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It’s time for the Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma to battle it out. We are diving in to discover which truck is tougher. These two midsize trucks are considered to be the most durable midsize trucks available. But is the 2023 Jeep Gladiator more reliable than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma? 

2023 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma: Which truck is more reliable? 

How reliable is the 2023 Jeep Gladiator
2023 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

While the 2023 Jeep Gladiator doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability, it might be more durable than you think. However, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma is the best-selling truck, and that could be because of its reputation for long-lasting reliability. 

According to Consumer Reports, the Gladiator is expected to be less reliable than the average new car, and the Tacoma is predicted to be more reliable than the average new vehicle. But this is based on surveys sent to paid subscribers, and the pull might be limited. 

J.D.Power gave the Gladiator a reliability score of 85 out of 100, and the Tacoma earned an 83 out of 100. Scores between 70 to 80 are average, while anything in the 81 to 90 range is great. This provides both trucks with an above-average score. 

Like Consumer Reports, the J.D.Power predicted reliability rating is based on problems reported by real owners. 

The Gladiator is expected to reach at least 200,000 miles, but it just returned in 2020. With a few more years on the road, it could get a longer life expectancy. 

The Tacoma has been around for decades, allowing it to be put through the paces. It’s expected to last between 300,000 to 400,000 miles. 

Is the Gladiator safer than the Tacoma? 

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator is moderately safer than the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. It received more ‘Good’ ratings than the Tacoma in multiple crash simulations. The Tacoma earned a few ‘Acceptable’ and ‘Poor’ ratings. 

While the Gladiator has higher scores for protecting passengers, the Tacoma has better scores for its headlights. The Gladiator’s LED projector headlights provide inadequate illumination around curves and create some glare. 

Both trucks have a ‘Superior’ rating for the ability to avoid frontal collisions with other vehicles. The trucks avoided collisions at speeds of 12 and 25 mph. 

The Gladiator has a higher rating for child seats because the tethers are too deep in the seat, hard, to find, and could be confused with other equipment in the Tacoma. 

Is the Gladiator or the Tacoma stronger? 

How reliable is the 2023 Toyota Tacoma?
2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Allison Barfield, MotorBiscuit

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator has a fully boxed frame. It’s a lightweight, high-strength steel frame with a rigid chassis. Aluminum is used in the frame, but steel is in the critical sections and hydroformed sections of the front rail. 

Only the front of the Toyota Tacoma is boxed-in, but it has a traditional body-on-frame build. It’s built on a high-strength steel frame with ultra high-strenght steel stamped into the body to reduce weight. 

But the Gladiator can tow up to 7,700 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,710 lbs. The Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,685 lbs. 

For now, the Tacoma is seen as the more reliable option because it’s predicted to last much longer than the Gladiator. But the Gladiator could prove itself with more time on the road to accrue mileage. 

Plus, the Gladiator can tow more and is a bit safer. The Tacoma is appealing, with more steel in the frame, but it’s about to be completely redesigned. The new truck could be less reliable than the current generation.