Ep. 310: These Are The 2025 WINNER And LOSER Trucks!
About this episode
A lively discussion unfolds as hosts analyze the winners and losers in the truck market for 2025. They delve into the TFL Truck of the Year competition, highlighting extensive testing methods that prioritize data over personal preference. Notable mentions include the RAM 1500 with the Hurricane engine and the Maverick as standout performers, while the Cybertruck and Nismo Armada are deemed significant disappointments. The episode also teases upcoming trends and vehicles to watch for in 2026, promising an engaging look at the evolving landscape of trucks.
( https://www.alltfl.com/ ) Check out our new spot to find ALL our content, from news to videos and our podcasts! In this episode of TFL Talkin’ Trucks, Andre and Roman break down the biggest winner and loser trucks of 2025 after a year of testing, driving, and watching the market react. On the winning side, they talk about why Ram’s Hurricane-powered trucks, Ford’s V8 Coyote, the bold Scout Terra, the often-debated Honda Ridgeline and more managed to stand out in a crowded and rapidly changing truck landscape.
On the flip side, they don’t hold back on the trucks that struggled to deliver, including the continued challenges facing EV trucks, the Ineos Quartermaster, and the ever-controversial Tesla Cybertruck. From performance and practicality to pricing and buyer expectations, Andre and Roman explain what worked, what didn’t, and what these wins and losses tell us about where the truck market is headed next.
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Porsche 997
"He's got our newly acquired Porsche 997. Then he's racing against Tommy's Aston Martin Vantage."
The Porsche 997 is a popular sports car that was made from 1999 to 2004. It has a powerful engine at the back and is known for driving well and looking classic.
The Porsche 997 is the third generation of the iconic 911 sports car, produced from 1999 to 2004. It features a rear‑engine layout and is celebrated for its balance, handling, and classic styling.
Ford Maverick
"We never compared the Maverick to a super duty before as far as truck of the year."
The Ford Maverick is a tiny pickup truck that started selling in 2022. It’s smaller than most trucks but still has a bed and can carry loads.
The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup truck that debuted in 2022, offering a small footprint with modern features.
Nissan Titan
"[216.6s] four different 50, of course. So you had all the full size trucks. All of them. The Nissan Titan is no more."
The Nissan Titan is a big truck made by Nissan. It’s good for hauling heavy loads and can tow trailers.
The Nissan Titan is a full‑size pickup truck produced by Nissan, known for its strong towing capability and ruggedness.
towing test
"[241.7s] night gauntlet world stuff is towing test. We did a Denver 100 MPG loop."
A towing test checks how well a truck can pull something heavy, like a trailer. It shows if the engine and brakes are strong enough.
A towing test measures how well a vehicle can pull a trailer or heavy load, evaluating performance under sustained weight and acceleration.
Denver 100 MPG loop
"[241.7s] night gauntlet world stuff is towing test. We did a Denver 100 MPG loop."
The Denver 100 MPG loop is a test where cars drive around to see how many miles they can go on one gallon of gas. It helps compare fuel efficiency.
The Denver 100 MPG loop is a fuel‑economy test where vehicles drive a set distance in Denver to measure miles per gallon, highlighting efficiency.
drag race
"[241.7s] night gauntlet world stuff is towing test. We did a Denver 100 MPG loop. And then we also did the drag race with all of these trucks."
A drag race is when two cars drive as fast as they can on a straight track for a short distance. It shows how quickly a car can accelerate.
A drag race is a straight‑line speed contest over a short distance, used to assess acceleration and top speed of vehicles.
heavy duty trucks
"there's a lot of rumors about heavy duty trucks, you know, getting some updates even from John Motors and some others."
Heavy duty trucks are big pickups that can carry a lot of weight, like trailers or heavy equipment.
Heavy duty trucks refer to large, high‑payload commercial pickups designed for towing and hauling heavy loads, often used in construction or logistics.
Honda Passport
"Well, Cole, can you pull up a car, a channel TFL car, and we did the Honda Passport ike recently did did well."
The Honda Passport is a big SUV that can carry families and cargo. It has a strong engine and good safety features.
The Honda Passport is a midsize crossover SUV built on the same platform as the Honda Pilot. It offers a roomy interior and off‑road capability with a 3.5L V6 engine.
GMC Yukon
"People use three row SUVs, especially the body of frame SUVs. You know, the big ones like Armada... or Tahoe, Yukon, all those suburban..."
The Yukon is a large SUV that can tow trailers and has a comfortable cabin.
The GMC Yukon is a full‑size, body‑on‑frame SUV that shares its platform with the Chevrolet Tahoe. It offers robust towing and a premium interior.
Chevrolet Tahoe
"People use three row SUVs, especially the body of frame SUVs. You know, the big ones like Armada... or Tahoe, Yukon, all those suburban..."
The Tahoe is a big SUV that can tow trailers and has lots of room for people and gear.
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full‑size SUV built on a body‑on‑frame chassis, offering strong towing capability and a spacious interior.
Infiniti QX60
"People use three row SUVs, especially the body of frame SUVs. You know, the big ones like Armada... or Tahoe, Yukon, all those suburban, or if you're an infinity, the QX60 with the 66,000, no, 6,000 pound towing package."
The QX60 is a stylish SUV that can tow trailers and has comfortable seating for families.
The Infiniti QX60 is a midsize crossover SUV built on the Nissan platform, known for its upscale interior and strong towing package.
Nissan Armada
"People use three row SUVs, especially the body of frame SUVs. You know, the big ones like Armada, if you're in the Nissan world..."
The Armada is a very large SUV that can tow heavy trailers and has plenty of space for passengers.
The Nissan Armada is a full‑size, body‑on‑frame SUV known for its towing capacity and ruggedness. It shares a platform with the Chevrolet Tahoe.
side by side
"Or you may be towing a side by side, or maybe talking about with it."
A side‑by‑side is a small off‑road vehicle that can seat two people next to each other. It’s like a big lawn mower but with wheels and can pull small trailers.
A side‑by‑side (SxS) is a type of off‑road vehicle similar to an ATV but larger, with two seats side by side. They are often used for towing trailers or equipment in rugged terrain.
turbo
"It's because you're spoiled by turbos, right? You think you're getting this big old V8."
A turbo is a small machine that pushes extra air into the engine, so it can make more power. It’s like giving the engine a boost.
A turbocharger is a device that forces more air into an engine’s combustion chamber, allowing it to burn more fuel and produce more power without increasing the engine size.
matching trailers
"[1510.2s] We have to get matching trailers. [1512.2s] And so that was also heavy lifts."
When you tow a trailer, it’s important that the trailer fits well with your truck. A matching trailer is one that was made to work best with a particular truck, so it’s safer and easier to drive.
Matching trailers are trailers whose size, weight capacity, and hitch configuration are designed to pair perfectly with a specific truck or vehicle. They ensure safe towing by balancing the load and maintaining proper aerodynamics.
Ford F-150 hybrid
"[1595.2s] And also the F-150 hybrid that we recently tested is also quite a good pickup truck for a hybrid."
It’s a big truck that runs on both gasoline and electricity, so it uses less gas than a regular F‑150 but still can haul heavy loads.
The Ford F‑150 hybrid is a full‑size pickup truck that combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor to improve fuel economy while maintaining the power and towing capability of a traditional F‑150.
Toyota
"So the thing I'm wondering is Toyota just slowly rolling or slow rolling the recall, because they knew that even the hybrid engines were bad or could potentially go bad."
Toyota is a big car company from Japan that makes many popular cars, trucks, and hybrids.
Toyota is a Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles across a wide range of models.
dual-opening tailgate
"It's got the tailgate that opens up two ways. It flips down and folds out."
This tailgate can open in two different ways—either it flips down or it folds out sideways—so you have more options for loading and unloading.
A dual‑opening tailgate can be opened in two ways: it can flip down like a traditional lift‑gate or fold out sideways, providing versatile access to the cargo area.
Stellantis
"I think that Stellantis... It's just so confusing because Stellantis actually does really well in Europe with their electric vehicles."
Stellantis is a big company that makes many different cars, like Jeep and Dodge. It was created when two large car companies joined together.
Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A.S., owning brands like Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Peugeot, Citroën, and more.
Pujo
"[2536.2s] It's Pujo, right? [2537.7s] Stellantis, owns Pujo."
Pujo makes cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline, and it is part of a big company called Stellantis.
Pujo is a European automotive brand that specializes in producing electric vehicles, operating under the larger Stellantis group.
electric vehicles
"[2541.7s] Pujo builds all these really good electric vehicles in Europe."
Electric vehicles run on electricity stored in batteries, so they don't use gasoline.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars powered by electric motors and batteries instead of internal combustion engines.
Jeep
"They've got even a Jeep that's very..."
Jeep makes cars that are good for rough terrain and off‑road adventures. They’re famous for their rugged design.
Jeep is an American automobile brand known for its off‑road vehicles, especially the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee.
supercharger
"Originally the plan for ours was the supercharger, but the problem with supercharging is we're going to spend $11,000 on it."
A supercharger squeezes extra air into the engine so it can burn more fuel and make more horsepower. It’s a common upgrade for people who want their car to run faster.
A supercharger is a device that compresses air before it enters the engine, increasing oxygen levels and allowing more fuel to be burned for higher power output.
EcoBoost
"[3006.7s] It's better than the coyote. [3008.7s] It's better than the EcoBoost."
EcoBoost is a type of engine that uses a turbocharger to help the car go faster while using less gas. It’s common in many Ford cars.
EcoBoost refers to Ford’s line of turbocharged, direct‑fuel injected engines designed for better fuel efficiency and performance.
Hummer EV
"[3128.7s] It's the Hummer EV. [3130.7s] It's surprisingly..."
The Hummer EV is a big electric truck made by GM. It has a huge battery and can go off the road like a regular Hummer but uses electricity instead of gas.
The Hummer EV is an all-electric pickup truck produced by GMC, a division of General Motors. It features a large battery pack and is designed for off‑road capability with high torque.
Chevrolet Armada
"He was just mentioning that the Nismo body kit on the Armada looks kind of silly."
The Armada is a big truck made by Chevrolet. It can pull heavy trailers and has plenty of space inside.
The Chevrolet Armada is a full‑size pickup truck produced by General Motors. It’s known for its large size and towing capability.
Caterpillar
"people are putting out caterpillar trucks"
Caterpillar makes big trucks that are used for heavy work like building roads or digging mines.
Caterpillar is a company that makes heavy equipment, including trucks used for construction and mining.
torque
"…who's got the most pump, where a feet pound, well, torque."
Torque is the engine’s twisting power. It helps a truck start moving from a stop and pull heavy stuff, like trailers.
Torque is the rotational force produced by an engine, measured in foot-pounds or Newton-meters. It determines how quickly a vehicle can accelerate and is especially important for pulling heavy loads or climbing hills.
Cummins
"remember, they had the Cummins,"
Cummins makes diesel engines that are famous for being strong and long‑lasting, especially in big trucks.
Cummins is an American manufacturer of diesel engines, known for producing powerful and durable powertrains used in trucks, buses, and industrial equipment.
Ram
"But Ram is still kind of soldering on with some of their slightly older tech. All right, and the last one..."
Ram makes big trucks that are popular for hauling and towing.
Ram Trucks is a brand of heavy‑duty trucks produced by FCA US, known for the Ram 1500.
Ineos Grenadier
"I think I saw the Ineos Grenadier. Because..."
The Ineos Grenadier is a tough, off‑road SUV from the UK. It’s made to be strong and reliable in rough places.
The Ineos Grenadier is a rugged, off‑road SUV built by the British company Ineos. It’s designed to be simple, durable and highly capable in extreme terrain.
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