2024 Jeep Gladiator vs 2024 Ford Ranger

If you’re shopping for a midsize truck, you’ve probably seen the Jeep Gladiator and Ford Ranger. These two pickups offer impressive capability throughout their lineups and have the latest must-have in-vehicle technology. You’ll also find premium trims that may surprise you for their quality and comfort. Sorting through the various features and options can be challenging. Read as our midsize truck experts at Meadowland of Carmel in New York compare these two popular vehicles.

2024 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2024 Ford Ranger: Trim Levels and Pricing

Jeep manufactures seven Gladiator trims. Ford makes the Ranger in four trim levels. Here’s a look at their respective MSRPs.

The Ranger’s base model is less expensive than the Gladiator’s if you’re strictly motivated by price. If you consider style, capability, comfort, and technological features essential, keep reading to see which truck stands out.

2024 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2024 Ford Ranger: Exterior Style

These midsize pickups may be in the same category but look remarkably different. The Gladiator is longer, while the Ranger is wider. The Gladiator boasts rugged good looks that speak to its capability. From its signature six-bar grille to its round headlights and boxy proportions, it remains unmistakably a Jeep.

The Ranger takes its lead from its big brother, the F-150. Ranger trucks look bold but fall short of rugged, except for the Raptor model, which has off-road equipment, including skid plates, performance shocks, and all-terrain tires.

Jeep’s open-air driving is the most significant difference between these trucks. Removable doors and windows have been a staple of Jeep’s Wrangler lineup, from which the Gladiator evolved. You can get a moonroof and roll down the Ranger’s windows, but it doesn’t compare. If classic pickup truck styling suits you, we recommend you go with a full-size Ram 1500.

2024 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2024 Ford Ranger: Powertrain

Jeep dropped the turbo-diesel engine for the 2024 model year, sticking only with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with stop/start technology. This powertrain produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Gladiator can tow up to 7,700 pounds.

Ford has three available engines for the Ranger lineup. A 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine comes standard, producing 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, the Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds. A 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine is available that generates 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. It offers the same towing capacity.

The Raptor has a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine that puts out 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. It can only tow up to 5,510 pounds because of the Raptor’s heavier equipment.

2024 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2024 Ford Ranger: Capability

Every Gladiator trim comes standard with four-wheel drive and has Jeep’s Trail Rated or Desert Rated badge. To earn the Trail Rated badge, a Jeep must pass grueling off-road tests covering water fording, ground clearance, articulation, maneuverability, and traction. The Mojave trim has the only Desert Rated badge among the Gladiator models. It passed five tests covering traction, desert prowess, ride control and stability, maneuverability, and ground clearance.

Jeep engineered the Gladiator to perform well on and off the road. When you leave the pavement behind, you can rely on Dana solid axles, front and rear tow hooks, rock rails, sway bar disconnect, steel skid plates, performance shocks, and the Tru-Lok electronic locking differential. Jeep’s available Off-Road+ system automatically optimizes your Gladiator’s throttle, shift points, and traction control for high-speed passes over dunes and low-speed rock crawling. Jeep adds a trail camera system for eyes on the ground in front of your Gladiator to help navigate over and around difficult terrain.

The Ford Ranger comes standard with a rear-drive platform on all trims except the Raptor. Adding four-wheel drive costs $3,485 on the LARIAT and XLT trims and $3,645 on the XL, quickly closing the gap between the Gladiator’s pricing that includes four-wheel drive. The FX4 Off-Road Package offers off-road-tuned shocks, a steel bash plate, an electronic-locking rear differential, and selectable Mud/Ruts and Sand drive modes. It adds another $1,295 to your cost. You also get Ford Trail Control, which displays pitch, roll, and steering angle data on the center stack.

2024 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2024 Ford Ranger: Interior Comfort and Convenience

The Gladiator’s power-operated premium leather seats with contrast stitching provide surprising interior comfort. Heated seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on the top trims. A roomy cabin has best-in-class front and rear headroom. Convenient features, such as a lockable rear-seat storage compartment and a removable speaker, enhance your adventures. The speaker can withstand the weather and survive in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes.

Ranger XL and XLT models have cloth bucket seats that operate manually. The LARIAT trim offers a heated steering wheel and power-operated leather-trimmed seats. The second-row seat conveniently folds flat to allow for oversized cargo. The Ranger has more bed utility features, such as integrated box side steps, in-bed power, LED lighting, a versatile tailgate, and zone lighting, letting you do more than haul gear.

Test-Drive the 2024 Jeep Gladiator Today

At first glance, the Gladiator appears to be the more expensive of the two vehicles. However, Ford’s menu-style pricing drives the Ranger’s cost up, whereas the Gladiator comes standard with many desirable features. After a thorough review, you get more capability in a ruggedly stylish package with the Gladiator. We invite you to browse our online inventory to see what you may like. Once you find a model that interests you, please visit our Carmel showroom. One of our Gladiator experts will answer your questions and demonstrate its exceptional capabilities.