Which Toyota Is Best for Conquering Moab?

If given the choice, which one would you take to the desert, up in the mountains, or on a road trip? Some choices are easy. Others require some thought. If you had to choose between a 2025 Toyota Tacoma and a 2025 4Runner, that might be either easy or difficult—depending on your needs.  

The Drive recently had the chance to drive the Tacoma and 4Runner at Moab National Park in Utah. The editors wanted to know which would be a great vehicle to tackle the technical and challenging off-road courses inside one of the most beautiful landscapes in this country.  

They had a bevy of vehicles available for this off-road trek. The 2025 Tacoma and 2025 4Runner fleet each included a TRD Off-Road (i-FORCE turbo engine) and a TRD Pro and Trailhunter (i-FORCE MAX hybrid driveline). With this mix of trim levels, drivelines, and capabilities, they had the tools to handle the rough trails and obstacles Moab offers to the toughest vehicles around.  

Overall, The Drive observed that the Tacoma—and the 4Runner—exhibited plenty of qualities that kept them on the trails. For example, “The low-end torque on this thing is bountiful, making light work of heavy climbs. The gigantic infotainment screen…becomes quite helpful coming over blind crests in camera mode. Low-range engages effortlessly. The main gauge display can be configured to report a lot of useful information. The previously mentioned underbody armor…provides pretty comprehensive protection against rocks.” 

Regarding the 4Runner, The Drive reported that it had a “good ride, it was easy to keep track of where the tires are, and I even felt like I had better traction than I did in the Tacoma, especially on downhills. That retractable rear window is still a delight. Yeah, dust occasionally blows in. But when you’re underway, it gives you a lot of the breeze-benefit of a convertible without the sun beating down on your head.” 

In the end, editors at The Drive provided no winners on this trail run. Across the board, they said that “the power and traction aids will look after you if you just know where to point the wheels. And the journey will be nice, with climate-controlled seats and steering wheels. Arrive at a campsite refreshed and with plenty of power outlets ready to rock and roll.” 

The Drive concluded that “today’s Toyota trucks pretty much do what ’90s Land Rovers promised—providing a refined experience in rugged arenas. If you just want to hit the trail, an old SR5 base model with good tires will get the job done. If you want the full arsenal of toys straight off the showroom floor, a new Trailhunter is the ticket.”  

Toyota offers a line of great vehicles to take to Moab—or to the High Desert. Not just the 2025 Tacoma and 2025 4Runner, but also the 2025 Land Cruiser. Contact us at Valley Hi Toyota to choose your vehicle for your next adventure—and every adventure afterwards.