Drove a 2.3 Ranger, 2.7 F150, EcoDiesel JL, and V6 Gladiator today

[LSU Jonno]

First impressions (in the order I drove them):

First I wanted to drive some Bronco competition:
EcoDiesel JL: This JL was a decked out base model 4 door hard top. It felt pretty small on the inside. I'm pretty short (5'8") and so is my wife (5'5") so it wasn't uncomfortable for us, but for larger people it might be. The EcoDiesel was really nice. Power felt "adequate". (I kind of have a lead foot and like to go fast) Road noise wasn't bad at all with the hard top, which has me excited for a hard top on the Bronco.

V6 Gladiator: This was a decked out Rubi ($62k) hard top. It was also a bit cramped on the inside. Man, the V6 in this vehicle made it feel under powered. I felt like I was driving my wife's minivan. I've never driven a Wrangler or Gladiator before, so this was a completely new experience for me. Both vehicles really want to fight you to stay in your lane. I didn't know what "loose steering" meant before I drove them, but I do now. These would not be fun vehicles to drive at high speeds for long distances. We took the front two panels off the Gladiator hard top and blared the premium Alpine sound system. It was good not great. Premium sound system feels mandatory for vehicles that you will be driving with the top off. Lux package for me now, sigh.

The only reason I drove the F150 and the Ranger was to get a feel for the engines.
2.7 F150 (Velocity Blue!!) Supercab: Wow, super peppy. Gunning it at 50mpH pressed me against the seat. Was easy to drive. Way easier than both the JL and Gladiator. I really liked velocity blue, but by the end of the drive I was tired of it really. A little too much blue for me. Looks better on a Mustang than a large truck, IMO. I think I eliminated it from Bronco contention.
2.3 Ranger: I'd say the engine is adequate, felt similar to the EcoDiesel in the JL, maybe a little less power. Nobody will be disappointed with it, but hands down I'm going with the 2.7. (Again, I have a lead foot so your mileage may vary)

If you are like me and are new to an off-road vehicle, I'd go make the rounds and drive a Wrangler, Gladiator, and then to get a feel for the engines go drive a Ranger and an F150. Sure did clear up a lot of questions I had.

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[JoeyIV]

Geaux Tigers!

 

[That_Hal]

First impressions (in the order I drove them):

First I wanted to drive some Bronco competition:
EcoDiesel JL: This JL was a decked out base model 4 door hard top. It felt pretty small on the inside. I'm pretty short (5'8") and so is my wife (5'5") so it wasn't uncomfortable for us, but for larger people it might be. The EcoDiesel was really nice. Power felt "adequate". (I kind of have a lead foot and like to go fast) Road noise wasn't bad at all with the hard top, which has me excited for a hard top on the Bronco.

V6 Gladiator: This was a decked out Rubi ($62k) hard top. It was also a bit cramped on the inside. Man, the V6 in this vehicle made it feel under powered. I felt like I was driving my wife's minivan. I've never driven a Wrangler or Gladiator before, so this was a completely new experience for me. Both vehicles really want to fight you to stay in your lane. I didn't know what "loose steering" meant before I drove them, but I do now. These would not be fun vehicles to drive at high speeds for long distances. We took the front two panels off the Gladiator hard top and blared the premium Alpine sound system. It was good not great. Premium sound system feels mandatory for vehicles that you will be driving with the top off. Lux package for me now, sigh.

The only reason I drove the F150 and the Ranger was to get a feel for the engines.
2.7 F150 (Velocity Blue!!) Supercab: Wow, super peppy. Gunning it at 50mpH pressed me against the seat. Was easy to drive. Way easier than both the JL and Gladiator. I really liked velocity blue, but by the end of the drive I was tired of it really. A little too much blue for me. Looks better on a Mustang than a large truck, IMO. I think I eliminated it from Bronco contention.
2.3 Ranger: I'd say the engine is adequate, felt similar to the EcoDiesel in the JL, maybe a little less power. Nobody will be disappointed with it, but hands down I'm going with the 2.7. (Again, I have a lead foot so your mileage may vary)

If you are like me and are new to an off-road vehicle, I'd go make the rounds and drive a Wrangler, Gladiator, and then to get a feel for the engines go drive a Ranger and an F150. Sure did clear up a lot of questions I had.

I have driven all of those and I guess this really is about eye of the beholder. Because when I drove the Gladiator I really liked it. I thought it was really fun and had plenty of power and for me it looks badass and different from all the other trucks out there. Inner think I did not like was the line of sight... The rearview mirror felt like it was right in my way the whole time and I also thought the side mirrors where really small... But am coming from F150 which has huge side mirrors.
It just do happens that I like the Bronco a lot more and with my F150 it had been excellent that I feel really good about another Ford product. Otherwise I would be in a Gladiator.

 

[LSU Jonno]

I have driven all of those and I guess this really is about eye of the beholder. Because when I drove the Gladiator I really liked it. I thought it was really fun and had plenty of power and for me it looks badass and different from all the other trucks out there. Inner think I did not like was the line of sight... The rearview mirror felt like it was right in my way the whole time and I also thought the side mirrors where really small... But am coming from F150 which has huge side mirrors.
It just do happens that I like the Bronco a lot more and with my F150 it had been excellent that I feel really good about another Ford product. Otherwise I would be in a Gladiator.

Definitely wasn't poopooing Jeeps. I like the Wrangler and the Gladiator. But for my driving style, I wouldn't be able handle anything less than than the EcoDiesel in either vehicle.

In general I was actually way more impressed with both the Wrangler and the Gladiator than I thought I would be. But that steering, man, that would need some getting used to.

 

[Dads_bronze_bronco]

I think driving the competition and learning about how the hard and soft tops work and lockers and disconnect etc is a great way to prepare for December.

 

[BroncoSarge]

I drove the ranger. I think I want more. Gonna go 2.7

 

[LSU Jonno]

I drove the ranger. I think I want more. Gonna go 2.7

The F150 has to be a lot heavier vehicle than the Bronco right? I think the 2.7 in the Bronco is going to absolutely fly. It felt great in the F150.

 

[MJJ]

The key with the 2.7 is to run premium fuel and in sport mode. I hear it comes alive when those two things are present.

 

[GiddyUp]

First impressions (in the order I drove them):

First I wanted to drive some Bronco competition:
EcoDiesel JL: This JL was a decked out base model 4 door hard top. It felt pretty small on the inside. I'm pretty short (5'8") and so is my wife (5'5") so it wasn't uncomfortable for us, but for larger people it might be. The EcoDiesel was really nice. Power felt "adequate". (I kind of have a lead foot and like to go fast) Road noise wasn't bad at all with the hard top, which has me excited for a hard top on the Bronco.

V6 Gladiator: This was a decked out Rubi ($62k) hard top. It was also a bit cramped on the inside. Man, the V6 in this vehicle made it feel under powered. I felt like I was driving my wife's minivan. I've never driven a Wrangler or Gladiator before, so this was a completely new experience for me. Both vehicles really want to fight you to stay in your lane. I didn't know what "loose steering" meant before I drove them, but I do now. These would not be fun vehicles to drive at high speeds for long distances. We took the front two panels off the Gladiator hard top and blared the premium Alpine sound system. It was good not great. Premium sound system feels mandatory for vehicles that you will be driving with the top off. Lux package for me now, sigh.

The only reason I drove the F150 and the Ranger was to get a feel for the engines.
2.7 F150 (Velocity Blue!!) Supercab: Wow, super peppy. Gunning it at 50mpH pressed me against the seat. Was easy to drive. Way easier than both the JL and Gladiator. I really liked velocity blue, but by the end of the drive I was tired of it really. A little too much blue for me. Looks better on a Mustang than a large truck, IMO. I think I eliminated it from Bronco contention.
2.3 Ranger: I'd say the engine is adequate, felt similar to the EcoDiesel in the JL, maybe a little less power. Nobody will be disappointed with it, but hands down I'm going with the 2.7. (Again, I have a lead foot so your mileage may vary)

If you are like me and are new to an off-road vehicle, I'd go make the rounds and drive a Wrangler, Gladiator, and then to get a feel for the engines go drive a Ranger and an F150. Sure did clear up a lot of questions I had.

Good write up ... thank you!

 

[KCBRUIN]

As this thread is for comparisons sake, I find this comment to be odd, because I’m not sure I’ve heard the 4Runner referred to as “peppy” before. The 6 speed Wrangler JK with a pentastar was faster than a 4Runner. So I know the 8 speed JL is faster than a still 5 speed 4Runner.

 

[Mattwings]

Great write up. I have not driven the EcoDiesel, so that's an interesting comparison. My impression of the Pentastar was similar to yours. I think the issue is HP and Torque curves, not net #'s. It's just not matched well for the Jeep application IMO. And to the Jeep steering/tracking (my #1 issue with my Jeep), here is to hoping the Bronco can hold a lane!

 

[Broncocito]

The F150 has to be a lot heavier vehicle than the Bronco right? I think the 2.7 in the Bronco is going to absolutely fly. It felt great in the F150.

4,858 lbs. for a supercrew and 2.7; about the same.

 

[jswing]

Thanks for the feedback. I considered the Gladiator before I bought my Ranger, but 5.7% vs 0% financing for the Ford, I never even bothered driving it. Having a Ranger, I've been thinking all along that the 2.3 was fine, but it would probably be a lot more fine with that 2.7.

 

[FourHorses]

Thanks for sharing!

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