Compare the2023 Jeep GladiatorVS 2023 Toyota Tacoma

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 Tacoma. Four-wheel drive of any type costs extra on the Tacoma.

Both the Gladiator 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 Gladiator is safer than the Toyota Tacoma:

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 oil changes) on the Gladiator 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 Gladiator’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Gladiator’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 Gladiator 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 Gladiator has a standard 650-amp battery (700 optional). The Tacoma’s 582-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 Tacoma isn’t in the top three.

The Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 126 more horsepower (285 vs. 159) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 180) than the Tacoma’s standard 2.7 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 7 more horsepower (285 vs. 278) than the Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6.

The Gladiator’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 Gladiator’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 Gladiator is faster than the Toyota Tacoma V6 (automatics tested):

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

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 Tacoma doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Gladiator has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Tacoma (22 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

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

The Jeep Gladiator 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 Gladiator stops much shorter than the Tacoma:

For better traction, the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tacoma (285/70R17 vs. 265/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Gladiator has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Tacoma.

The Gladiator 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.

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 Tacoma 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 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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Gladiator’s wheelbase is 9.9 inches longer than on the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab (137.3 inches vs. 127.4 inches).

The Gladiator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Tacoma’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Gladiator more stable handling and braking.

The Gladiator Overland handles at .75 G’s, while the Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4 pulls only .64 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Gladiator Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tacoma Short Bed TRD Pro 4x4 (28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Gladiator Overland is quieter than the Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4:

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

The Gladiator has a larger cargo box than the Tacoma Double Cab shortbed (35.5 vs. 34.8 cubic feet).

Both the Gladiator and Tacoma have bed indentations that accommodate 2x4’s for two-tiered loading, but the Gladiator also has indentations to separate the cargo box into three different sections length-wise.

The Gladiator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tacoma’s (4000 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Tacoma Access Cab is only 6800 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 Tacoma can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on all models of the Gladiator, 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 Gladiator has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab 4x4 (1700 vs. 1135 lbs.).

The Gladiator has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab 4x4 (1700 vs. 1155 lbs.).

The Gladiator Auto 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 Gladiator’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 Gladiator and the Tacoma 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 Tacoma 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 Tacoma’s standard power windows’ 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 Tacoma’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Gladiator’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.

On extremely cold winter days, the Gladiator’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 Gladiator 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 Gladiator and the Tacoma 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 Tacoma Double Cab doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its November 2019 issue and they ranked the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon higher than the Toyota Tacoma Short Bed TRD Pro 4x4.

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