Jeep Gladiator vs Toyota Tacoma
Midsize pickups · head to head, 2020–2026
The Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma were both sold for 7 model years (2020–2026). Among the Gladiator's own years, its best bet is 2023; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Tacoma's own years, its best bet is 2023; years to avoid: 2024–2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023.
Jeep Gladiator
Pickup · 2020–2026
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2020–2021
Toyota Tacoma
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2023
- Avoid 2024–2025
- Be careful 2012, 2016, 2018–2019
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Gladiator year says nothing about whether it beats a Tacoma. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Jeep Gladiator | Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes | Side by side |
| 2023 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.6× usual, mostly steering and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.1× usual, mostly steering and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 2026 Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $32,245 to $64,450 base price by trim, 8 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 3.6L 6-cyl, 285 hp | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, 228–278 hp 2.4L 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 228–278 hp manual available |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 19 mpg | 20–23 mpg |
| Seats | — | 2–5 |
| Third row | — | No |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max towing | — | 3,500–6,500 lb |
| Bed length | — | 60.3–73.5 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | Not rated | 4 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 2 · 3 | 0 · 0 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Gladiator Sport first listed | Gladiator Rubicon last listed | Tacoma SR lowest price, $32,245 | Tacoma TRD Pro highest price, $64,450 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | — | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | — | Varies | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Optional | Optional | — | Standard |
| Heated front seats | — | — | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | — | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | — | — | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | — | — | Standard |
| Remote start | — | — | Varies | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Gladiator, Tacoma).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Jeep Gladiator
11 manufacturer programs on file: 2 extended coverage, 9 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Blank XZ1 Warranty Extension Customers may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● A blank IPC display. (08-298-26, 2020 models)
- Extended coverage Air Trapped in Steering Damper Warranty Extension XF1 A shimmy in the steering wheel after hitting an irregularity on the road surface (symptom is more prevalent in cold temperatures). (23-041-24, 2020 models)
Toyota Tacoma
27 manufacturer programs on file: 15 extended coverage, 12 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. (23TE08, 2016–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received a number of reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (Z1, 2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with… (23TE04, 2017–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2022–2023. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2025: the Gladiator is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.8× usual), while the Tacoma is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2024: the Gladiator is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.9× usual), while the Tacoma is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Tacoma 2024–2025.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Gladiator 2025; Tacoma 2023.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Tacoma at 23 mpg (Gladiator: 19), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.