The Jeep Gladiator stands out as an anomaly among midsize pickup trucks. It is designed primarily for off-road capabilities, unlike its competitor, the Toyota Tacoma, which excels in handling the everyday tasks of its users more efficiently, even though it also offers off-road models.
Competing with both are the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Honda Ridgeline. If your decision comes down to choosing between the bestseller or the truck version of the Wrangler, which one should you pick?
Gladiator vs. Tacoma: Price and Features Comparison
- Starting price for a Tacoma is approximately $33,000
- Starting price for a Gladiator is around $40,000
- Top picks: Gladiator Rubicon or Gladiator Mojave, Tacoma SR5 or Tacoma TRD Pro
Jeep Gladiator Pricing
The Gladiator offers models such as Sport, Willys, Rubicon, and Mojave, alongside various style editions. Similar to its Wrangler base, the Gladiator comes with premium pricing. The Sport model kicks off just under $41,000 and includes features like four-wheel drive, cloth upholstery, manual windows and door locks, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a soft top, front and rear tow hooks, skid plates, and 17-inch wheels with all-season tires.
Moving up the line, the Rubicon and Mojave models start at nearly $55,000, offering off-road equipment mentioned in the “Gladiator vs. Tacoma off-road and 4×4” segment. It’s possible to spend over $65,000 on either of these models.
Toyota Tacoma Pricing
Compared to the Gladiator, the Tacoma comes in at a more budget-friendly price range, especially in the base models. The entry-level Tacoma SR starts at roughly $33,000, equipped with features like cloth upholstery, power windows and locks, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Opting for four-wheel drive adds $3,200, while choosing the crew cab style with a short pickup bed costs an additional $2,200. The Tacoma also offers a similar warranty to the Gladiator.
A recommended choice like the SR5 4×4 DoubleCab with a long bed has a price tag around $39,000. For about $10,000 more, you can get the TRD Sport, which incorporates a hybrid powertrain, a 12.3-inch digital gauge display, and optional features like a tow package, ventilated front seats with synthetic leather upholstery, and a sunroof.
Various Tacoma models feature off-road enhancements such as an electronically controlled locking rear differential, an off-road camera system, and 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires. The premium Tacoma TRD Pro version stands out with specialized heated and ventilated seats offering superior off-road support, a head-up display, and a 14.0-inch touchscreen.
Advantage: Toyota Tacoma, due to its significantly lower starting prices.
Gladiator vs. Tacoma in terms of off-road capabilities
- Each Gladiator is purpose-built for off-roading
- The Tacoma TRD Pro is the preferred choice
- While optional on the Tacoma, the Gladiator comes standard with four-wheel drive
The Jeep Gladiator is factory-equipped with part-time four-wheel drive. The Rubicon version includes a standard low-range gear system, and an optional full-time setup is available for the Rubicon. The Rubicon is tailored for low-speed off-road driving, whereas the Mojave is optimized for high-speed off-road performance. Both come with Dana heavy-duty front and rear axles for improved track width, a front skid plate, rock rails, and 33-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 17-inch wheels. The Rubicon adds an electronically locking front differential and a disconnecting front anti-roll bar to enhance wheel articulation. On the other hand, the Mojave is equipped with electronic locking front and rear differentials and Fox internal bypass shocks to absorb impacts during high-speed off-road excursions. Additionally, the Mojave offers an Off-Road+ mode for enhanced throttle response, extended gear holding, and the deactivation of traction control to maintain momentum on rough terrain. These are advanced off-road features.
The Tacoma’s optional four-wheel-drive system operates on a part-time basis, and Toyota provides three off-road-centric models. Furthermore, a locking rear differential, multiple traction control modes for various surfaces, and off-road cruise control are among the available features that help the vehicle maintain a controlled pace in challenging terrains, such as steep inclines or descents. At the top of the range, the TRD Pro variant boasts more robust skid plates, increased ground clearance, and its own Fox shocks.
Both trucks demonstrate exceptional off-road prowess when properly equipped. The Tacoma TRD Pro offers a superior breakover angle and marginally improved departure angle compared to the Gladiator, which boasts a significantly better approach angle and higher ground clearance. Moreover, the Gladiator provides a wider range of off-road configurations and overall capabilities.
Advantage: Jeep Gladiator. It’s essentially a pickup iteration of the Wrangler, for goodness’ sake.
Gladiator vs. Tacoma comparison on size, seating capacity, and bed space
- Gladiator offers more rear seat room
- Tacoma provides a larger bed option in addition to the secondary one
- The Gladiator is convertible in design
How spacious is the Toyota Tacoma?
Toyota presents the Tacoma as a conventional pickup truck featuring an extended cab variant with a 6-foot bed or a crew cab option with a 5-foot bed.
The Tacoma has greater legroom in the front seats compared to the Gladiator, although both front and rear sections offer ample space. The crew cab variant stretches up to 145.1 inches in wheelbase, providing expanded rear seat room—although it still falls short of the Gladiator’s rear legroom of 33.7 inches.
A feature unique to the Tacoma is the sliding rear window, absent in the Gladiator, although the Tacoma lacks a convertible design. Toyota equips the Tacoma’s bed with four standard tie-downs on a rail system, a composite bedliner, and offers additional amenities such as a tonneau cover and a 120-volt power outlet.
How roomy is the Jeep Gladiator?
The Gladiator comes with a 5-foot bed and an overall length of 218.0 inches. All models sport crew cabs that feature a convertible top, available in two soft-top variations and one modular three-piece hard top. Owners can opt to remove the doors or request half doors as well.
Internally, the Gladiator provides ample headroom and legroom in both seating rows, with the rear seats offering 38.3 inches of legroom and up to 42.8 inches of headroom. Accommodating four passengers comfortably is easily achievable in the Gladiator, while a fifth person can also be seated adequately.
The Gladiator’s bed benefits from cargo lights and includes enhancements like a spray-in bedliner, a tonneau cover, a 115-volt power outlet, and a rail-based adjustable tie-down system.
Advantage: The Tacoma for its bed selection, although the Gladiator’s superior rear seating space and convertible top are likely to sway many buyers.
- Tacoma showcases traditional aesthetic cues
- Gladiator resembles a pickup version of the Wrangler
- Interiors have noticeable plastic components
Is the appearance of the Gladiator appealing?
The Gladiator’s aesthetic sets it apart from other mid-size pickups due to its convertible nature and elongated resemblance to a Jeep Wrangler. Notable design elements include the iconic Jeep seven-slot grille, round headlights, and a hood that gradually widens to blend with the blocky body featuring broad fender flares.front and back. The Gladiator is longer by 19 inches compared to a four-door Wrangler, and its back doors feature an angled cutout that is not essential and obstructs entry and exit.
Standard fabric top, with an optional three-piece hard top. Different models showcase unique components and designs to emphasize their specific purposes. Fenders and bumpers can be either black or body-colored, and wheel sizes vary between 17 to 20 inches. Although not exuding elegance, the overall appearance is purposeful and attractive, particularly catering to enthusiasts.
Internally, the Gladiator boasts a dash adorned with retro-inspired elements, including circular air vents. The central screen and available digital instrument cluster offer the latest technology amidst an array of buttons and switches. The significance of off-roading is highlighted by a pair of levers, one for the gear shifter and the other for the four-wheel-drive system. Despite the presence of plastic materials and even leather upholstery failing to exude luxury, the interior of the Gladiator is designed for easy cleaning post off-road adventures rather than aiming for a serene, luxurious ambiance.
Is the Toyota Tacoma an aesthetically pleasing truck?
Conversely, the Toyota Tacoma presents itself as a classic mid-size pickup truck. Boasting a sizable six-pointed grille, widely-spaced headlights, and circular fog lamps at the front, accompanied by a hood scoop. The overall design is robust yet sculpted, featuring prominent wheel flares, and a distinct character line starting from the rear bumper, tapering inward at the waist, and extending towards the front wheels.
The interior of the Tacoma is also characterized by plastic components and large circular vents. The central touchscreen forms part of a substantial bezel that protrudes from the center of the dashboard. The chunky controls and dials are pragmatic for individuals wearing work gloves.
Advantage: Jeep Gladiator for its iconic appearance.
Gladiator versus Tacoma safety
- Tacoma achieves an IIHS Top Safety Pick
- Automatic emergency braking not a standard feature on the Gladiator
- Tacoma includes more standard safety features
How safe is the Jeep Gladiator?
The Gladiator stands as one of the few vehicles in the market that does not come equipped with automatic emergency braking as standard, which is particularly concerning given its price and competitive landscape. All safety features are optional extras. These include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control.
In its limited crash tests, the Gladiator did not fare well. The NHTSA grants it a four-star rating out of five for frontal crash performance and a three-star rating for rollover resistance, without providing an overall rating. Likewise, it receives mediocre ratings from the IIHS, with “Good” ratings for moderate front overlap and roof strength tests, a “Marginal” in the small front overlap test, and at best a “Marginal” rating for its headlights.
How safe is the Toyota Tacoma?
Considerably safer than the Gladiator, the Tacoma secures an IIHS Top Safety Pick accolade. The NHTSA has not yet rated it.
The Tacoma boasts standard features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings, and automatic high beams. Buyers can further opt for blind-spot monitors, rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system.
Advantage: The Tacoma by a substantial margin.
Which option triumphs: Gladiator or Tacoma?
Boasting exceptional off-road capabilities, the Gladiator stands out as the sole convertible in its class. On the other hand, the Tacoma has undergone significant improvements and excels in various aspects, particularly with off-road variants and technological features. The TCC Rating for the Jeep registers at 4.8 out of 10; in comparison, the Tacoma scores a solid 6.3 out of 10.
Image Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock
