Is Tacoma TRD Pro Or Jeep Gladiator The Best Off-Roading Truck?
We’ve got a fresh battle of off-roading trucks for you today. Check out the Jeep Gladiator as it battles the Tacoma TRD Pro to determine which option is the best. See how they compare in price, performance, power, and more!
The Jeep Gladiator VS. Tacoma TRD Pro
The Tacoma TRD Pro is the cheaper option compared to the Jeep Gladiator. The Tacoma starts around $27k, and the price increases to about $45k for a fully loaded TRD Pro trim.
For a basic manual Jeep Gladiator, you’ll need to spend about $35k, and the top of the line Rubicons model is upwards of $60k. So, for that price increase, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon better have some beefy upgrades.
Jeep Gladiator And Tacoma TRD Pro Power
The best powertrain option for the Toyota Tacoma is the 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. This option is available with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Also, this build allows the Tacoma to tow up to 6,800 lb, and it’s not very fuel-efficient. The Tacoma gets up to 18 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
The best powertrain for the Jeep Gladiator is a 3.6-liter V6 option with an output of 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
This is available in an eight-speed automatic transmission and a six six-speed manual transmission. Plus, the Jeep Gladiator also has a powerful diesel engine option available.
The Jeep Gladiator can tow up to 7,650 lb, which is incredible for a midsize truck and has about the same fuel economy as the Tacoma unless you go with the more fuel-efficient diesel option.
Jeep Gladiator And Tacoma TRD Pro Features
The Jeep Gladiator is equipped with 18″ wheels, a Fox off-roading suspension, Dana 44 axles, skid plates, higher-clearance fenders, skid plates, rock rails, an electronically disconnecting sway bar, 4WD transfer case, and more.
The Tacoma TRD Pro has 18″ wheels available along with a Fox suspension, skid plates, crawl control, a locking rear differential, a 360 camera for a bird’s eye view, and a cat-back exhaust.
On advantage the Tacoma TRD Pro has is that it’s shorter. The Jeep Gladiator is 10″ longer with a wider wheelbase, which can be problematic while rock crawling.
The Tacoma TRD Pro also has a higher safety and reliability rating than the Jeep Gladiator. The Tacoma has emergency braking, blind-spot detection, and more. Plus, it has an incredibly high resale value.
The Jeep Gladiator is a new model, but it lacks in current sales. It’s unclear if it will have a high resale value or not. It also has blind-spot monitoring and emergency braking but hasn’t been tested by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) yet.
2020 Jeep Gladiator
The Tacoma is a more durable, lightweight truck bed compared to the Gladiator’s steel truck bed. You should definitely have a spray liner applied to your Gladiator’s truck bed to protect it.
So, Which Truck Wins?
The Jeep Gladiator is undoubtedly better equipped for hardcore off-roading. However, the Toyota Tacoma is still more than capable of crawling over obstacles.
Even though the Jeep Gladiator is beastly, it’s solid axle makes it rough to drive on the roads. It’s also very expensive and noisy at highway speeds.
The Tacoma has a more trusted resale value and more specified options to meet driver’s needs. However, the Jeep Gladiator sports a nicer interior and infotainment center.
So, while we declare the Jeep Gladiator as the better truck for off-roading, the Tacoma TRD Pro is considered to be a better option in general.
