Findlay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Starting at
Starting at
| 260 - 285 | Horsepower (HP) | 285 |
| 260 - 442 | Torque (lb-ft) | 260 |
| 3,500 | Max Towing Capacity (lbs) | 7,650 |
When it comes to peak performance coupled with exceptional reliability, no one does it quite like Jeep. Ever since its inception in the 1940s, Jeep has continuously set the bar and improved upon it as well. Throughout the extensive Jeep lineup, there are two models, in particular, which have gained strong reputations amongst fans for their performance and durability. These models are the Wrangler and Gladiator. There are a host of similarities between the two vehicles, and with the introduction of the latest iterations, pitting the 2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Jeep Gladiator nets some interesting results.
Both vehicles serve a highly similar purpose and, in actuality, aren’t too different from one another except cosmetic differences. These cosmetic differences also mean the Gladiator has a bed while the Wrangler takes a more compact approach. Both vehicles are capable of towing, albeit one is certainly better suited for it than the other. Any driver looking for the utmost performance, especially when off-roading, should consider one of these vehicles.
Something that immediately separates the Wrangler and the Gladiator is the former comes in either two or four-door variants, while the latter only comes equipped in a four-door configuration. Looking at the base models for both vehicles, they both share a similar starting MSRP with the Wrangler starting at $28,295 and the Gladiator starting at $33,545. There are four trims for the Gladiator, starting with Sport and followed by Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon.
Things aren’t so cut and dry for the Wrangler, however, as drivers are given a host of choices regarding their vehicle. In addition to the aforementioned two and four-door configurations, customers will also be treated to a whopping eight special editions and four trims. The base trim, the Sport, is followed by the Sport S, Sahara, and the Rubicon. Although the idea of having multiple trims to select from may seem daunting to some, the prospect of choice might be appealing to many drivers.
The 2020 Jeep Wrangler has three engines it can be fitted with, one of which is the sole engine found in the 2020 Gladiator. The engine seen in both vehicles is a 3.6L V6, which produces 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic with slightly different EPA ratings between the two.
For those looking to perform heavy-duty towing, they’ll likely be drawn to the Gladiator for its better towing performance as a fully equipped model can easily tow up to 7,650 lbs and it has a 1,700 lb maximum payload capacity, while the Wrangler is limited to a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs and a payload capacity of about 1,000 lbs.
As previously mentioned, the Wrangler offers two additional engines that may be fitted inside. One of these engines is a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder, which offers respectable performance and fuel efficiency ratings. This engine can produce up to 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which impressively is 7% more than the larger 3.6L V6 found standard. Unlike the V6, this engine can’t be paired with the aforementioned six-speed manual transmission and is exclusively paired with the eight-speed automatic. Towing capacity remains at 3,500 lbs, which is perfect for lighter towing jobs, albeit nothing spectacular.
Critics have taken notice that off-roading is exceptional with the 2020 Wrangler, even at a base level thanks in part to a well-constructed suspension and can offer a maximum ground clearance of 10.8 inches. Fuel efficiency is quite respectable with 22 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway.
For those interested in a diesel-powered engine, the 2020 Wrangler offers a 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel engine that produces 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, which is a 52% increase in torque over the turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder. With this engine, Wrangler drivers will have the best fuel economy ratings yet with up to 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway.
Both the 2020 Wrangler and Gladiator can seat up to five passengers, but only the two-door Wrangler is limited to four passengers. Regardless, both interiors are spacious, and cargo space is not a problem whatsoever. The Gladiator includes a bed that measures five feet in length while drivers can achieve extra cargo space in their Wrangler by folding back the rear seats. The amount of cargo space a customer will receive with their Wrangler is solely dependant on whether or not they purchased the two or four-door models. By folding these seats back, owners of the four-door Wrangler will be treated to 72.4 cu.ft of space, a solid increase over the 31.7 cu.ft seen when not folded. Owners of the two-door Wrangler are much more limited in cargo space as there is normally 12.9 cu.ft of space and nearly 32 cu.ft when the seats are folded down.
Similarities between the Wrangler and Gladiator are also seen when taking a closer look at the included infotainment centers. Infotainment centers have earned a very popular reputation in recent years, and because of this, manufacturers such as Jeep include them in their current lineups, the Wrangler and Gladiator included.
At the base level, both the Wrangler and Gladiator both come with 5-inch screens for their infotainment centers with capacitive touch controls. Along with included USB ports, both vehicles also offer audio systems consisting of eight speakers, and Bluetooth comes standard. Bluetooth allows drivers to connect their wireless devices to the infotainment center with ease and access audio playback. For those looking to take smartphone connectivity further, along with increased screen sizes for the infotainment centers, both the Wrangler and Gladiator offer options for upgrading.
The increased screen sizes that are offered for both vehicles are 7-inches and 8.4-inches. For increased fidelity in audio playback, it’s recommended that drivers also look to upgrade the previously mentioned eight-speaker system to a nine-speaker setup. In recent years, Apple and Google developed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are software suites that connect to devices that many drivers already own, such as iPhones and compatible Android devices. Once connected, users can access a wealth of their smartphone’s features such as hands-free phone calls and text messages, full access to the driver’s music library, navigation, and even app stores designed to add more features that the user sees fit.
Although the Wrangler and Gladiator are rather light on standard safety features, there is a rear-view camera present on both that will display on the infotainment center’s screen. However, both vehicles offer an extensive list of available safety features that drivers may opt to include with their vehicles. Many of the available safety features serve important purposes, and drivers looking for the utmost safety while on the road will be hard-pressed to ignore these additions. Amongst these additions is adaptive cruise control, which unlike traditional cruise control systems of the past, this system can determine a preset distance between the driver and any vehicle in front of them and will continue to adjust the speed accordingly.
Both the Wrangler and Gladiator also offer rear cross-traffic alert, which is a system that sends out auditory and visual alerts to drivers if the vehicle detects a vehicle passing by when reversing out of parking spaces, for example. Rear parking sensors are also available to owners of the Wrangler or Gladiator, which makes reversing into a parking spot easier than ever by increasing spatial awareness to prevent collisions.
Additionally, forward collision warning is an available option for both vehicles and is used to alert the driver of an impending impact with a vehicle in front. Lastly, blind-spot monitoring is available on both vehicles serving as an important addition as it makes highway travel much safer by alerting the driver of a vehicle approaching their blind spot to inform them not to switch lanes at that time.
