The Most Powerful Four-Cylinder Truck Available In 2025

Gone are the days when a V-engine had to be the driving force for the heavyweight nature of pickup trucks - it is still nice to feel the grunt of one, of course, but thanks to the evolution of turbo technology, advanced engineering, and improved practices, we don't need something massive to be able to get a couple of hundred horses from the engine. Turns out, there is a replacement for displacement in the modern market.

Today, there are pickup trucks for every occasion. Our affinity for them doesn't seem to be waning, even up against the SUV market, and this year, a lot of new trucks are being released with a four-cylinder engine instead of a V-engine that may have taken pride of place just a few years back. Across the market, power outputs are relatively good, especially turbocharged examples - they have to be to make the truck useful, but this pickup truck has more power than all of them and makes for a very versatile machine.

We are taking a look at the pickup truck with the most powerful four-cylinder engine in 2025; it is produced by the market heavyweight that is Toyota and is a very useful all-round, so we have brought you information about its performance credentials, what makes it a standout model, and how it stacks up against other four-cylinder-powered pickup trucks in 2025.

The 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Takes Top Spot For Power

2025 Toyota Tacoma Limited Crew Cab in red parked off road

This year's most powerful four-cylinder pickup truck is one of America's favorite mid-size pickup trucks and comes equipped with a potent hybrid engine that makes it not only powerful, but, considering its size and weight, a relatively fuel-efficient truck to own, it is, of course, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid.

2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Performance Specifications

Under the hood of the Tacoma Hybrid is a turbocharged 2.4-liter i-FORCE Max hybrid inline-four that kicks out more power than the gas-only examples this year, and makes it a very useful and torquey mill that is well-equipped for off-roading and the hard life. The Tacoma Hybrid boasts a longitudinal hybrid mill that features a 48 horsepower electric motor, and, according to Toyota, can wind out a 75 percent increase in torque compared to the previous-generation V-6-powered Tacoma.

With a horsepower output of 326 horsepower, the hybrid outpowers the gas models by 48 horsepower (thanks to the electric motor it is paired with) and gives the Tacoma not unreasonable 0-60 MPH times of sub-eight-seconds, so it is quicker than SUVs like the Mazda CX-5 and more versatile off-road and for towing. Alongside the high power output, the Tacoma Hybrid is relatively frugal and can achieve a combined MPG rating of 24 MPG, costing you, on average, $1,950 a year on gas, which can give you the opportunity to save a lot of money on gas over 5 years compared to other pickup trucks on the market.

Toyota Tacoma Hybrid MSRP: $47,815

Toyota is firing shots across the bow of some of our favorite pickup truck manufacturers, like Ford with their new Ranger, both in the ICE and hybrid markets with its low price point of just under $48,000. There are five trims available this year, including the base trim with the sub-$48,000 starting price, and include:

• 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. MSRP: $47,815.
• 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road. MSRP: $48,115.
• 2025 Toyota Tacoma Limited. MSRP: $57,375.
• 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter. MSRP: $64,230.
• 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. MSRP: $65,230.

The Tacoma hybrid models weigh in at 5,045 pounds and boast a decent power-to-weight ratio of 0.063 horsepower per pound, or if you buy the base trim (TRD Sport), it will cost you $146 per horsepower.

The Tacoma Hybrid trims exclusively feature the Double Cab configuration, which offers 41.8 inches of front legroom and 33.7 inches of rear legroom, with seating for up to five people. Additionally, all trims, except for the Trailhunter, are available with a five-foot bed measuring 60.3 inches (L) x 56.4 inches (W at floor level) x 21.2 inches (H), while the Trailhunter is available with a six-foot bed measuring 73.5 inches (L) x 56.4 inches (W at floor level) x 21.2 inches (H).

Five Tacoma Hybrid Trims For Every Sort Of Trucking

2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Crew Cab in white driving through a river

All trims of the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid come equipped with an automatic limited-slip differential and four-wheel drive as standard, so you know that, even at base level, it is made for a rugged life and can be used as a hard-working truck. Boasting a decent payload capacity, staunch towing capabilities, and a hardy build, the Tacoma has always been a workhorse around the sites, and utilitarian for off-road fun. But, depending on what trim you choose, it will determine how extremely you can push this hybrid beast.

What Tacoma Hybrid Trims Are Good For What

The TRD Sport is a great option for those of you who are looking for a mix of daily driving with occasional off-road fun. Showcasing part-time four-wheel drive, a two-speed electronically controlled transfer case, and Active Traction Control, the base trim is a good start to capable and hardy trucking mixed with frugal capabilities. If you are looking to prioritize off-road capability a little more, the TRD Off-Road is a strong choice. It comes equipped with a composite front skid plate for underbody protection, and it rolls 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, so it is a little more equipped for the trails.

The Limited trim is designed for a little more refinement inside, with an adaptive variable suspension system, dual-zone climate control, SofTex-trimmed seats, with eight-way power-adjustable seats up front, and a 14-inch touchscreen (which is upgraded from the eight-inch addition boasted in TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road).

Toyota

For those of you who are looking for a serious off-road pickup truck, the Trailhunter and TRD Pro trims are what you want to look at. The Trailhunter is built as an overlanding companion with a high-clearance front bumper, a stabilizer disconnect mechanism, red-painted recovery points, and a steel rear bumper. Also showcased is a specialist off-road suspension system that features rear remote-reservoir shocks with a 1-inch front lift and 0.5-inch rear lift, and a high-mount air intake.

The top-of-the-range trim is the TRD Pro, and is the best setup for shorter off-road adventuring. Showcasing TRD-tuned Fox shocks, 33-inch Goodyear tires, adaptive variable suspension, a TRD performance cold air intake, which helps keep the engine temperature at the right level at high revs when you're crawling over rocks, TRD Pro off-road suspension with 2.5-inch adjustable dampers, an aluminum front skid plate, a reinforced rocker protector, and a disconnecting front anti-roll bar.

A Combination Of High-Tech Additions And A Rugged Build

Toyota

Across the range, the Tacoma Hybrid is highly renowned. Expert reviews have given it a nearly-perfect review on Kelley Blue Book with a 4.8 out of 5-star rating, while it receives a score of 82 out of 100 on JD Power based on owner reviews. Toyota is up there with some of the most innovative automakers, and aside from the hybrid system that helps give this hefty truck some modernly-acceptable MPG ratings, the cabin and overall build are filled with techy additions that make the Tacoma both easy to operate and safe.

In Cabin Tech That Sets A High Standard

At the core of the hybrid Tacoma is the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, displayed on either an 8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen (trim dependent) with wireless smartphone connectivity, while over-the-air updates keep everything running smoothly. The cabin also boasts a wireless charging pad, USB-C ports, and voice recognition technology, so it is fully kitted out for your trucking technophiles.

The TRD Sport features a seven-inch digital cluster, the TRD Off-Road upgrades to a 10-inch display with off-roading-specific data, the Limited trim comes equipped with a JBL audio system with eight speakers, while the TRD Pro takes it up a notch with an 11-speaker system and IsoDynamic Performance Front Seats, designed to keep you stable on rough ground.

On top of all of that, Toyota has equipped the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system as standard across all trims, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and lane departure alert with steering assist. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control helps you to maintain a set speed and distance from whoever is in front of you, while Road Sign Assist displays speed limits and other signs on the dashboard.

It is worth noting, though, if you own a four-wheel-drive Tacoma produced within the last two years and are a fan of off-roading, a recall has been issued due to potential braking problems caused by the buildup of dirt and debris that can damage brake lines. It is always worth getting things like this checked out.

Toyota-Grade Reliability

Aside from the pretty dangerous-sounding brake line recall that should definitely be checked out, the Toyota Tacoma Hybrid is part of the long line of Toyota vehicles that are renowned for their dependability.

According to Repair Pal, the Tacoma has a 3.5 out of 5 reliability rating and a low annual repair bill of $478, much below the mid-size segment average annual repair bill of $548. Likewise, Car Edge has said that the Toyota Tacoma has a low depreciation rate of just 28 percent over 5 years, partly due to its good reliability, and as part of its five-year ownership cost of $46,247, only $2,163 (5 percent) of your money is spent on maintenance.

How The 2025 Tacoma Hybrid Competes With Other Four-Cylinder Pickup Trucks

Toyota

The pickup truck market is as hot as ever, and the current mid-size pickup truck segment is relatively buoyant - offering us a mix between hardcore usability, versatility, and a more convenient size (we say "convenient" with a small "c" - they are still relatively big). But with the four-cylinder mill offering us decent power outputs, cheaper fuel costs, and a less complex engine to maintain, they are becoming very useful in the segment, and the Tacoma Hybrid is at the top of the pile for power output. But, there are a fair few competitors out there, from the likes of Hyundai, Ford, GMC, and Chevrolet, making it hard for the Tacoma Hybrid to remain the overall best mid-size pickup truck of 2025.

In terms of price, the Tacoma is in the middle of the field for price, with the cheapest 2025 four-cylinder-engine-powered pickup trucks including:

• 2025 Ford Maverick. MSRP: $26,550.
• 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz - MSRP: $28,650.
• 2025 Chevrolet Colorado. MSRP: $31,900.
• 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Pro. MSRP: $38,300.

In terms of towing capacity, the Tacoma does slip behind the 2025 Ford Ranger, which showcases a 7,500-pound towing capacity, the 2025 Chevrolet Colorado, which can tow up to 7,700 pounds, the 2025 GMC Canyon, which can tow the same as the Colorado, and way behind the full-size 2025 GMC Sierra 1500, which has an impressive towing capacity of 9,500-pounds.

Aside from the Tacoma Hybrid, the most powerful four-cylinder pickup trucks this year include the GMC Sierra, GMC Canyon, and Chevrolet Colorado base trims, which all boast the same engine, but outside of General Motors creations, models like the Ford Ranger and the Hyundai Santa Cruz do a reasonable job in terms of power, but unfortunately, nowhere near what the Tacoma and GMC models are kicking out.