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| 260-442 | Torque (lb-ft) | 191-369 |
| 1,700 | Max Payload (lbs) | 1,550 |
| 24 | Diesel Fuel Economy (mpg combined) | 23 |
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an American brand with more off-roading pedigree than Jeep. Recently, however, other brands have been seeking to etch their names into the wall of the Off-Road Hall of Fame. With pickup trucks being today's preferred medium of heading off the pavement, we’re going to compare two trucks - 2022 Jeep Gladiator vs 2022 Chevrolet Colorado - and see how they hold up against one another.
Originally commissioned by the U.S. Army as a military vehicle designed with the intention of cutting across Europe during the Second World War, Jeep has gone through many iterations and passed through a series of owners to become the brand synonymous with the rugged American spirit we know today. Though most recognizable as an SUV, Jeep has been in the pickup game since its inception. The late ’40s and ’60s saw the Willys Overland 4x4 pickup, followed by the FC, original Gladiator (or J series), Commando, Scrambler, and Comanche. But the Gladiator nameplate has returned, and it’s got more features for off-roading than perhaps any other Jeep pickup.
Conversely, the folks over at Chevrolet have been in the pickup game far longer than Jeep, beginning with the One-Ton in 1918. Household names such as the C/K10, C30, S-10, Silverado, and our chief competitor today, the Colorado. Replacing the S-10 as Chevrolet’s small truck, the Colorado was introduced in 2004 and has remained popular ever since. Recently, with the off-roading craze spreading, Chevrolet introduced an off-roading Colorado trim called the Z71, followed shortly thereafter by the Z72. As capable and teched-out as any truck has the right to be, we’ll see if the Colorado can hold its own against the pedigree and everlasting popularity of the Jeep.
There are two engine options available on the Jeep Gladiator, starting with the standard 3.6L Pentastar V6. This tried-and-true stalwart of the Jeep brand produces 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It’s rated to tow upwards of 7,650 lbs, making it a leader in its class.
Your second engine option on the Gladiator is a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6. Horsepower is reduced to 260 hp, but gains are made with a significant 442 lb-ft torque rating, the best in its class. The low hp and high torque combo are best served in situations where low gear power is required. Think the Moab Trail, where Jeeps cut their teeth on a routine basis. Additionally, the EcoDiesel, when paired with the 8-speed automatic transmission, comes with a Variable Geometry Turbo, which allows for excellent acceleration for highway travel. And, with an estimated 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway, the EcoDiesel is quite efficient for a midsize pickup.
The Colorado has three engines to choose from. The standard engine, a 2.5L 4-cylinder, produces only 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque and is really only intended for on-road usage. Moving up the line, we have the 3.6L DOHC V6, producing 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. Finally, we have the direct competitor, the Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel. This engine produces 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque and is the engine of choice for the Z72 Colorado.
Lacking significantly in horsepower and torque, the Colorado is not likely the kind of vehicle that’s created to take on the harsh, outlander conditions of the Gladiator. While it will do more than fine off the beaten path, the fact of the matter is that, when it comes to off-road engines, Jeep is poised to win every time. However, the Duramax has one advantage over the EcoDiesel. The tow rating for the Duramax is 7,700 lbs, compared to the EcoDiesel’s 6,500 lbs. Though, for our money, if you’re serious about off-roading, stick with the Jeep.
Off-roading is about adventure, and with adventure comes gear. You want to be secure in knowing that your vehicle can handle whatever gear you choose to bring along on your adventure. This could be anything from a tent to a full-blown AirStream trailer. With the Gladiator's all-steel 5 ft cargo bed, you’ll have plenty of room to pack your essentials with a best-in-class payload of 1,700 lbs. An available Trail Rails system is a bed-mounted tie-down system that can come with additional Jeep Performance Parts accessories. Inside the bed, you’ll find four tie-down hooks and a 115-volt/400-watt power outlet, perfect for charging small appliances. Also available is an adjustable tonneau cover that’ll keep your gear dry and safe and a Park View rearview camera with 4X zoom capability and integrated digital guidelines that makes hitching your trailer easy rather than stressful.
The Colorado has your standard features of a mid-size truck bed. Unlike its competitors, Toyota excluded, it comes available with a long bed option for the 4-door Crew Cab. This increases the bed size from 5.5 ft to 6.5 ft, allowing for a 1.5 ft cargo advantage over the Gladiator. There are up to 17 tie-down points available in the Colorado, as well as a slew of gear storage catered accessories made available by Chevrolet. Among these are a tonneau cover. Though not adjustable like the one offered on the Gladiator, it still provides maximum bed coverage to keep your gear safe and dry.
GearOn provides a bed divider, which breaks up your bed coverage into different sections, and utility rack stanchions upon which you could place a storage box, kayak, or rooftop tent. With a maximum payload capacity of 1,550 lbs, you can fit whatever gear you need to fit in the bed of this capable little truck. And though the standard features of the Colorado’s bed are less outdoorsy than the Gladiator, it’s still more than ready to take to the trails with your gear in tow. An HD RearVision camera is only available on the Z71 and ZR2 off-road models.
You can certainly fit everything you need into both vehicles. However, where standard features are concerned, the Gladiator, again, takes the win here. The available tie-down hooks, power outlet, and general configurability make it an appealing choice. The accessories provided for the Colorado come at a high cost, and the truck doesn’t come standard with an HD rearview camera as the Gladiator does.
While everything about the Gladiator screams off-road, there are two trims that take the Jeep experience to the next level. We’re talking, of course, about the Rubicon and Mojave. Named for two of America’s greatest natural wonders, these two trims come equipped with more off-road specs than should be loaded into a vehicle. The Rubicon is designed for rocky terrain, with a 1.1-inch increase in ground clearance from the standard Gladiator. The Trail Rated 4x4 system is mated with Tru-Lock electronic locking differentials, sway bar disconnect, a Rock-Trac transfer case for low range crawls, protective rock rails, and FOX aluminum 2-inch diameter shocks.
Meanwhile, the Mojave is the first-ever Desert Rated Jeep. It’s designed to thrive in the unforgiving waste of the desert. Reinforced frame and axles, upgraded suspension - the same 2-inch FOX shocks as the Rubicon - enhanced maneuverability, and ground clearance make way for a special desert vehicle ready to take on whatever nature throws at it.
The Z72 line is Chevrolet’s all-inclusive, off-road centered trim line that will extend across its lineup of trucks and SUVs. For the Colorado, this means updated suspension and ride height, fully locking, driver selectable front and rear differentials, a 2-speed transfer case with electronic rotary controls, underbody protection, and front recovery hooks. The Z72 Off-Road Performance package gives the Colorado a wider stance with special interior specs, but the real meat is in the improved DSSV damping suspension, fender flares, and selectable terrain modes.
Chevrolet has also partnered with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to produce the Z72 Bison. This is the most heavy-duty version of the Colorado. The normal Z72 package is provided, while AEV contributes the front bumper winch provisions and rear recovery points, boron steel skid plates for the front differential, fender flares, fog lamps, and an engine snorkel for fording through deep water.
Despite Chevrolet’s best efforts, there really is no competition for off-roading when it comes to Jeep. The Rubicon is so ingrained in the psyche of off-roaders that in order for Chevrolet to take its place, it will need to develop a whole new brand of vehicle. This is not to say that the Z72 Colorado is not capable; it certainly is. But if it's hardcore, tried and true off-road capability that you want, you’re looking at the Jeep Gladiator.
We’re not here to say that Chevrolet is bad, far from it. But when it comes to pedigree, engine power, gear loading, and the sheer amount of detail that goes into the off-road capabilities of the Gladiator, it has to be our pick for you. There’s a reason we’re the No.1 Jeep dealer in the state of California. We’ve been serving our customers here in Costa Mesa since 1981. Come visit us and see which Jeep is right for you.
*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.
