Video summary

BEST to WORST: Watch ALL the dual-cabs on sale get put to the test off-road

Main summary

Key takeaways

Sport

Video summary (sports-event style adaptation)

This off-road test ranks 21 dual-cab pickup/ute models based on how well they manage traction control and chassis stability across progressively harder obstacles. The course escalates from a chassis “flex” check—through controlled traction tests on simulated ice-like rollers—then up deep moguls on a steep grade, and finally a very steep loose-stone hill where vehicles score by how far they reach (cones/points).

Setup and test structure

The host, Paul, explains this is Part 1 of a larger series (with other parts including towing and drag testing). He also notes models not included and why, such as:

  • unavailable,
  • declined participation,
  • unsuitable towing category,
  • not filmed yet,
  • refused supply,
  • or EVs with no towing capability.

Obstacles (in order)

  1. Flex test

    • Vehicles are twisted to stress the chassis and evaluate whether doors open/close cleanly after the load.

  2. Roller “ice-road” hill (~15% grade)

    • Traction control is assessed by loading the left side onto rollers (simulated ice).
    • One tire remains on concrete for traction.
    • The truck must climb using traction control to “choose” the path of least slip.

  3. Mogul hill (~30% grade, deep offset moguls)

    • Tests traction control plus articulation and tire bite in real-world-like conditions.

  4. Ultimate hill (~45% grade, loose gravel / variable depth)

    • Low-range crawling.
    • Diffs start unlocked; diffs may be locked with point deductions.
    • Vehicles are scored by the cone reached.

Scoring theme

Traction-control effectiveness matters more than raw drivetrain power. Tires are kept factory/typical to preserve the intended calibration.

Notable vehicle-by-vehicle outcomes (highlights)

Toyota Hilux (new)

  • Flex: Rigid performance; no door issues.
  • Rollers: Full pass—succeeds in both front-wheel-driven and rear-wheel-driven configurations using traction control.
  • Moguls (~30%): Climbs first without diffs locked, relying largely on traction control, then continues smoothly.
  • Ultimate (~45%): Strong standout—climbs impressively with diffs unlocked and minimal drive-mode fuss.

BYD Shark (electric/hybrid, dual-motor)

  • Flex: Pass; chassis strengthened with no major door issue.
  • Rollers: Pass with front-wheel drive, but rear-wheel drive requires switching to a different terrain mode (“mountain”) to succeed.
  • Moguls: Rear/traction behavior is inconsistent; mud mode becomes the key to success.
  • Ultimate (~45%): Comes close but fails to crest due to repeated inconsistencies; disabling stability control does not help.

Ford Ranger (V6)

  • Rollers: Passes both front and rear traction-control trials.
  • Ultimate (~45%): Significant struggle; rear diff lock helps rear wheel rotation, but overall judged a fail for this steep climb unless “rushing.”
  • Critique: Traction control tuning is described as less refined, potentially contributing to excessive tire wear.

Ford Ranger Superduty

  • Flex: Pass.
  • Rollers: Passes front and rear traction tests; hill behavior is mixed.
  • Ultimate (~45%): Attempts lead to multiple system faults and continued struggle; not strong enough versus top performers.

Kia Tasman (X-Pro focus acknowledged)

  • Rollers: Generally strong traction-control performance.
  • Safety/feature concern: Major issue noted—emergency braking in reverse during off-roading.
  • Moguls/Ultimate: Performs well once the correct terrain mode is selected, but the safety feature is criticized for affecting scoring/penalties.

KGM MUXO / “Muso” (autolocking rear diff noted)

  • Flex: Chassis rigidity acceptable.
  • Rollers: At least some configurations fail; rear diff lock and terrain logic are important.
  • Moguls/Ultimate: Can climb, but autolocking rear diff behavior is criticized as unpredictable and destabilizing, leading to scoring deductions.

Navara (platform shared with Triton; Triton not included)

  • Rollers: Strong rear/traction result with the right drive-mode strategy.
  • Moguls/Ultimate: Requires correct modes and sometimes rear diff lock.
  • Critique: Would benefit from better high-range rear diff lock capability and more refined traction behavior across offsets.

Chevy Silverado ZR2

  • Flex: Pass.
  • Rollers: Front-wheel drive fails; rear-wheel drive passes.
  • Moguls/Ultimate: Treated as “walk in the park” thanks to wheelbase, chunky tires, and traction control.
  • Final standing: Near the front, but not crowned due to tie-break outcomes.

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

  • Flex: Door catch issue reduces rigidity under twist (fail).
  • Rollers & climbs: Very capable with strong traction-control behavior.
  • Additional highlight: Sway-bar disconnect improves articulation and reduces slip.
  • Result: Despite capability, the flex issue costs top position.

Inos Grenadier Quartermaster

  • Roller: Front-wheel-drive test fails; rear-wheel-drive passes.
  • Moguls/Ultimate: Can climb when configured (low range, diff-center lock, off-road mode), but finishes behind the top two.

Isuzu D-Max / Mazda BT-50 (platform pairing)

  • Both series excel due to rough terrain traction control mode and strong calibration.
  • They climb steep terrain with minimal/no rear diff lock intervention (though limitations exist depending on range).
  • They gain points through strong traction-control performance, but don’t win because top cars are judged as more complete overall.

Other notable lows/highs

  • Jack T9: Biggest disappointment—traction control repeatedly ineffective with fault/behavior issues; scored very low.
  • Ram 1500: Strong contender; excellent flexibility and articulation; expected top-tier.
  • Toyota Land Cruiser 79: Basic but proven; passes with factory-style diff/low-range ability and is praised as a reliable workhorse.

Final outcome (winner declaration logic)

In the wrap-up, Paul emphasizes fairness:

  • After initial runs, cars that already passed were run again at the end to confirm the hill hadn’t degraded unfairly.
  • Tires were not standardized because the goal is traction-control capability as calibrated to factory tires, not a pure tire comparison.

Results summary

  • Paul declares the final winners as a tie-break between:
    1. Ram 1500 (top performer)
    2. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 (top performer)

Why Hilux wasn’t #1

  • The Hilux is still excellent, but penalized because it lacks a 4A mode on that new model package (Paul expects newer competitors to support it).

Big disappointments (driving low ranks)

  • Jack T9: traction-control faults.
  • Kia Tasman: critique of reverse emergency braking safety behavior affecting scoring.

Presenters / sources

  • Presenter / Host: Paul
  • Referenced authority: Marcus Fabius Quintilian (principle cited at the start)

Original video