2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD
Posted on June 17, 2021
The Jeep Gladiator is one of the most unique vehicles available on the market, garnering accolades such as being named the 2020 North American Truck of the Year, the Mid-Size Truck of the Year by Popular Mechanics, and the Truck of the Year by DoubleClutch.ca.
Its capability both in terms of off-roading and work capability match up with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD, but the aging Tacoma cannot hold a candle to the design and performance of the newly minted Gladiator.
Gladiator vs Tacoma - Design
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon model features the best of what Jeep has to offer with a stylishly modern interior that mimics its bed-less sibling, the Jeep Wrangler. With body and roof panels that are easily removed, the design of the Gladiator can be transformed in less than two minutes.
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is a smartly designed truck on the outside, but the inside is a different story. Filled with hard plastics and a diminutive back seat even in crew-cab models, the Tacoma's interior looks several years past its prime.
Gladiator vs Tacoma - Performance
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is always off-road-ready, featuring excellent towing and hauling capability as a versatile vehicle that is different from anything else on the market. The standard Rubicon engine is a 3.6-litre V6 that delivers 285 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque, and 2,041kg towing capability.
Jeep even offers an additional engine option--a 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 that boosts the Rubicon's performance to 260 horsepower, 442 lb-ft of torque, and 2,948kg of max towing. Both options feature a best-in-class 4x4 payload of up to 726kg.
On the other hand, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is only offered with a 3.5-litre V6 engine that delivers 278 horsepower and 2,948kg of towing. While its power is along the same lines as the Gladiator's, the Tacoma's engine and six-speed automatic transmission can be persnickety. It struggles at times, especially on TRD versions that are built for off-roading and feel unnatural on the pavement.
Gladiator vs Tacoma - Pricing
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is offered for sale in Calgary starting at $56,215. It offers a Uconnect 4 multimedia centre with 7.0-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity, and more. It adds such performance features as Rock-Trac heavy-duty 4x4 system, Tru-Lock front and rear axles, off-road+ mode, front and rear performance shock absorbers, and more.
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is offered in three different TRD packages--TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road Premium, and TRD Pro. In order to make it most comparable to the Gladiator Rubicon, the TRD Pro package should be chosen, which boosts the Tacoma's price to around $57,000 and includes such features as a front skid plate, crawl control and multi-terrain select, TRD-tuned rear leaf springs, Fox shock absorbers, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, SiriusXM, smartphone connectivity, heated front seats, and Toyota Safety Sense.
Choosing a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon in Calgary
There is no doubt about it, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is better equipped for hardcore off-roading adventures. Even though it is beastly enough to crawl over obstacles, it is still a solid drive on pavement.