Compare the2023 Jeep WranglerVS 2023 Toyota Tacoma

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Wrangler. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Tacoma. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Tacoma.

Both the Wrangler and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Wrangler is safer than the Toyota Tacoma:

	Wrangler	Tacoma
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	232
Neck Injury Risk	31%	39.1%
Neck Stress	299 lbs.	462 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	202	221
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31.1%	55.2%
Neck Stress	188 lbs.	244 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/742 lbs.	590/544 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 oil changes) on the Wrangler for 1 year and -25000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Tacoma (3/unlimited vs. 2/25000).

There are almost 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Wrangler’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Tacoma’s camshafts. If the Tacoma’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Tacoma 4x4’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Wrangler has a standard 650-amp battery (700 optional). The Tacoma’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Wrangler has more powerful engines than the Tacoma:

	Horsepower	Torque
Wrangler 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	270 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler 3.6 DOHC V6	285 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler 4Xe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
Wrangler Rubicon 392 6.4 V8	470 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 2.7 DOHC 4-cylinder	159 HP	180 lbs.-ft.
Tacoma 3.5 DOHC V6	278 HP	265 lbs.-ft.

The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 101 more horsepower (260 vs. 159) and 262 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 180) than the Tacoma’s standard 2.7 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 177 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 265) than the Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Wrangler turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Tacoma V6 (automatics tested):

	Wrangler	Tacoma
Zero to 30 MPH	1.9 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	8.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.8 sec	8.1 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.5 sec	4.1 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.8 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/3.6 eTorque/4Xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Wrangler (except Rubicon 392)’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is available on the Jeep Wrangler, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tacoma.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Tacoma doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Wrangler’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tacoma:

	Wrangler	Tacoma	Tacoma 4x4
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	10.75 inches	12.48 inches
Rear Rotors	12.9 inches	10” drums	10” drums
Opt Rear Rotors	14 inches

The Jeep Wrangler has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Tacoma. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Wrangler stops shorter than the Tacoma:

	Wrangler	Tacoma
70 to 0 MPH	191 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	144 feet	146 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Wrangler’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tacoma (315/70R17 vs. 265/65R17).

The Wrangler Sahara 4Xe’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tacoma Short Bed Limited’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Tacoma. The Wrangler Sahara 4Xe’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Tacoma Short Bed Limited.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Tacoma doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Wrangler uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Tacoma, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tacoma.

The Wrangler’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.7% to 49.3%) than the Tacoma’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Wrangler more stable handling and braking.

The Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe handles at .75 G’s, while the Tacoma Short Bed SR5 Double Cab pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Tacoma Short Bed SR5 Double Cab (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 6.1 feet tighter than the Tacoma Access Cab’s (34.5 feet vs. 40.6 feet). The Wrangler 4-door’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Tacoma Long Bed Double Cab’s (40.8 feet vs. 44.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler Sport 2-door has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tacoma (9.7 vs. 9.4 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Wrangler 2-door 4x4 is 3 feet, 9.5 inches shorter than the Tacoma Access Cab, making the Wrangler easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Wrangler 2-door has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 5.4 inches more rear headroom, 11.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tacoma Access Cab.

The Wrangler 4-door has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more rear headroom, 5.7 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Tacoma Double Cab.

Cargo Capacity

The Wrangler 4-door has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tacoma with its long-bed bodystyle (72.4 vs. 42.6 cubic feet).

Payload and Towing

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Tacoma can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on all models of the Wrangler, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. Only the Tacoma V6 offers a trailer sway program.

The Wrangler has a higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma (1233 vs. 1105 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Wrangler (except Manual/Sport) offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Tacoma does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows available on both the Wrangler and the Tacoma have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Wrangler is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Tacoma prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Wrangler’s available front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Tacoma’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Wrangler’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Tacoma’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Tacoma’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Wrangler has a standard rear wiper. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the Wrangler’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Tacoma’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

On extremely cold winter days, the Wrangler Sport S/Sahara/Rubicon’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Wrangler 4-door offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Wrangler and the Tacoma offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Wrangler offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Tacoma Double Cab doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Wrangler owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Wrangler with a number “3” insurance rate while the Tacoma is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Wrangler is less expensive to operate than the Tacoma because it costs $155 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Wrangler than the Tacoma, including $125 less for a water pump, $127 less for a muffler, $400 less for a starter, $247 less for fuel injection, $18 less for a fuel pump, $708 less for a timing belt/chain and $306 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Tacoma was Truck of the Year in 2005.