The Wrangler has always been in a league of its own, offering every driver the thrill of exploring new terrain in a compact, highly flexible package. The choice between a Wrangler and a Gladiator would normally just be down to your preference between an SUV and a pickup truck. However, the new 2022 Jeep Gladiator includes a slew of new standard and optional features that improve customization, open-air freedom, and driver assistance.
Do you want an off-road beast with modern features but can’t decide between the 2022 Jeep Gladiator and the 2022 Jeep Wrangler? The team at Jeff Belzer CDJR New Prague has put together this comparison to help you choose between the two vehicles.
Gladiator vs. Wrangler: Exterior
The Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler are classic examples of the automaker’s rugged design choices. The 2022 Gladiator is a five-seat pickup truck with a five-foot steel loading bed and nine trim levels: Sport, Willys Sport, Sport S, Altitude, Willys, Overland, Rubicon, Mojave, and High Altitude. The Wrangler is available in two-door or four-door styles and 11 trim levels: Sport, Willys Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sport Altitude, Sahara, Rubicon, Sahara Altitude, High Tide, High Altitude, and Rubicon 392.
Both vehicles include several soft and hardtop choices and removable doors, while the Gladiator offers a fold-down windshield with Corning Gorilla Glass. There are 17, 18, and 20-inch wheel options available, as well as LED tail lamps, fog lamps, and premium reflector headlamps. Outside heated mirrors, automatic headlamps, removable top and doors, a Mopar doors-off mirror kit, and a forward-facing TrailCam are available on both.
Gladiator vs. Wrangler: Interior
The Gladiator’s technology is simple to use, with optional voice commands and Wi-Fi connectivity to improve your driving experience, although the Wrangler is the only one with 4G LTE Wi-Fi. The 2022 Jeep Wrangler also offers similar technology, five seats, and a mix of tough practicality and driver-focused luxuries on the inside. Both vehicles come standard with a 7.0-inch touch-screen display, a choice of fabric, leather, or Nappa leather seating, and both have the option of an Alpine premium audio system. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are optional on either Jeep.
Both vehicles are equipped with a 60/40-split folding rear seat, and on Gladiator models and the Sport S or higher Wrangler SUV, you’ll get Uconnect 4C NAV with an 8.4-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD radio capability, Bluetooth with integrated voice command, SiriusXM satellite radio with traffic and travel link capability, an auxiliary switch bank, and more.
Gladiator vs. Wrangler: Size and Cargo
The 2022 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Wrangler have a similar design, but one layout will probably suit your needs more. The Gladiator is larger, with a 218-inch length vs. the Wrangler’s 188.4-inch length. The Gladiator’s five-foot pickup box holds up to 35.5 cubic feet of goods, which is great when you need to transport longer objects. The Wrangler, for its part, offers 31.7 cubic feet of interior cargo volume, or up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
Gladiator vs. Wrangler: Powertrain and Performance
The Gladiator is available with two engine options, the first being a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is available, but the optional eight-speed automatic transmission and other required equipment will lead to a maximum towing capacity of 7,650 lbs. The other engine available is a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 that produces 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Even the most affordable starting Gladiator models carry a towing capacity of at least 4,000 lbs.
The 2022 Wrangler’s standard 3.6-liter V-6 engine gets 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It’s worth noting that the Wrangler’s diesel engine isn’t available on 2WD versions for 2022, but this engine gets 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Finally, a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine available on most trims offers 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, plus automatic engine start/stop technology. The latter is also available on the 3.6-liter V-6 at a low cost. Towing capacity ranges between 2,000 and 3,500 lbs, depending on the engine, trim, and packages chosen.
Every Gladiator and Wrangler includes a 4WD system as standard, with Selec-Speed, Selec-Trac, or Rock-Trac systems, and heavy-duty Dana axles available on some trims. The Gladiator has a maximum potential payload rating of 1,700 lbs, to which the Wrangler has no equivalent, although it could easily tow double that much cargo on an appropriate trailer. If you want performance over towing capacity, the Jeep Wrangler might be the vehicle for you, so feel free to browse through our new Jeep inventory and compare different engine configurations.
Gladiator vs. Wrangler: Safety Features
The 2022 Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler are both outfitted with cutting-edge driver assistance and safety technology. Electronic stability control, roll mitigation, and trailer sway control are standard, as are the Parkview backup camera, Parksense rear park assist system, and blind-spot and cross-path recognition. The Wrangler also comes standard with full-speed forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control with automatic stopping and starting, which are optional on the Gladiator.
Should You Get a Gladiator or a Wrangler?
The Gladiator can travel many of the same trails as the Wrangler, with the cargo bed being the most obvious difference. Not everyone needs a cargo bed, or ever tows anything of significant weight, but might want an off-road-ready, customizable Jeep. In that case, there’s no reason not to shop for the perfect Jeep Wrangler, with its long list of trim levels, ranging from rugged to premium.
When it comes to off-road performance and capability, both have good standard engines, but the Gladiator is a super-high-value midsize pickup truck. If you have particular requirements for your Jeep powertrain, be sure to compare the Wrangler’s exciting engines, but, in the end, you can’t go wrong with either.
Check out our live inventory for 2022 Jeep Gladiator and 2022 Jeep Wrangler models available in New Prague, Minnesota. If you see one you like, you can schedule a test drive in a few clicks. You can even apply for financing online and get prompt assistance from one of our team members, starting the car-buying process early.
Image by Dan Gomer is licensed with Unsplash License
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