2024 Ford Ranger vs 2024 Jeep Gladiator

While Ford outsells all other brands with its full-size pickup trucks, it lags behind in the midsize class. The Ranger, once the king of small trucks, hasn’t been a strong seller since Ford relaunched it for the 2019 model year. The smaller Maverick currently outsells the Ranger by nearly two to one. For 2024, the new Ranger brings more of everything: power, tech, refinement, space, and most importantly, choice. Is it too late for Ford to catch up? We tested a Ranger XLT to find out.

Verdict: With new V6 engines and a Raptor trim, the 2024 Ford Ranger offers greater choice and capability to finally match the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.

The open-air driving experience you can enjoy with a Gladiator is just one of many appealing things about it. As expected of a Jeep, the Gladiator is also a rock star off-road. And some versions of this crew-cab midsize truck offer substantial payload and towing capacity. Better yet, Jeep has updated the 2024 Gladiator with minor styling revisions, next-generation infotainment technology, added comfort and convenience features, and new range-topping trim levels. A Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid arrives in 2025.

Verdict: Though we’re fans of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator, it requires some trade-offs. Fuel economy is poor, the ride can be rough, the interior is loud at higher speeds, and the cabin looks like you can hose it out—because you can. Buy a 2024 Gladiator for what it can do and not for the image it projects, and you’ll more easily accept its inherent flaws.