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| 260-470 | Horsepower (hp) | 260-285 |
| 12.9 | Ground Clearance (in) | 11.6 |
| 3,500 | Towing (lbs) | 7,650 |
The king of off-road traversal belongs to Jeep's off-road vehicles: for SUVs, it's obviously the Wrangler, and for trucks, it's the Gladiator. But what happens when you can't decide between the two? Well, in that case, you need a breakdown to figure out which of the newer models best works for you. That's what we're here to do today, compare the 2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Jeep Gladiator. This will give you a full breakdown of which one is more attuned to your budget and your driving lifestyle.
For 2022 the Jeep Wrangler has many new features. Some of them are an all-new cabin air filter that removes 95% of particulate matter, a larger seven-inch touchscreen for the base trims, a standard 8.4-inch touchscreen on the Sahara and Rubicon, and new remote proximity keyless entry for select trims. An all-new exterior color in the form of Silver Zynith has also been added to the Wrangler's line-up, along with a new blue pad print for the hybrid Wrangler 4xe version's wheels. An improved 4.88 axle ratio for the Rubicon has been made available for the 3.6L V6. The 2022 Wrangler is available in numerous different trims, ranging from the base Sport to the incredibly powerful Rubicon 392.
The 2022 Jeep Gladiator keeps its updates much simpler for the new model year but also shares some of the updates made available for the Wrangler. For instance, the Silver Zynith color is available for the Gladiator, replacing Billet Silver from the previous model year. You will also find the newly standard seven-inch touchscreen for the base trims, and the 8.4-inch touchscreen has been standard made for several of the upper-end trims. Remote proximity keyless entry is also now a standard feature on several trims, while the new cabin air filter is standard across the board. You can get the 2022 Gladiator in many of the same trims as the Wrangler, including the iconic Willys and Rubicon. However, it also has the Mojave trim, making the Gladiator Jeep's only Desert Rated model.
The 2022 Jeep Wrangler and 2022 Jeep Gladiator have similar performance because they share some of the same powerplants. There are differences, however. The 2022 Jeep Wrangler has six different engines available. The base powertrain is a 3.6L Pentastar V6, which manages 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It's possible to get the Pentastar V6 with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. There's also a 3.6L Pentastar V6 with eTorque, providing the Wrangler with more torque at lower RPMs, but it's only available with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Further up the chain is a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder that makes 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Then there's a 3.0L turbocharged EcoDiesel V6 that makes 260 hp at 442 lb-ft of torque. The EcoDiesel and four-cylinder are both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The final two engines available for the 2022 Wrangler are the 2.0L turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Wrangler 4xe and the 6.4L HEMI V8 in the Rubicon 392. Both of these options deliver 470 lb-ft of torque, but the Wrangler 4xe has 375 hp compared to 470 hp in the Rubicon 392.
The 2022 Gladiator only has two of the Wrangler's six engine options. The base powertrain is the 3.6L Pentastar V6 with either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 is the other option for the Gladiator, giving it arguably the two best all-around engines available for the Wrangler. However, if you want a hybrid or a V8, then the Gladiator won't be able to fulfill that desire.
While the Gladiator and Wrangler share the same engines, if fuel economy is a deciding factor for you, this comparison falls in favor of the Wrangler. With the Pentastar V6, the 2022 Wrangler offers up to 21 MPG combined against 19 MPG combined for the 2022 Gladiator. When it comes to the EcoDiesel, the Wrangler manages up to 25 MPG combined against the Gladiator's 24 MPG combined. Of course, if you want to maximize fuel economy, there is the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe, which gets 20 MPG combined and can travel 22 miles on battery power alone.
Even though the Gladiator is a larger truck version of the Wrangler, both vehicles don't necessarily have the same trim availability. The Gladiator is available across nine different trims, but the Wrangler has 12 trims available. So which trims are available for the Wrangler that aren't available for the Gladiator? Well, the Wrangler has several special trims available with unique powertrain and features, such as the Rubicon 392, which comes with the 6.4L HEMI V8 that outputs 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The High Tide trim is another one that's only available for the Wrangler, adding a special hardtop and decals.
Another big difference between the two is that the Wrangler has access to a hybrid setup in the form of the Wrangler 4xe and its three trims: the Sahara 4xe, Rubicon 4xe, and High Altitude 4xe. The Wrangler 4xe is one of the biggest differences between the 2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Jeep Gladiator beyond the availability of the Rubicon 392. The Wrangler 4xe has a completely different hybrid setup that is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder and a 17 kWh battery pack with an electric motor. The ability to take advantage of a plug-in electric option and go eco-friendly with the Jeep Wrangler adds a lot of versatility to this model.
While the Wrangler has more trims and a hybrid option, that doesn't take anything away from the Jeep Gladiator as an off-road pickup truck. In fact, the Gladiator has a unique performance trim that isn't available on the Wrangler. The Gladiator Mojave is Jeep's first-ever Desert Rated vehicle and is designed for high-speed desert running rather than technical rock crawling. The Mojave includes a reinforced suspension, a four-wheel drive system optimized for higher speeds, and tweaks to handle hot, sandy environments.
Both the 2022 Jeep Wrangler and 2022 Jeep Gladiator are more than capable when it comes to their intended roles. If you want a vehicle with pickup truck functionality, the Gladiator is the way to go. The extra towing and payload capacity is definitely the Gladiator's biggest selling point, whereas the Wrangler stands out for its maneuverability. Out of the box, though, which one gives you more of what you want will depend on what you want it for.
When it comes to towing and payload, the Gladiator will obviously be the preferable option. With its 7,650 lbs of maximum towing capacity and five-foot bed, the Gladiator is an extremely capable midsize truck that is also at home on the trail. While the Wrangler can tow up to 3,500 lbs, it is not a great tow vehicle and has minimal interior space. If you opt for the more traditional two-door Wrangler, you will have just 12.9 cu.ft. of cargo volume in the back and seating for only four passengers.
When it comes to off-roading, though, the Wrangler has a level of performance that you don't quite get with the Gladiator. For instance, you can enjoy up to 12.9 inches of ground clearance with the Wrangler Xtreme Recon package, while the Gladiator tops out at 11.6 inches of ground clearance with its Mojave trim. The Wrangler also has a best-in-class approach angle of 47.4 degrees and a departure angle of 40.4 degrees.
The Wrangler can achieve more in the off-road department because of its shorter wheelbase and larger tires. The Jeep Gladiator is no off-road slouch, and it comes with 33-inch all-terrain tires, which is very impressive for a midsize pickup truck. The Jeep Wrangler, however, is available from the factory with 35-inch all-terrain tires, making it the ultimate off-road machine. When it comes to the 2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Jeep Gladiator, if towing and hauling is what you need from a midsize vehicle, the Gladiator is a great option. However, for the ultimate off-road SUV, the Wrangler is the perfect choice.
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*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.
