Compare the2023 Ford RangerVS 2023 Jeep Gladiator

The Ranger has standard head airbag curtains for front and rear seats which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and outboard passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. The Gladiator doesn't offer side airbag protection for the head and are only available for the front seats.

The Ranger’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Ranger offers optional parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Ranger’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ranger and the Gladiator 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 four-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems 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 Ford Ranger is safer than the Jeep Gladiator:

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

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ranger the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 230 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Gladiator has not been tested, yet.

There are over 25 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ranger’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ranger has a 700-amp battery. The Gladiator only offers a standard 650-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ranger’s reliability 26 points higher than the Gladiator.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ranger first among midsize pickups in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Gladiator was rated second.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

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

The Ranger’s 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 260) than the Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Ranger is faster than the Jeep Gladiator (automatics tested):

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

The Ranger has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Ford Ranger comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Gladiator.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Ranger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Gladiator.

The Ranger stops much shorter than the Gladiator:

For better traction, the Ranger has larger standard tires than the Gladiator (255/70R16 vs. 245/75R17).

The Ranger’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Gladiator Sport’s standard 75 series tires. The Ranger’s optional tires have a lower 60 series profile than the Gladiator Overland’s 70 series tires.

The Ford Ranger’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Gladiator only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Ford Ranger’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Gladiator’s solid front axle, which allows the Ranger’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Ranger has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Gladiator.

The Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Gladiator Overland pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Gladiator Rubicon (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.4 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ranger’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Gladiator 4x4’s (42.5 feet vs. 44.5 feet). The Ranger Tremor’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Gladiator Mojave’s (43.1 feet vs. 45 feet).

The Ford Ranger may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 800 pounds less than the Jeep Gladiator.

The Ranger SuperCrew is 7.3 inches shorter than the Gladiator, making the Ranger easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Ranger has standard flush composite headlights. The Gladiator has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4x4 is quieter than the Gladiator Overland (76 vs. 77 dB).

The Ranger SuperCrew has a much larger cargo box than the Gladiator shortbed (43.3 vs. 35.5 cubic feet).

The Ranger’s cargo box is larger than the Gladiator’s in almost every dimension:

The Ranger’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Gladiator’s (7500 vs. 4000 pounds).

The Ranger has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Gladiator (1905 vs. 1700 lbs.).

The Ranger uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Gladiator uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Ranger’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Gladiator.

The Ranger’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Gladiator’s optional driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

The Ranger’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Gladiator’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

The Ranger’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Gladiator.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ranger’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Gladiator doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost SOS Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Ranger Lariat’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Gladiator’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the Ranger’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Gladiator’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Ranger has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Gladiator only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Ford Ranger comes in extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Jeep Gladiator isn’t available as an extended cab.

The Ranger is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Ranger will be $5344 to $7974 less than for the Jeep Gladiator.