towing and hauling duties. We’ve been pleased with the standard 2.7-liter twin-turbo, but the hybrid offers power, efficiency, and towing capacity. Almost every full-size truck shopper can find something to like, which is only part of why the F-Series has been the best-selling truck line in America for nearly 50 years.

Both rows of this Ford are very roomy. The F-150 offers the most rear headroom and overall legroom (again, the average of the front and rear legroom) of this test. It also has the most shoulder room in both rows. The F-150 we tested was an FX4, and we were impressed with the off-road information displayed within the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen.

We were all impressed with the innovative workstation setup. The massive center console has a hinged cover that flips forward, and the transmission shifter folds down, creating a large, flat work area with plenty of space for a laptop and more.

Our tester’s ride quality felt solid, but several editors surmised that this Ford would ride even better with a payload or a trailer in tow. The steering response was a bit relaxed, which you want when towing.

While many marvel at the near-luxury features available in full-size trucks, capability might be the most significant need. The F-150 has it, plus several options for shoppers. The F-150 can tow up to 13,500 pounds. Unlike other trucks’ maximum towing capacity, you don’t have to get a regular cab with a long bed to get maximum towing. Here, it’s with the SuperCrew (crew cab).

When using the truck bed, Sean Tucker came away impressed. He noted that “the wheel wells barely intrude on the bed space compared to the competition. The rails are recessed, so they don’t take up bed space and won’t scratch anything. If I had to move an expensive piece of furniture, I’d rather have the F-150’s bed than any of the others’… and that’s not even considering Pro Power OnBoard.” In addition to the onboard generator, the F-150 is also available with an exterior bed step, a tailgate-mounted bed step with handrail, a split tailgate that allows easy access to cargo even when you hook up a trailer, and an onboard scale that can estimate payload as you load it.

The F-150 proved capable, powerful, and as functional or luxurious as you want. It has a wide range of thoughtful features that make using a truck much easier. As Lyn Woodward said, “From configuration options to durability, this is a truck that’s tough to beat.”

Learn more about the Ford F-150 in our Expert Review