Starting at
Starting at
| 310 lb-ft | Torque | 260 lb-ft |
| 1,860 lbs | Max Payload | 1,600 lbs |
| 21 / 26 mpg | Fuel Economy | 16 / 23 mpg |
Midsize pickups are a great option for a wide range of people that want the power and functionality of a truck, but who do not need a massive ride in their driveway. Full-size trucks are wonderful for those that have a need for them, but a really good midsize truck is perfect for a lot of people. Choosing the right one can be difficult, so it can help to compare your options and see what works for you. When looking at two models like the 2020 Ford Ranger vs 2020 Jeep Gladiator, the right truck will depend a great deal on what you need.
From the start, these are both very good trucks, and there are certainly going to be some people that go for the Gladiator, but considering the Jeep’s incredibly high price, the 2020 Ford Ranger is sure to be more appealing for a lot of folks. Starting at $9,000 more than the Ranger, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator delivers on a lot of off-road promise, but beyond that, it is not necessarily money well-spent. The Ford Ranger also has tremendous off-road capability, when you choose an available off-road package, and interior features that are tough to beat.
When you consider the tremendous safety features of the Ranger, the Gladiator simply cannot keep up at their highest trims. These are both great trucks, but the high price point of the Jeep Gladiator makes it a tough sell, in our opinion. Of course, you do not have to simply take our word for it, because you can come see the 2020 Ford Ranger for yourself. Call or come visit us at Kings Ford in Cincinnati, OH, today and discover what you have been missing.
No matter what vehicles you are comparing, the engines are a great place to start, and the 2020 Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator are no exceptions. Both of these trucks only have one available engine, so that keeps things pretty simple.
The 2020 Ford Ranger comes with a 2.3L Turbocharged EcoBoost engine that provides you with up to 270 hp and up to 310 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission for a smooth and comfortable ride, with up to 1,860 lbs of available payload and up to 7,500 lbs of available towing. You get an estimated 21/26 mpg in the city and on the highway, so you will be able to have quite a few adventures between trips to the gas station.
By comparison, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that offers up to 285 hp and up to 260 lb-ft of torque. You can see that the Jeep delivers slightly more horsepower, but substantially less torque. It comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with a 6-speed manual available, but there is no 10-speed automatic on the Gladiator. The maximum payload with the Gladiator is up to 1,600 lbs and maximum towing is up to 7,650 lbs. That is a bit more towing, but significantly less payload potential.
The fuel economy on the 2020 Jeep Gladiator also leaves much to be desired. It gets an estimated 16/23 mpg in the city and on the highway. You could excuse that because it is a 4x4 compared to the best numbers on the 2020 Ford Ranger being a 4x2 – but with a 4x4 configuration, the Ranger still gets an estimated 20/24 mpg. That is far superior city fuel economy for the Ranger, no matter how you look at it.
If you are going to consider the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, then it is most likely because you are interested in off-road features. The Gladiator certainly delivers a lot of great off-road performance, with a breakover angle of up to 20.3 degrees and a departure angle of up to 26 degrees. It has either 17 or 18-inch wheels, depending on trim and options, front and rear locking differentials, and plates to protect its underside.
Of course, the 2020 Ford Ranger is not a dedicated off-road pickup by default, but you have two different packages available to make it one. There is an FX2 package that gives you some off-road features, like an off-road tuned suspension and off-road tires, but without fully committing to an off-road design. The FX4 package, on the other hand, gives you rugged steel bash plates to protect your Ranger, numerous skid plates, and an electronic locking rear differential. Plus, the 2020 Ford Ranger can have a breakover angle of up to 21.5 degrees and a departure angle of up to 25.4 degrees, which easily competes with the Gladiator.
The interior features you get on these two trucks will depend on the trim you choose: to keep things simple, we will look at the highest trims on them. The 2020 Ford Ranger Lariat features an 8-inch infotainment display, a pair of 4-inch driver productivity screens, and a 10-speaker B&O premium sound system. It features heated seats, with 8-way power driver and front passenger seats, along with leather detailing throughout, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls.
By comparison, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon comes with a 7-inch infotainment display, a 7-inch driver information display, and an 8-speaker sound system. It features cloth seats with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and interior leather details are available, but not standard. Overall, the standard interior features on the Rubicon are just fine, but far from impressive. Leather seat details and an 8-inch Infotainment display are available options for the Jeep model, not standard, yet the Rubicon starts at $11,000 more than the 2020 Ford Ranger Lariat.
In terms of safety features, both the 2020 Ford Ranger and the 2020 Jeep Gladiator have some great available options. It can be overwhelming to try to look at these based on every trim, however, so to keep things simple, we will consider what they have standard and available at their highest trims. For the 2020 Ford Ranger, that is the Lariat, and for the Gladiator, it is the Rubicon.
The 2020 Ford Ranger Lariat includes AdvanceTrac with roll stability control, a full airbag suite, and curve control. You also get pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, a blind spot monitoring system with cross-traffic alert, and trailer monitoring with these. Automatic high beams, a lane-keeping system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror are all standard on the Lariat. Adaptive cruise control and rain-sensing wipers are available, but not standard.
With the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, however, standard safety features include electronic stability control and roll mitigation, numerous airbags, and electronic trailer sway control. Other great safety features like a forward collision warning, blind-spot and rear cross-path detection, and a rear park-assist system are all available options on the Rubicon – none of them are standard. Adaptive cruise control and a remote start system are also available options.
When you consider that the Rubicon starts at about $11,000 more than the 2020 Ford Ranger Lariat, you would expect a lot more of these advanced safety systems to be standard, rather than costing you more to help keep you safe on the road.
If you are absolutely dedicated to off-road performance and money is no object, then the 2020 Jeep Gladiator might be for you, otherwise, the 2020 Ford Ranger is the way to go. The available off-road features and options on the Ranger are as good as what the Gladiator has to offer in nearly every category, and you can save a lot of money choosing the Ford offering. You also get a truck that is a better all-around option, with superior fuel economy, a smoother ride thanks to a more advanced automatic transmission, and the Ford features and quality you know you can rely on. Once you look past the glitz and excitement of a Jeep pickup, you can see that the Gladiator relies too much on the Jeep name, and does not truly deliver.
Reading all of that, you might think that we are a bit biased – we are a Ford dealership, after all, and certainly have a stake in this. But the numbers do not lie and they speak for themselves: the 2020 Ford Ranger is as good as or better than the Gladiator in nearly every way. And when the Gladiator does come out on top, it is by so little that you will likely never notice it. The difference in price, however, is something you will certainly notice and continue to feel for years to come. Call or come visit us at Kings Ford today and let us show you everything the 2020 Ranger has to offer.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
