What Is the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator is a mid-size crew-cab pickup truck with room for up to five people. Its standard engine is a 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 that works with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The newly available turbo-diesel V-6, meanwhile, teams with an eight-speed automatic. Part-time four-wheel drive is standard, and competitors include the Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon and Toyota Tacoma.
What’s New on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
The newly available turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V-6 makes 260 hp and 442 pounds-feet of torque and gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined — 5 mpg more than the gas V-6. Full-time four-wheel drive is available, and the Overland trim level can now have a forward-facing off-road camera. The Sport trim, meanwhile, can now have LED headlights and foglights. There’s also a new 80th Anniversary Edition with unique appearance cues, and a Willys model with a limited-slip differential, rock rails and Mud-Terrain tires.  Â
Which Features in the 2021 Jeep Gladiator Are Most Important?
Standard features include:Â
- Folding soft-top
- Fold-down windshield
- Removable doors
- Air conditioning
- Push-button start
- Cloth seats
- Cruise control
Available features include:Â
- Three-piece hard top
- Spray-in bedliner
- Household power outlet in cargo box
- Adjustable cargo tie-downs
- Power locks, mirrors and windows
- Remote start
- Leather-trimmed seats
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Alpine premium stereo
- 7- or 8.4-inch touchscreen multimedia system
- Blind spot warning
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
2021 Jeep Gladiator Vs. 2021 Ford Ranger: How Do They Compare?
The Ford Ranger is powered by a stout turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 270 hp, and the truck can tow up to 7,500 pounds — slightly less than the Gladiator’s 7,650-pound maximum — when properly equipped. The two trucks both boast user-friendly touchscreen multimedia systems, but the Ranger’s interior looks dated compared with the Gladiator’s. The Gladiator’s diesel engine gives the Jeep a slight fuel-economy edge, but if you’re only interested in gas power, the Ranger comes out ahead.Â
Should I Buy the 2021 Jeep Gladiator?
The Jeep Gladiator is a unique entrant in the mid-size pickup truck class. The off-road Rubicon version has the rock-crawling ability of a muscled-up mountain goat, but the Gladiator’s poor straight-line tracking is a problem when driving on paved surfaces. It’s also pricey.Â
