The 2024 Ford Ranger Is Better Than the Jeep Gladiator in Almost Every Way That Matters
The 2024 Ford Ranger is one of the most highly anticipated trucks of the year. The Ranger name started on Ford trucks as a trim level for the F-series of trucks in the 1960s. In the 1980s, when Ford needed a name for their new compact line of trucks, the Ranger name was used, and it quickly became synonymous with the Ford lineup of small trucks. After the 2011 model year, the Ford Ranger compact truck was unfortunately discontinued. However, for the 2019 model year, the Ranger name returned for Ford’s midsize truck offering, and it quickly gained traction in the midsize market.
With the new Ford Maverick compact truck pushing the envelope for Ford’s design language, a new Ranger with Maverick-inspired styling has been highly anticipated. For the 2024 model year, the new redesigned Ranger is set to hit dealer lots, and so far, it is having a strong showing against the competition. Here is how the new 2024 Ford Ranger is stacking up against the Jeep Gladiator pickup, one of its main competitors.
2024 Ford Ranger – price, specs, and features
The 2024 Ford Ranger is a new, redesigned model that takes design cues from current Ford trucks like the F-150 and the Maverick. The 2024 Ranger starts at $32,565 MSRP, according to Ford. From this base XL model price, you get a rear-wheel drive truck with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology. New for the 2024 Ranger is the STX appearance package, which is standard on all XL models. This standard package has 17-inch aluminum wheels, fog lights, premium cloth seats, and a dampened tailgate. As far as technology goes, the 2024 Ranger comes standard with cruise control, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10-inch center stack infotainment display. Pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, lane keep assist, and remote keyless entry are also included.
On the high-performance side of the Ranger is the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor. This performance truck, which starts at $55,365 MSRP, is built for the roughest conditions on earth. With a standard 3.0 liter V6 engine, 2.5 inch Fox racing shocks, locking front and rear axles, and full-time four-wheel drive, the Ranger Raptor can do it all. The Raptor is even capable of being a super-truck you can live with on-road as well, with an advanced towing package, dual-zone climate control, a B&O sound system, and leather-trimmed seats, the Raptor offers offroad capability and on-road comfort when needed.
2023 Jeep Gladiator – price, specs, and features
The 2023 Jeep Gladiator is a truck based on the Jeep Wrangler. According to Jeep, the 2023 model Gladiator starts at $38,990 MSRP for the base Sport model. This model comes standard with Chrysler’s trusty 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine, which has been placed in nearly every Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, and Jeep vehicle over the past 10 years. The Gladiator has a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, with an eight-speed automatic available. The Gladiator comes standard with cloth bucket seats, a 7-inch touchscreen display, and analog gauges.
The High Altitude model starts at $54,825 MSRP on the Gladiator lineup’s high end. This model comes with the same 3.6 liter V6 from the Sport model, but only an automatic transmission is offered. Diesel loyalists can also get a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 engine, but again, only an automatic transmission is available. This High Altitude model also has Nappa leather seats, a larger 8.4-inch infotainment display, and an upgraded gauge cluster.
The Ranger pulls way ahead of the Gladiator in most categories
Of course, the Jeep name carries a lot of heritage in America. From the brand’s military roots to the brand’s incredible offroad performance history, many consumers buy a Jeep because they want a piece of that legacy. However, it is hard to ignore the glaring evidence that the 2024 Ford Ranger does nearly everything the Gladiator can do but at a cheaper price.
In addition to its lower pricing, the new Ranger has more torque, better fuel economy ratings, a greater payload capacity, and a lower gross weight rating on its base trim and engine option. Additionally, the Ranger has a much stronger maintenance and reliability history to its name than the often problematic Gladiator.
So, where does the Gladiator pull ahead of the Ranger? Well, the truckified Wrangler has a bigger fuel tank, slightly more towing capacity, and more ground clearance for those wishing to take their truck off-road. Still, compared to the new Ranger, the 2023 Gladiator simply looks outdated. Even with Stellantis announcing more packages for the 2023 model year, the Ranger excels in nearly every way when compared to the Gladiator.
