Sponsored

Car And Driver - Gladiator vs Colorado vs Ranger vs Ridgeline

OP
OP

baron95

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2017
Threads
1
Messages
14
Reaction score
7
Location
USA-CT
Vehicle(s)
2016 JKUR Hard Rock
:CWL: apparently you've never been in the market for a full size truck. They'll line up a 2wd poverty spec payload/towing ringer that nobody wants to buy. That doesn't stop them from advertising the crap out of it!!
Humm....Car and driver got three other "mid-sized" trucks lined up. They ALL were crew cabs. They all were 4WD/AWD. They all were in top trim (Ford, Honda) or one trim down from top (Chevy). None of them were 2WD. None of them were strippers.

They all were within a case of beer of 1,500 lbs payload.

The Jeep's payload was below 1,000lbs and 500 lbs lower than the other trucks.

Really not sure why you are bringing 2Wd and stripped models into the conversation.
 

Sorbs

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian & Sunny
Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Threads
18
Messages
858
Reaction score
1,590
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ram TRX, 2020 Gladiator LE
Vehicle Showcase
1
Humm....Car and driver got three other "mid-sized" trucks lined up. They ALL were crew cabs. They all were 4WD/AWD. They all were in top trim (Ford, Honda) or one trim down from top (Chevy). None of them were 2WD. None of them were strippers.

They all were within a case of beer of 1,500 lbs payload.

The Jeep's payload was below 1,000lbs and 500 lbs lower than the other trucks.

Really not sure why you are bringing 2Wd and stripped models into the conversation.
Yes, I can see it. The article makes so much sense now. Folks looking to buy the Overland are hourly workers that haul garbage to the dump daily and fill up the bed with plumbing fixtures, metal pipes and painting supplies. The Overland is perfect because that stuff wipes right off the leather seats so easily. Yes, the Overland was designed for this kind of customer.

Now, let’s worship the article and hold all Gladiators and their owners to the same buying standard. Because some poor, and I do mean poor, as in can't afford any new vehicle they write about, press person who compared the Overland, its load capabilities, off-road prowess and unavailable “Max Tow” package to run of the mill work trucks, Honda excepted, that also have 4 wheel drive.

The hard working blue collars are truly the Overland shopper Jeep had in mind and this article proves it. Still, just imagine what they might’ve saved by buying the Sport+ version with the “MaxTow” package?
 

Dietruck

Well-Known Member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Mar 7, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
294
Reaction score
261
Location
Philly area
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator LE, 2004 Z06, 2021 Model Y
(I assume you meant back seat leg/seat space)

Back seat space is the same as in the JLU and the Gladiator. The JT wheelbase is over 18" longer than the JLU, so obviously those 18" did not go towards back seat space. The explanation must be somewhere else.
The 5 foot bed. Lol....
 

Dietruck

Well-Known Member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Mar 7, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
294
Reaction score
261
Location
Philly area
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator LE, 2004 Z06, 2021 Model Y
Of course the JT’s wheel base is longer than the JL. That is obvious. I thought the question was why is the JT’s wheel base longer than the rest of the mid size truck segment. In that case I still maintain my answer about the larger back seat is correct.
Yeap and that is a selling point for me.
 

Sponsored

homerun

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
985
Reaction score
1,192
Location
Fort Collins, Colorado
Vehicle(s)
1996 XJ, 2004 Ford Ranger, 2013 Subaru Impreza, 1996 HD Springer Softtail, past jeep 1995 YJ
Yeap and that is a selling point for me.
To each their own, its actually one of my biggest disappointments. But not enough to cause me to look elsewhere.
 

5JeepsAz

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2018
Threads
36
Messages
2,718
Reaction score
2,769
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
1964 Kaiser-Willys Jeep Gladiator (SJ) 2dr long bed pickup truck
Build Thread
Link
Humm....Car and driver got three other "mid-sized" trucks lined up. They ALL were crew cabs. They all were 4WD/AWD. They all were in top trim (Ford, Honda) or one trim down from top (Chevy). None of them were 2WD. None of them were strippers.

They all were within a case of beer of 1,500 lbs payload.

The Jeep's payload was below 1,000lbs and 500 lbs lower than the other trucks.

Really not sure why you are bringing 2Wd and stripped models into the conversation.
Guess fat Eddy ain't riding. He'll have to follow on his Harley.
 

Fcmalie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2018
Threads
20
Messages
577
Reaction score
522
Location
Ripon, California
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLU, 2021 Mojave
Build Thread
Link
Lol they took an Overland with almost 15 grand in options and compared to other vehicles with 500 to 5000 in options and the price difference is a factor?
 

WXman

Banned
Banned
Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Threads
69
Messages
3,102
Reaction score
4,067
Location
Bluegrass region of Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Overland EcoDiesel
Occupation
Meteorology and Transportation
Some surprising data on this comparison test.

1 - Despite Jeep claiming "class-leading" payload and towing, the Gladiator tested had by far the worst payload.

Only 988 lbs for the Gladiator vs 1,476, 1,479, 1,493 for the others. Even the minivan-based Ridgeline had ˜500lbs more actual payload.

2 - It had the worst performance off road - much worse than even Ridgeline mini-van.

"the Jeep was even less comfortable on Hollister Hills' slippery trails than the Honda, which senior editor Tony Quiroga dubbed a "dachshund." A dachshund might scrape its belly here and there, but even with 10.0 inches of ground clearance, the most in the test, the Gladiator would belly-flop into the mud with a wet thwap and noisily drag its frame rails over crests and bumps that the drivers of the Colorado and Ranger didn't notice."

3 - Even with the longest wheelbase (9-12 inches longer than the others - why?!?), it had poor ride on road, with same nasty remarks from the reviewers. Ford didn't too well on that either.


Unsurprisingly, it was the most fun (we knew that) and had the most stratospheric price (even though it was not even close to being top of the line it was $15K+ more expensive than the others.). All in all it finished third out of four.


https://www.caranddriver.com/review...gladiator-chevrolet-colorado-honda-ridgeline/

Screen Shot 2019-05-01 at 4.39.54 PM.png

1) Yes the payload is miserable. That's what happens when you build a vehicle that has the most wheel travel and articulation in its class. The Ram 2500 Power Wagon has the payload of a 1500 rather than a typical 2500 for the same reason. It's a trade-off. That's why I think the Sport model with the Max Towing Package is where it's at. Still get good offroad specs, but the payload becomes usable.

2) This is obviously because of the stretched wheelbase. Sad thing is, the wheelbase actually needs to be stretched more to accommodate that 5' box. There's way too much rear overhang and loading that bed down heavy will lift weight off the front tires just enough that I bet it'll cause a change in handling.

3) The long wheelbase is yet another disadvantage of using straight axles instead of IFS/IRS. With the straight axle design, you need more length to allow for the arc of the control arms. This in turn pushes the nose of the vehicle out longer. It's the reason why a Gladiator is within inches of the length of a Supercab F-150 Raptor, and it's why the Gladiator won't fit in most residential garages unless you've got open space wall to wall.

If Jeep would go to IFS, they would cure a LOT of their warranty claims, improve their ride quality, add to their running ground clearance, save weight, improve MPGs, and they could shorten the truck by at least a half-foot. The military knows what's best, and you didn't see hummers rolling around on twin straight axles, did you?

But, just mentioning IFS on this forum will get a guy crucified.
 

Sponsored

First Name
John
Joined
May 21, 2018
Threads
4
Messages
19
Reaction score
21
Location
Fort Myers FL
Vehicle(s)
2000 Jeep Wrangler, 2014 Jeep Cherokee, 2015 Abarth 500C
Vehicles with longer wheelbase ride better on the road and tow better that those with shorter wheelbases.
It's always a trade-off.
 

5JeepsAz

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2018
Threads
36
Messages
2,718
Reaction score
2,769
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
1964 Kaiser-Willys Jeep Gladiator (SJ) 2dr long bed pickup truck
Build Thread
Link
#becausenoplywoodnotch

IMG_20190507_161053285_3.jpg
 

DVC

Member
First Name
Aaron
Joined
May 1, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
16
Reaction score
37
Location
Northern NJ
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
This review is bullshit. (Well, except for the Ford being last, of course!) The Honda is a unibody platform with a front-wheel drive layout (with AWD added to it). This is a completely different class of vehicle. And of course it has a well-laid out, spacious interior - it's intended to be sold to people who want to look like they're taking a walk on the "wild side", but actually would be better served with a CR-V. The horrid sounds it made trying to tow are a pretty clear indication that it shouldn't be in the same class.

And the Colorado is a nice truck, but with some fatal flaws... namely a terrible drivetrain, and an interior that reminds me of a 90s Malibu. But if you can get over those things, then it's a really good truck.

But the Gladiator is in a class by itself... solid axles and available lockers and sway bar disconnect? Ridgeline buyers wouldn't even know what those are, let alone how and when to use them. So since the Gladiator is a focused off-road specialist, of course it wasn't rated as well as the Ridgeline or Chevy when they were canyon carving on pavement. I guess that's why they chose the Overland model for the comparo - although it actually has the lowest payload of the all JT models (so they really should have gone with a Sport or Sport S, which would be best of the bunch in terms of payload.)

In terms of their little off-road 'test' … everyone moans about the wheelbase of this truck, but I think Jeep knew what they were doing. It has a backseat usable for adults, a respectable bed length, and tows very well for a mid-size truck; shortening the wheelbase would have been a compromise. But the low-ish stock breakover angle is easily corrected for with more lift... and most anyone with intentions to wheel this truck will be lifting it at least 2", and fitting 35 or 37" tires, which makes a world of difference in breakover angle. (If you do the math, every inch of lift gets you about 1.6° of breakover at the JT's wheelbase... so it only takes 1.5" of lift to exceed a stock JLUR, and with a 3" lift and 37" tires, the JTR breakover angle is actually better than a JLUR with a 2" lift on 35s.). Yes, it needs a little more lift to offset the longer wheelbase, but it will also climb better, ride more smoothly, and carry more in the back seats, so to me it's totally worth it.

A respectable test would be to compare the Rubicon to a ZR2, a Ranger Raptor (I know, they're not in the US yet), and a Tacoma TRD Pro. All of those trucks have reduced payload and towing capacities, and diminished steering and on-road feel due to off-road suspension, higher ground clearance and off-road oriented tires. With that bunch, they could have had a more interesting and meaningful story to tell.
 
Last edited:

megamucho

Well-Known Member
First Name
mega
Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Threads
0
Messages
157
Reaction score
224
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Vehicle(s)
'19 Durango R/T, '18 BMW R1200GS
This review is bullshit. (Well, except for the Ford being last, of course!) The Honda is a unibody platform with a front-wheel drive layout (with AWD added to it). This is a completely different class of vehicle. And of course it has a well-laid out, spacious interior - it's intended to be sold to people who want to look like they're taking a walk on the "wild side", but actually would be better served with a CR-V. The horrid sounds it made trying to tow are a pretty clear indication that it shouldn't be in the same class.

And the Colorado is a nice truck, but with some fatal flaws... namely a terrible drivetrain, and an interior that reminds me of a 90s Malibu. But if you can get over those things, then it's a really good truck.

But the Gladiator is in a class by itself... solid axles and available lockers and sway bar disconnect? Ridgeline buyers wouldn't even know what those are, let alone how and when to use them. So since the Gladiator is a focused off-road specialist, of course it wasn't rated as well as the Ridgeline or Chevy when they were canyon carving on pavement. I guess that's why they chose the Overland model for the comparo - although it actually has the lowest payload of the all JT models (so they really should have gone with a Sport or Sport S, which would be best of the bunch in terms of payload.)

In terms of their little off-road 'test' … everyone moans about the wheelbase of this truck, but I think Jeep knew what they were doing. It has a backseat usable for adults, a respectable bed length, and tows very well for a mid-size truck; shortening the wheelbase would have been a compromise. But the low-ish stock breakover angle is easily corrected for with more lift... and most anyone with intentions to wheel this truck will be lifting it at least 2", and fitting 35 or 37" tires, which makes a world of difference in breakover angle. (If you do the math, every inch of lift gets you about 1.5° of breakover... so with a 2.5" lift and 37" tires, the Gladiator breakover angle is about the same as a stock 2-door JL.)

A respectable test would be to compare the Rubicon to a ZR2, a Ranger Raptor (I know, they're not in the US yet), and a Tacoma TRD Pro. All of those trucks have reduced payload and towing capacities, and diminished steering and on-road feel due to off-road suspension, higher ground clearance and off-road oriented tires. With that bunch, they could have had a more interesting and meaningful story to tell.
Thanks for the excellent post, as it saves me a lot of typing. :)

My decision has always come down to JT vs ZR2. I don’t care for any of the drivetrain combinations offered for the ZR2 - the 8 speed shudders badly and the 4-pot baby D’max mated to the ancient 6 speed auto leaves a lot to be desired. If they would offer a stick shift with either engine I’d be far more interested in the Chevy. But then again, the interior space is CHEAP, and back seats are unusable for anyone over 5’2” even in the larger cab, so that might not even be enough to sway me.

When I build out a ZR2 the way I would order one, it’s within $4k of how I would build my ideal JTR. Then I look at 1-2 year old used ZR2’s with low mileage and the dealer ask is $10k less than sticker, meaning that whoever traded those trucks got *really* beat up in the deal. If JT values hold as do those of Wrangler, the MSRP price difference becomes a wash in my mind.

Related to the break over, I also agree - MOPAR lift and 35’s will give all the off-road clearance I will need personally for a rig that will also serve daily driver duty.

The other trucks... Ford - haha, never again. Honda - nowhere near capable enough for trails here in Colorado. Toyota - just as ancient as the Chevy interior, crappy/gutless V6, terrible seating position and ergonomics for full-sized people, and also cramped back seat.
 

2018RubiOwner

Banned
Banned
First Name
Jim
Joined
May 14, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Schenectady, NY
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Rubicon
Careful about threads like this - I understand forum moderators take a dim view of any contrarian viewpoints about the Gladiator....
Sponsored

 
 



Top