MotorTrend’s comparison-test firehose proves one thing: 2025-2026 is all about EVs and off-road trims
Three years ago, nobody predicted mainstream comparison tests would read like a group chat between an EV engineer and an overlanding influencer. Yet here we are: MotorTrend’s latest run of head-to-heads is stacked with electric SUVs, EV trucks doing dirt-duty cosplay, and a whole lot of “TrailSport/Wilderness/Woodland/AT4” badges trying to convince you a skid plate is a personality.
At a glance, the most telling detail isn’t which model “won” any single matchup—it’s the pattern. In just a handful of months, the site’s comparison slate bounces from a “$35K” Equinox EV value check to Tesla Model Y rematches, then straight into a Silverado EV Trail Boss vs. Ram 2500 Power Wagon dirt throwdown. That’s the market in 2026: consumers cross-shopping battery packs against boulder modes, and editors trying to keep the tests grounded in reality.
Here’s what jumped out, and why it matters if you’re shopping with your brain instead of your brand loyalty.
By the Numbers: What MotorTrend’s latest comparisons say about the market
- EVs are no longer a “special segment” story—MotorTrend ran “EV SUV Big Test! New Tesla Model Y vs. 6 Challengers” (Aug 22, 2025), then followed with multiple direct rematches (Aug 11, 2025 and Aug 15, 2025).
- Value pressure is mainstream: “The $35K Chevy Equinox EV Nails the Basics” (Aug 20, 2025) is positioned explicitly against a “loaded” Mustang Mach-E.
- Off-road branding is everywhere: CR-V TrailSport vs. RAV4 Woodland vs. Forester Wilderness (Jan 14, 2026), plus Passport TrailSport vs. Terrain AT4 (Nov 19, 2025).
- EV trucks are trying to be real trucks: Silverado EV Trail Boss vs. Ram 2500 Power Wagon “in the dirt” (Mar 4, 2026).
- The enthusiast lane isn’t dead—it’s just sharing bandwidth with crossovers: Civic Si vs. GTI (Feb 2, 2026), M2 vs. RS3 (Sep 26, 2025), GR Corolla vs. Golf R (Sep 22, 2025).
No, we don’t get hard specs, test numbers, or pricing breakdowns in this source list beyond the “$35K” Equinox EV callout and the “1,515-HP” desert showdown headline. So I’m not going to pretend we do. But even headlines tell you where the editorial—and consumer—gravity is.
What you should do right now if you’re shopping: use these matchups as a shortcut
Comparison tests are useful because they expose the lie your spreadsheet tells you: two vehicles can look identical on paper and still feel wildly different day-to-day. MotorTrend basically says that out loud with “Kia Telluride Hybrid vs. Hyundai Palisade Hybrid: Similar SUVs, Different Feel, One Winner” (Apr 6, 2026). That’s the premise more buyers need to internalize.
If you’re a young professional trying to buy one vehicle that does everything—commute, weekend trips, Costco runs, maybe a dirt road to a campsite—your shortlist probably lives right inside these matchups:
- If you’re considering a compact SUV with a little outdoorsy seasoning: “2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport vs. Toyota RAV4 Woodland vs. Subaru Forester Wilderness: Bite-Size Bushwackers” (Jan 14, 2026) is the exact slice of the market where most people should start. Not because you’ll rock-crawl, but because these trims often bundle the comfort tech you actually use with just enough durability to handle real-life neglect.
- If you want an EV but don’t want to be a beta tester: the repeated Tesla Model Y comparisons (“New Tesla Model Y vs. 6 Challengers,” plus the Mach-E and Ioniq 5 bouts) tell you the segment is mature enough to argue on details, not just drivetrain ideology.
- If you’re tempted by the “cheap EV” promise: the “$35K Chevy Equinox EV” headline is doing heavy lifting. It’s a reminder that price compression is finally forcing EVs to compete like normal cars—features per dollar, not vibes per tweet.
EVs vs. the hype machine: the tests that actually matter
The most important EV story here isn’t a single model—it’s repetition. MotorTrend didn’t run one Tesla Model Y comparison and move on. It kept going:
- “EV SUV Big Test! New Tesla Model Y vs. 6 Challengers (Only One Aced the Test)” (Aug 22, 2025)
- “2026 Tesla Model Y vs. 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Old Guard EVs Vie for Supremacy” (Aug 15, 2025)
- “Electric SUV Rematch! 2026 Tesla Model Y vs. Hyundai Ioniq 5” (Aug 11, 2025)
That cadence signals two things. First, buyers are cross-shopping within a stable set of nameplates—the segment has “regulars” now. Second, “winning” isn’t permanent. Software updates, trim changes, and pricing moves can flip a result fast, which is exactly why recurring comparisons are more valuable than one-and-done first drives.
Also, shoutout to the editors for framing it as “old guard EVs” by 2025-2026. That’s how quickly this market is aging. Cars that felt brand-new yesterday are now incumbents defending turf.
Off-road trims are the new sport package—and that’s mostly fine
I’ve got a soft spot for anything that gets people outside, but the off-road-trim boom is also peak marketing. When MotorTrend lines up “Honda Passport TrailSport vs. GMC Terrain AT4: Two Off-Road Trims, One Clear Winner” (Nov 19, 2025), that’s a reality check for badge shoppers: these packages aren’t equal, and some are basically an appearance kit with ambitions.
Then there’s “Battle of Brutes: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss vs. Ram 2500 Power Wagon in the Dirt” (Mar 4, 2026). That’s the boldest comparison on the list because it forces a conversation truck fans often dodge: capability isn’t just about drivetrain type, it’s about mission. A heavy-duty gas truck built around abuse has a different DNA than an EV truck trying to prove it can play in the mud. I love that this test exists, because it’s exactly where the “EVs can’t do truck stuff” argument either gets real evidence—or gets exposed as lazy internet theater.
The bigger picture: performance cars still sell dreams, but crossovers pay the bills
MotorTrend hasn’t abandoned fun. The comparison list is sprinkled with enthusiast candy: “Honda Civic Si vs. Volkswagen GTI: Same Roots, Very Different Attitudes” (Feb 2, 2026) and “BMW M2 vs. Audi RS3: Different Sausages, Deliciously Similar Results” (Sep 26, 2025). Plus, the nostalgia-tinged throwbacks: 2006 M5 vs. CLS55 AMG, 2008 M3 vs. C63 AMG, and more.
And then there’s the wonderfully unhinged headline: “America’s 1,515-HP Desert Showdown: Corvette vs. Shelby” (Nov 28, 2025). That’s not transportation. That’s therapy with tires.
But the ratio matters. The list leans heavily toward practical vehicles—hybrid three-rows, compact SUVs, EV crossovers—because that’s what most people buy. The enthusiast stuff is still alive; it’s just sharing oxygen with the cars that actually move units.