Compare the2024 Ford RangerVS 2024 Jeep Gladiator

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Ranger have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Ranger are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Ranger has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ranger XLT/Lariat has a standard Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Gladiator doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Ranger’s 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 (except XL) offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Gladiator only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Ranger XLT/Lariat’s 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, side-impact head airbags, 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.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

The Ranger has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 4 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Ranger’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 260) than the Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Ranger’s optional 2.7 turbo V6 produces 30 more horsepower (315 vs. 285) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 260) than the Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Ranger
RWD	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/25 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Gladiator
AWD	Manual	3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/21 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/22 hwy

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.

Transmission

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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ranger has larger tires than the Gladiator (255/70R17 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 65 series profile than the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ranger offers optional 18-inch wheels. The Gladiator’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

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.

Suspension and Handling

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.

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’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Gladiator 4x4 Rubicon/Mojave’s (42.5 feet vs. 44.7 feet).

Chassis

The Ford Ranger may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Jeep Gladiator.

The Ranger is 7.4 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.

Passenger Space

The Ranger has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Gladiator.

Cargo Capacity

The Ranger has a much larger cargo box than the Gladiator shortbed (43.5 vs. 35.5 cubic feet).

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

	Ranger	Gladiator
Length (short/long)	59.6”	60.3”
Max Width	62.4”	56.8”
Min Width	48.2”	44.8”
Height	20.9”	17.7”

The Ford Ranger has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t offer a tailgate assist.

The Ford Ranger offers an optional Integrated Box Side Step, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

Payload and Towing

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

The Ranger 4x4 has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Gladiator (1711 vs. 1150 lbs.).

The Ranger has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Gladiator (1805 vs. 1710 lbs.).

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Ranger Lariat, the memory seats make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Gladiator doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Ranger Lariat’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Gladiator doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ranger’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Gladiator has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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.

If the windows are left open on the Ranger the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Gladiator can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 standard 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.

The Ranger’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Gladiator’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Ranger has standard power remote mirrors. The Gladiator only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Ranger has a standard 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 Gladiator Sport/Willys/Freedom doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Ranger XLT/Lariat has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Gladiator doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Ranger (except XL)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Gladiator doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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