Compare the2023 Jeep GladiatorVS 2023 Nissan Frontier

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

Both the Gladiator and the Frontier 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.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Gladiator for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Frontier.

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

The Gladiator has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Frontier 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 Gladiator has a standard 650-amp battery (700 optional). The Frontier’s 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Gladiator second among midsize pickups in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Frontier isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Nissan.

The Gladiator’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 161 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 281) than the Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Gladiator gets better mileage than the Frontier:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Gladiator’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 Frontier doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Gladiator has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Frontier (22 vs. 21 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Gladiator offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Frontier doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Gladiator’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Frontier:

The Gladiator stops much shorter than the Frontier:

For better traction, the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Frontier (285/70R17 vs. 265/70R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Gladiator has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Frontier. The Gladiator Overland’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Frontier PRO-X/PRO-4X.

The Gladiator has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Frontier Crew Cab suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Gladiator has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Gladiator flat and controlled during cornering. The Frontier King Cab suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Gladiator 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 Frontier doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Gladiator uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Frontier, 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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Gladiator’s wheelbase is 11.3 inches longer than on the Frontier Crew Cab (137.3 inches vs. 126 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Gladiator is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Frontier.

The Gladiator has 2.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Frontier Crew Cab (102.9 vs. 100.1).

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the Gladiator easier. The Gladiator’s bed lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the Frontier King Cab’s liftover is 32 inches. The Frontier Crew Cab’s liftover is 33.4 inches.

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Frontier is limited to 6720 pounds. The Gladiator offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Gladiator 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 Gladiator can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Frontier can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Gladiator has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 (1700 vs. 1260 lbs.).

The Gladiator has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 (1700 vs. 1290 lbs.).

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Gladiator has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Frontier doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

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

The Gladiator’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 Frontier’s passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Gladiator’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 Frontier’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Gladiator has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Frontier King Cab doesn’t offer rear vents.

Both the Gladiator and the Frontier offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Gladiator has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Frontier Crew Cab doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Gladiator was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2020. The Frontier has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Gladiator as the 2020 North American Truck of the Year. The Frontier has never been chosen.

The Jeep Gladiator outsold the Nissan Frontier by 48% during 2021.