Ding, ding, ding, the results are in, and they may surprise you. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro managed to win the best midsize truck of the year over the Jeep Gladiator! What is that about? Isn’t the Jeep truck supposed to be the best option for off-roading? Let’s see why the Toyota Tacoma kept the crown as the off-roading king. 

The Toyota Tacoma Beat The Jeep Gladiator For Off-Roading 

In the contest for the best midsize off-roading truck of the year, both the off-roading version of the Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator were judged. So, forget the base models, and think about the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon instead as both options raise the price significantly. 

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon both start around $43k. The Toyota Tacoma base model starts around $26k, and the Jeep Gladiator base model starts around $33k. 

Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Benefits 

The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro managed to take the win over the Jeep Gladiator due to being off-road-ready at a moment’s notice with a better ride quality on the road with more comfort. Because the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has smaller Bilstein shocks, it can handle obstacles while off-roading and has a smoother ride around town. 

The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon scored well for being the only convertible truck option on the market and having a larger back seat than its rivals. However, it has stiff ride quality, and the steering feels sluggish. The Gladiator also sits up one inch higher than the Tacoma TRD Pro, so both options could be challenging to climb up in. 

It’s a safer bet to go with the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro because it has the best resale value out of all other options. We’re still waiting to see how much value the Jeep Gladiator will maintain. Also, the Tacoma new downward-facing cameras to help you see obstacles to steer clear of, locking center differential, and strong shock absorbers. 

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The Jeep Gladiator has a longer wheelbase and is a little larger, making it more challenging to off-road. It can be too large for narrower trails and may face more difficulties going over obstacles than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. 

However, the Jeep Gladiator is the better option for rock crawling. It can also tow up to 7,650 lb while the Tacoma TRD Pro can only tow 6,400 lb. Both of these trucks have a V6 engine. The Gladiator has a 3.6-liter V6 engine that offers 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The TRD Pro has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that pumps out 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. 

Jeep Gladiator And Toyota Tacoma Tech 

Both trucks are equipped with smart infotainment centers that can connect to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Google Assistant, and Alexis. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has a rear power window, but the Jeep Gladiator has auto climate control to automatically adjust the temperature of the cab as needed. 

The Jeep Gladiator has parking assistance to help you squeeze into tight spots, but the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has more safety features. It has a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, ToyotaCare, and more.