I Rented a Gladiator...My thoughts vs Bronco

[TKE_273]

I rented a Gladiator this week for work. Figured it would be fun to drive and an opportunity to compare it to my Bronco after 3 months of ownership and 4,500 miles.

This isn't meant to trigger the Jeep folks, because the Jeep brand deserves a ton of credit for continuously offering the Wrangler and its variants as an interesting alternative to boring vehicles for decades.

With that said, I'm not joking when I say I would have returned this thing and grabbed a different vehicle if I had the time. The driving characteristics of a Gladiator vs. a Bronco are literally night and day, and being in the Gladiator gave me a whole new level of appreciation for the Bronco's road manners.

Gladiator steering at 75MPH is like giving vague suggestions as to what direction the truck should go. As a driver who represents the majority of buyers (someone who uses the vehicle as a daily driver and goes off road occasionally), I can confidently say I would have sold a Gladiator almost immediately. I'm glad they exist and think they look great, just surprised at the wildly unrefined on-road characteristics!

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[T Copp]

My mom has a Gladiator with the upgraded Fox suspension and 37” tires.

I agree fully with your post.

 

[Blackcat]

You're spot on with the driving at highway speed diagnosis. My wife has 21 Wrangler Sahara and I absolutely hate driving it on the highway. It makes me sad because I'd love to replace my work truck in a couple years with a Gladiator, but I don't think I could stand it on a daily basis.

 

[dan79]

I know I am not the only one(even if its a small group) that would love to see a bronco with a bed seeing how many gladiators I see out. I am still hoping for bronco with a bed one day

 

[mattymik]

My mom has a Gladiator with the upgraded Fox suspension and 37” tires.

I agree fully with your post.

I smile at the image of a boomer mom riding on Trail Grappler 37s and with the stick figure family on the back window.

 

[Blackcat]

I know I am not the only one(even if its a small group) that would love to see a bronco with a bed seeing how many gladiators I see out. I am still hoping for bronco with a bed one day

I'd absolutely love that as well, fingers crossed it happens some day....

 

[indio22]

I rented a Gladiator this week for work. Figured it would be fun to drive and an opportunity to compare it to my Bronco after 3 months of ownership and 4,500 miles.

This isn't meant to trigger the Jeep folks, because the Jeep brand deserves a ton of credit for continuously offering the Wrangler and its variants as an interesting alternative to boring vehicles for decades.

With that said, I'm not joking when I say I would have returned this thing and grabbed a different vehicle if I had the time. The driving characteristics of a Gladiator vs. a Bronco are literally night and day, and being in the Gladiator gave me a whole new level of appreciation for the Bronco's road manners.

Gladiator steering at 75MPH is like giving vague suggestions as to what direction the truck should go. As a driver who represents the majority of buyers (someone who uses the vehicle as a daily driver and goes off road occasionally), I can confidently say I would have sold a Gladiator almost immediately. I'm glad they exist and think they look great, just surprised at the wildly unrefined on-road characteristics!

I haven't driven the Gladiator, but was a passenger in and drove a friend's JKU 4-door Rubicon from Chicago to Chattanooga and back. 85mph some stretches. It was no car in terms of pavement quality, but it was not a handful to drive either.

Bronco should be better with IFS, but it's still a hopped up ladder frame vehicle, with relatively high unsprung weight and squirmy tire diameter. That's not the ticket to pavement performance either. When I test drove the Bronco on pavement, it was ok, but nothing to write home about.

 

[T Copp]

I smile at the image of a boomer mom riding on Trail Grappler 37s and with the stick figure family on the back window.

Haha, she’s 57.

She has done all the typical Wrangler appearance mods, against my judgement.

 

[shieldsy]

She has done all the typical Wrangler appearance mods, against my judgement.

Pls God, not the angry eyes!!!!

 

[T Copp]

Pls God, not the angry eyes!!!!

Yes…..

 

[EIGHTLUG]

We have a GLADIATOR for R&D. I'm glad we don't have to drive it to 3D scan and model parts.

Let's put it that way.

 

[Tacoman]

I haven't driven the Gladiator, but was a passenger in and drove a friend's JKU 4-door Rubicon from Chicago to Chattanooga and back. 85mph some stretches. It was no car in terms of pavement quality, but it was not a handful to drive either.

Bronco should be better with IFS, but it's still a hopped up ladder frame vehicle, with relatively high unsprung weight and squirmy tire diameter. That's not the ticket to pavement performance either. When I test drove the Bronco on pavement, it was ok, but nothing to write home about.

I agree! I've had a Gladiator and am on my 7th Wrangler! I have no issues with the drive in either the Gladiator or the Wranglers....guess I am used to it.

 

[Haelous]

I've driven a Wrangler and Bronco back to back. It is night and day in terms of handling/suspension.

The 2.0T Wrangler and 2.3T Bronco feel the same in terms of straight line performance.

Bronco is like driving a car compared to the Wrangler. I agree with them wandering at higher speeds, it's very obvious on the highway.

It's a shame because the Wrangler is really cool. It just feels like it was built for off-road first while on-road use was a total after thought.

The vast majority I see are just daily drivers that never see dirt. I know multiple women over 50 with them at work, they are very popular. @T Copp 's mom isn't an outlier.

 

[Inlinejohn]

I know I am not the only one(even if its a small group) that would love to see a bronco with a bed seeing how many gladiators I see out. I am still hoping for bronco with a bed one day

 

[Dral97]

I have a 392 and it drives pretty well both around town and on the highway. However, I also drive around a 95 YJ (including on the highway), so my idea of good road manners is skewed.

I definitely would pick my Bronco for daily driver, and in fact that's what I do. The interior doesn't seem as cramped on the Bronco as well.

Nothing beats that fun factor of a 392, but Bronco is definitely more refined both in interior and road handling.

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