Edmunds, I’m impressed with the quality of this video. It was informative and despite being long, was almost always giving good information and not wasting anybody’s time. I have mostly avoided edmunds since you got rid of Insideline, but this was a step in the right direction.
A lot of people complain about a deep bed because it's more difficult to access but I much prefer a deep bed over a shallow one. Makes it easier to store and secure loose items. Plus if you have a bed cover a deep bed is more beneficial. The Jeeps bed is so shallow you wouldn't be able to fit much underneath a cover.
@@derikbishop3144 On a standard Colorado/Canyon I definitely agree with you. I have a Canyon and the steps make it extremely easy to get into the bed. They removed the steps from the ZR2 though so not only is the bed higher but you don't have that assistance.
@@derikbishop3144 Yeah basically they found out when doing serious off roading the sidesteps would get pinched shut so they removed them. So I don't expect them to put them back on.
Family, so you don't really need a truck, you want a glorified SUV that you think makes you look tough and rugged. LOL. You're just the kind of douches that drive up the costs.
@@daquanwalls5031 I'm sure I can afford way more than you 2 clowns I pay cash for everything I buy. Have fun with your 6 and 7 year loans. By they way, most people know the reason you buy trucks that you don't need is your low self esteem and your minuscule body parts. LOL
So jeep finally pulled out a pickup, but can't beat the ZR2. That's what I saw in this video. May not have been what they were saying, but I saw the ZR2 out performing the jeep.
Not sure what video you watched? Maybe the flat dirt roads, and the sand section. Technical trails there will be no comparison between the two stock vs stock. Not to mention the huge aftermarket for the gladiator already.
@@joshuaolson2493 take the zr2 to the hammers and see how long it lasts. The gladiator already did it. Skid plates are there for a reason. BTW I have done the hammers myself. The Chevy wouldn't have a prayer.
I think it comes down to what you intend to use your truck for. The ZR2 is better on the highway and higher speed dirt roads. The Jeep is better in the slow extreme off road. Sway bar disconnect in the rubicon and lockers. The ZR2 is probably a more refined and smoother ride on the street. Jeeps are not going to beat a Zr2 or Tacoma on the street, but they aren't designed to. The straight axle Jeep will always rule extreme off road.
true, the Tacoma and ZR2 are more towards on-road work trucks converted for off-road and desert racing. The Gladiator is an off-road truck converted to road use. its just geared for much more technical climbs
As a ZR2 owner, that's always been my views on all these trucks. Maybe to bring in a larger view of the off road spectrum, jeep is the king of rock crawling, the raptor is the king of desert racing, and the rest fall somewhere in between.
I watch alot of March 30th release video of jeep Gladiator at 12am and so far your environment and reviews are much more entertaining. I love the scenery. 🚙
This was Car and Driver levels of bias. Edmunds just assumes the ZR2 isn't doing well on that section of road, claims they should have spent more time tuning in these conditions, maybe add an extra mode. It then literally cuts to Calvin stating how well the ZR2 was doing...... Love it......
As a third time Jeep Wrangler owner and a potential Gladiator buyer, I’m glad you did the angle tests (approach, breakover and departure). Very informative and will help me greatly in making my purchase.
Yeah I agree the ZR2 is extremely well balanced and is a far better vehicle! My ZR2 has been through hell and back and not giving me any problems whatsoever and you could zip over the dunes and Rockwell in stock form and it would blow the doors off of the Jeep hands down! Do you want to spend more money on tires you can do it with a ZR2 and a couple other modifications it would be unbeetable Beast! The ZR2 is the more comfortable vehicle off-road hands down not even close
Exterior: Gladiator - Iconic Look Interior: Gladiator, ZR2 looks cheap to me Engine: ZR2 Transmission: Tie Suspension: Preference Tow: Gladiator Payload: Tie On Road: ZR2 Off Road: Preference - High Speed (ZR2) Rock Crawling (Gladiator) MSRP: ZR2 Aftermarket: Gladiator
Zr2 for the win for me. It overall performs better. On the way to the trial it drives great and on the trail it dose even better. Drove better on the obstacles without scrubbing and has more power and torque
less towing, less suspension travel. for offroad that chevy is a piece of shit. no front locker. no front sway disconnect. just add 35's to the Jeep and you will miss your skid plates. But thats why they are there. Spend 500$ on springs and raise the jeep an inch or two. Dont need lots of power for a crawler.
idk man. the low range wasnt that good. The guy couldn't see out of it offroad which is kind of necessary when you're out on your own. The lower towing is a joke. Seriously, look at what campers you can tow under 5000 lbs. None of those are really something you'd want to live with. The tall bed makes it hard to get in and get things out of. I mean it really missed the mark. Yes it drives slightly better on the highway, but so does a sportscar. Needing someone to direct you on obstacles means it's worse at going over them. You can't really fault a Jeep for using it's engineered solution to get over obstacles
@@jaysony5751 but it has ifs so if you have the front locker on you will most likely snap a front cv pretty easily . not saying it's a bad truck... but it's not really comparable to a jeep
@guy proulx my original comment was that they complain about the bottom mount spare but they have a bed mounted option. you're talking about not having space in the bed all I'm saying there are other 4x4 with even less cargo space
i don't think the height of the bed or the load floor with the seat folded down is a big issue because alot of enthusiasts will lift their vehicle or put on bigger tyres anyways
To me at least it seems the Gladiator is like the midsize Dodge Powerwagon...rugged, muscular but still capable off road but just not as nimble(?) or fast. Whereas the ZR2 is like the Ford Raptor....quick, fast(er) relatively speaking and fun. Comes down to I would say more work capable vs more spirited off road fun. Starting to appreciate the look of the Gladiator more now that its been out for a little bit especially from the side. Probably better with a set of 35s on it. Very cool review!
@@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix because 9 out of 10 people will never have an issue with it in stock form. And the 1 person who will is probably going to mod it anyway.
@@linger2001 very true, but I'd be one of the few that would use this for offroading. The reason I like my discovery II so much is the short wheelbase for a 4 door. It has an amazing breaker angle.
I feel like Chrysler adding a 5 foot bed to a stock Wrangler frame was a bad choice because it looks like an aftermarket frame extension from a 3rd party mod compant
Yeah, but it starts at 43.5 for a Rubicon and a TRD Pro starts at 41.7...i completely agree that the Gladiator is expensive, but it's not out of line with similar stuff.
The jeep is good for a daily commuter and mall crawler and even better so with the diesel, but only biased fans would say its ahead of the game in its class. I love the look of both but if i had to choose one id go with the zr2 diesel.
The Jeep also has front and rear lockers, as well as electronic disconnecting sway bars. There will be a diesel next year. You are correct about the shorter wheelbase, but you can put 35 inch tires on the Jeep without any further modifications, which would help with the breakover angles. I will say this for the Colorado, the Bison is pretty cool, but AEV could not do much else with it as far as suspension because Chey did not want to have them move the mounts for those big ass shocks they have. I will be curious to see how well tose hold up over time with heavy use. Not to mention the Bison is very difficult to get a hold of due to low production numbers. Both are cool Enjoy what you got!
I really like both. The ZR2 is perfect for my central NJ location, but I really like the Gladiator and its jeep capability as well as the fact you can get a manual transmission. But if I HAD to choose one as a daily, probably the ZR2. If the Gladiator came with a hemi(I know it wont) orif the diesel came with a stick, I'd grab that
They kept talking about how much more clearance and approach angle the Jeep had but it kept scraping the rear bumper in places the ZR2 didn’t touch either bumper. Win for ZR2. Aftermarket could easily give Jeep the win.
Sounded like a Jeep commercial. I drove both the Rubicon and the ZR2 and just bought a ZR2. There was no comparison. As far as height issues and visibility, my wife is 5' 2" and loves it. I might never get to drive it!
We all wanted Power Wagon capability in a smaller truck and here it is. And I'm not sure if I like it. I have to see one "in the wild" to be sure but it just looks too awkward off road compared to the ZR2.
The ZR2 can be modified easily to overcome small issues pointed out - relocate the spare to roof, bed or tailgate mount. Add an electric tailgate unlock and locking roll top bed cover for a fully locked bed. Smaller cargo area is better? Only from a Jeep fanboy!
It is very easy to find a v6 zr2 for under $40,000 new, diesels for $42,000. That is a bargain. There is no way the dealers with be giving discounts on the Gladiator anytime soon. So real world price difference is a bit higher.
@@SPNKr02 "STARTS" is the key word. 4X4 colorado/tacoma/rangers start at about $26k.... fully loaded Chevy Colorado with all the bells and whistles will barely break $48k. You want the fully loaded (compatible level) jeep? you are in the $64k ball park. So unless you are buying a bare bones jeep, you're spending way over the chevy or any other competitor. Jeep at all comparably equipped levels is about $8k to $10k more then any other mid sized trucks... its likely more off road capable and likely will have a much better resale then the others, but unless you've got money to burn or a die hard jeeper... this is way over priced... especially when everyone complains the other mid size trucks are too expensive.
The Gladiator is what trucks have always been in the past and always should be in my opinion. Highly versatile off road cargo carrying vehicles. Not a minivan with a bed. There's to much fat injected in today's trucks IMO. And don't get me started on what passes for an "SUV" in this day and age...
Very bias review, the Gladiator driver was definitely sucking up to Jeep, it bottomed out more than the Colorado and yet he says it's better offroad?!?! The ZR2 is the easy winner, more power, lighter, cheaper, more maneuverable and a lot better daily driver.
Or just get mopars 2 inch lift haha. Plus most people will never take their trucks off-road so not a big deal. If a Jeep guy or girl get this they’d probably put the extra 2 inch lift on it anyway.
@@fj400007 you clowns act like fiat fired everyone, closed all the plants, moved the plants overseas, and imported Fiats with whatever logos on them. The same people that built them before Fiat build them now. Just like when Mercedes owned controlling share in them. Stop with the stupid crap already. GM takes money from the Chinese. Heck Buick is mostly made in China last I heard. At least Fiat is moving the plants back to America unlike some other manufacturers
Totally agree Ferguson. I knew the Jeep driver would say Jeep would win. ZR2 has a diesel option as well. If you want to see a real unbiased review, see TFL, they're the best...
I'm really surprised that neither of you commented on the gladiator ' s rear suspension. In the video, it looked like there wasn't any! The zr2 looked composed through all of the terrain that the gladiator looked like it was having a hernia.
Those final words of explanation were great. Makes me want to take my truck out west to those beautiful places. A 4x4 truck should make an excellent overlanding vehicle with a popup bed camper!
I think the gladiator is really cool. It’s the only truck that can give you an open air experience but it’s way to long. The zr2 is hands down my first choice I can take the doors off it is I really want to lol
Funny how in the "washboard" part of the ride, the guy in the Chevy -- you can HEAR the bumps in his voice -- you can hear he is being shaken. The guy in the Jeep sounds like he's driving on a highway. Listen from 4:30-4:37 or so to really hear it.
you're spot on. they gotta get off jeeps nuts so we can get a legitimate comparison. that break over angle is terrible. that wash they took it through both trucks could've done in 2wd. but they put the Colorado in 4 low?? no mention of lockers? crazy how many gladiator fanboys there are even before anyone owns one lol.
If all the praise was to the ZR2 it’d have been okay though? I think they were excited about it and a lot of good things were said about the ZR2 as well.
just want to say we dont buy solid axle cars because of the way they drive on the highway. either it doesnt bother you like with me or you get used to it. what we are after is the off road capability the flex gets better the higher you go unlike IFS. IFS only flexes as much as it would stock when lifted.
I loved the Jeep until I saw how much it dragged. As a person who’s done hard core off roading that will get you trapped fast! Jeep costs more plus needs upgrades to compete? The ZR2 won this in my eyes.
@@sjw811 Not sure where you're getting that information. With the GM incentives out there, you can pick up a ZR2 for under $40k. I got one with almost every option for $37k.
If you really did "hard core off roading" than you'd realize a couple of things: You are comparing stock vehicles... which you wouldn't be doing any "hard core off roading" in anyway. So, since we know that, which one is more receptive to modification? Without a doubt its the Gladiator. Solid axles front and rear, giving more articulation. Simple to lift. Made to take new bumpers, a winch, lights, etc. The ZR2 can't even accept a winch mount. You know what will get you trapped fast? Damage from a poorly designed and protected undercarriage that was never meant to be on an off road vehicle. A lack of recovery options. Less capability to air down in rough terrain. There is no doubt which of these vehicles is more capable off road, and touching skids has nothing to do with it. You know very little about wheeling, and it shows.
Great review. As a ZR2 owner, I like the removable top feature on the Gladiator. I was impressed that the ZR2 appeared to handle the obstacles a little better than the Gladiator. I was hoping to see a little more of the capabilities of these two machines. I would love it if you guys did another review and threw in the Tacoma TRD Pro and the Ranger 4X4. Keep up the good work.
Great review!! Keep it up. Love how thorough this was you covered all kinds of terrain and even a ramp index. And I think you are spot on with the good and bad of each.
Comparison tests involving Jeeps are almost pointless because if you want a Jeep, you want a Jeep and nothing else will do. That said, I'm impressed with the ground clearance of the ZR2 and totally get the desert truck thing- the more the merrier. Good review and keep the off-road stuff coming!
Been a jeep fan/owner my entire life but , ZR2 or nothing for me. The gladiator is just way too long and ugly. Everything behind the front seats is hideous, in my opinion. I'd love to see you put 7,000 lbs behind the jeep to test FCA's best in class tow rating. I'm guessing after an underware change you'd agree that 5,000 lbs is about as much as you want to tow with a midsize v6 truck.
That 7k towing capacity is only the lowest trim Sport model with the auto transmission. If you get any trim with a manual trans the towing capacity is only 4k lbs.
I tow a ~5500lb camper with my 2018 Colorado z71 and it's fine with a weight distributing hitch. It's also rated to 7000. The mileage sucks but it pulls fine.
@@ParkerLumpee To each their own. I 've seen too many people crash their shit because the load they are pulling weighs more than their tow vehicle. It's not the power or gas milage that worries me, it's what happens in a panic situation when you are pulling a load that weighs more than your tow rig . I pull a 5500 lb jeep/trailer combo with a fullsize 1500 Z71 and couldn't imagine using a smaller truck....
@@bdd1469 it's all about weight loading, wheelbase, and if you have trailer brakes. The problem on the jeep wranglers was that they had very short wheelbases. My diesel Colorado is a crew cab with long bed. I've towed a couple boats and a couple campers around 7k lbs with no problems. I'm not saying its ideal because that is a lot of weight but it gets it done easy.
@@derikbishop3144 Lol. I think you misunderstood. The wrangler isn't towing anything, it's on a car trailer being towed by a long box 1500... I totally understand weight bias, trailer brakes, proper loading , etc.. I've towed hundreds of thousands of miles all across the country with trucks and trailers of all kinds.
The ZR2's decrease in towing is more due to not enough airflow going through the nose to keep it cool without the airdamn present on the lower trim levels...test it and you will find out for yourself...owned both the Z71 and now the ZR2
the Jeep guy trying to say the Multi's are not tuned for off road is just pure nonsense. ZR2 guy was more honest with his review. and the wind noise on Jeeps is annoying from factory let alone a couple years down the road. I guess just take the doors and roof off so it has a reason to have noise.
@@red.riot.2280 nowadays a turbo is practically required to meet fuel consumption and emissions requirements. They are way more reliable than they used to be. That being said I feel like any enthusiast vehicle should be available with a big motor and manual transmission.
It's a good video. A big long but there is a lot of good information and a fair comparison. If you are trying to decide between these two trucks you should watch this video.
I want that Jeep Gladiator, both front and rear locking diffs, high and low trans range with a 4:1 ratio for much better torque when climbing steep terrain. Ability to be a fully convertible truck and can take the doors off, along with a water resistant touch screen which is a plus. Highest tow rating on the Sport variant of the truck with a good sized 3.6L V6. A manual transmission which is sadly rare nowadays unless you get a muscle car with a manual, but I like the option to have one because. Next year they are releasing the gladiator with a diesel engine which is my selling point for the power they produce and the fuel milage they provide. Thanks Jeep for another great vehicle to add to the competition and make the others have to come up with good ideas again.
@@foghelmut Yeah I know the old Colorado had two posts for which to connect the tailgate cables, however this loop thing seems potentially problematic. If you have a lot of weight those cables might be okay looped over, but a big bounce could cause them to slack and drop off making for a very messy cleanup. Not sure why Jeep is advertising it like that unless it really has a secure foot.
The complaints of high bedsides are irrelevant when it comes to the true reason they are so high. Most put a tonneau cover on their truck and it’s really nice to still have a depth of 21” or more with the cover closed. Allows for a lot more capacity of gear and especially an expedition cooler. The shallow beds on some trucks really suck. The gladiator has a puny 17.5” of depth prior to even putting on a topper. That sucks.
That's where GM f***ed up the new blazer should be the trailblazer and they could have made a true blazer off the Colorado after seeing how well the bronco will do( assuming itll be a hit on the market)
@@ajflament8012 The new "Blazer" is a city cruiser, not the rugged off-roader like it was originally. It makes me sick to my stomach looking at the new one sometimes.
After trading a 15 JKU for a diesel ZR2, I'm not going back to jeep. That JKU spent as much time in the repair shop as it did in my driveway. That was my 5th and LAST jeep. Ever since jeep got rid of the straight 6, jeep reliability has sucked.
They’re going too add a 3.0 eco diesel to the gladiator next year and I think if you do a lot of pavement driving the Colorado is difficult too beat and thanks for taking the key ring off the Colorado during the off road segment
Just seems like they built for different style off roading. The Zr2 seems more for faster higher speed trails. Such as the ford raptor. The Gladiator seems more for over-landing and crawling. The solid axle on the gladiator make a better platform for modifications. The zr2 can probably be modified but less extensive and more expensive.
Setting aside the ZR2's visibility and payload height issues, it would have been the near perfect off-road truck except for its fatal flaw of the two plows attached to the rear axle. What was Chevy thinking? The IFS makes it a better all-around vehicle, but limits it off-road as well. The Jeep looks like it has it all except the break-over and the inescapable maneuverability hit it takes from overall length. Departure angle isn't great either, but the truck isn't vulnerable so much on the rear. I think I'll give it a serious look in a couple of years after they shake it down. I love my T4R, but I miss having a truck bed after a year.
Bit disappointed that it was not mentioned that the zr2 has a diesel model available now; Jeep is promising, but not really committing to a date. I’m also not sure if comparing the rubicon with 33s to the zr2 with 30.6 tire size is a completely fair equivalency test without mentioning that.
That break over angle on the Jeep is worse then I thought. The fan boy acted like it wasn’t a big deal but it will be. I’ll take the ZR2 and save 15k to boot.
ZR2 in this configuration I guess the Gladiator in this configuration the ZR2 destroys the Gladiator hands-down in rock crawling! It's not even close like what are you thinking! I guess you could have your opinion but you're wrong
This comment section has me rolling. People be mad because these guys have an opinion and dont love how big the bed is, and "big knobby tires" come on guys those really are big and knobby compared to any normal street tire.
Edmunds, I’m impressed with the quality of this video. It was informative and despite being long, was almost always giving good information and not wasting anybody’s time. I have mostly avoided edmunds since you got rid of Insideline, but this was a step in the right direction.
I agree 👍
I’m not good at explaining things but you explained it very well and I think that he did a very good job on the video
Agreed! I hardly use Edmunds for anything anymore since they got rid of insideline and their website became so user unfriendly.
The more I see the ZR2, the more I love it.
It’s a sexy truck that’s for sure especially compared to the base Colorado
That automatic transmission though😒
A just like the original zr2s compared to the base 2wd s10s
It's a cheap Raptor is all....
Surfside agree
A lot of people complain about a deep bed because it's more difficult to access but I much prefer a deep bed over a shallow one. Makes it easier to store and secure loose items. Plus if you have a bed cover a deep bed is more beneficial. The Jeeps bed is so shallow you wouldn't be able to fit much underneath a cover.
Plus getting in and out is easy because the built in bumper step. I use it all the time.
@@derikbishop3144 On a standard Colorado/Canyon I definitely agree with you. I have a Canyon and the steps make it extremely easy to get into the bed. They removed the steps from the ZR2 though so not only is the bed higher but you don't have that assistance.
@@Greg-wz7fk well I did not know that. They should figger that out then.
@@derikbishop3144 Yeah basically they found out when doing serious off roading the sidesteps would get pinched shut so they removed them. So I don't expect them to put them back on.
That's why step sides need to make a return
My family loves our ZR2!! Such a fun truck.
Family, so you don't really need a truck, you want a glorified SUV that you think makes you look tough and rugged. LOL. You're just the kind of douches that drive up the costs.
Monsterbaby if you complain about the prices of trucks, you most likely cant afford anything to tow.
@@daquanwalls5031 I'm sure I can afford way more than you 2 clowns I pay cash for everything I buy. Have fun with your 6 and 7 year loans. By they way, most people know the reason you buy trucks that you don't need is your low self esteem and your minuscule body parts. LOL
What engine?
@@stubby1122 the type of nigga to never take his whole family off-roading
So jeep finally pulled out a pickup, but can't beat the ZR2. That's what I saw in this video. May not have been what they were saying, but I saw the ZR2 out performing the jeep.
Madman9mm ,,,,yikes,,,,,then you watched a different video.
Not sure what video you watched? Maybe the flat dirt roads, and the sand section. Technical trails there will be no comparison between the two stock vs stock. Not to mention the huge aftermarket for the gladiator already.
@@doch5123 the technical trails where the jeep gets high centered all the time? cool story fan boy
@@joshuaolson2493 But the skid plate slid right over.
@@joshuaolson2493 take the zr2 to the hammers and see how long it lasts. The gladiator already did it. Skid plates are there for a reason. BTW I have done the hammers myself. The Chevy wouldn't have a prayer.
This video production was *legit* - had to have been a complex undertaking. Thanks for putting this together!
00ll
I think it comes down to what you intend to use your truck for. The ZR2 is better on the highway and higher speed dirt roads. The Jeep is better in the slow extreme off road. Sway bar disconnect in the rubicon and lockers. The ZR2 is probably a more refined and smoother ride on the street. Jeeps are not going to beat a Zr2 or Tacoma on the street, but they aren't designed to. The straight axle Jeep will always rule extreme off road.
true, the Tacoma and ZR2 are more towards on-road work trucks converted for off-road and desert racing. The Gladiator is an off-road truck converted to road use. its just geared for much more technical climbs
I understand your point, but why not just buy a wrangler rubicon and get the epic breakover if you're into serious crawling?
As a ZR2 owner, that's always been my views on all these trucks. Maybe to bring in a larger view of the off road spectrum, jeep is the king of rock crawling, the raptor is the king of desert racing, and the rest fall somewhere in between.
Excellent review. The Gladiator is very impressive. However, for my use, if I were in the market for a truck, I'd go with the ZR2.
Ford is the best
@@louisbarningham fk'd on race day 😝
Louis Barningham the best way to get to a mechanic
I’m in love with the Jeep Gladiator ❣️
Like this for the ZR2
I watch alot of March 30th release video of jeep Gladiator at 12am and so far your environment and reviews are much more entertaining. I love the scenery. 🚙
Great vid guys. I've got a blue ZR2 and hope to take her out to a place like that one day.
Is it too much to ask for a 2 door gladiator with a shorter wheelbase?
I'll keep the zr2 v6. It's a winner in my books.
This was Car and Driver levels of bias. Edmunds just assumes the ZR2 isn't doing well on that section of road, claims they should have spent more time tuning in these conditions, maybe add an extra mode. It then literally cuts to Calvin stating how well the ZR2 was doing...... Love it......
On rough roads the Zr2 is the best vehicle that I have ever driven.
As a third time Jeep Wrangler owner and a potential Gladiator buyer, I’m glad you did the angle tests (approach, breakover and departure). Very informative and will help me greatly in making my purchase.
Yeah I agree the ZR2 is extremely well balanced and is a far better vehicle! My ZR2 has been through hell and back and not giving me any problems whatsoever and you could zip over the dunes and Rockwell in stock form and it would blow the doors off of the Jeep hands down! Do you want to spend more money on tires you can do it with a ZR2 and a couple other modifications it would be unbeetable Beast! The ZR2 is the more comfortable vehicle off-road hands down not even close
If you do get a gladiator they have an optional lift kit from the factory. I suggest you get it solved most of the problems.
Exterior: Gladiator - Iconic Look
Interior: Gladiator, ZR2 looks cheap to me
Engine: ZR2
Transmission: Tie
Suspension: Preference
Tow: Gladiator
Payload: Tie
On Road: ZR2
Off Road: Preference - High Speed (ZR2) Rock Crawling (Gladiator)
MSRP: ZR2
Aftermarket: Gladiator
I agree. Well said. Gladiator does have a little higher payload though.
Gladiator has a manual option so I think it wins transmission. And the diesel coming out next year should tip the scales on engine too.
I think the gladiator looks weird and I own a Jeep jk
@@dilsher12 same. It's the rear doors. They used the same ones as the JL instead of designing new ones to save money and keep the aftermarket flexible
You think the exterior of the gladiator looks good? Also I completely disagree with the interior.
Zr2 for the win for me. It overall performs better. On the way to the trial it drives great and on the trail it dose even better. Drove better on the obstacles without scrubbing and has more power and torque
less towing, less suspension travel. for offroad that chevy is a piece of shit. no front locker. no front sway disconnect. just add 35's to the Jeep and you will miss your skid plates. But thats why they are there. Spend 500$ on springs and raise the jeep an inch or two. Dont need lots of power for a crawler.
idk man. the low range wasnt that good. The guy couldn't see out of it offroad which is kind of necessary when you're out on your own. The lower towing is a joke. Seriously, look at what campers you can tow under 5000 lbs. None of those are really something you'd want to live with. The tall bed makes it hard to get in and get things out of. I mean it really missed the mark. Yes it drives slightly better on the highway, but so does a sportscar. Needing someone to direct you on obstacles means it's worse at going over them. You can't really fault a Jeep for using it's engineered solution to get over obstacles
Buford the zr2 has front and back lockers
@@jaysony5751 but it has ifs so if you have the front locker on you will most likely snap a front cv pretty easily . not saying it's a bad truck... but it's not really comparable to a jeep
Buford “ifs”????
ZR2 looks so much nicer. 😎
Mr. Josh not about what looks nicer duh
@@flame1973 good one dipshit
BSfunk44 ?
They complain about the spare tire on the zr2 but they have a bed mounted option
@guy proulx jeeps have zero space but people still use them
@guy proulx my original comment was that they complain about the bottom mount spare but they have a bed mounted option. you're talking about not having space in the bed all I'm saying there are other 4x4 with even less cargo space
Nooooooo
i don't think the height of the bed or the load floor with the seat folded down is a big issue because alot of enthusiasts will lift their vehicle or put on bigger tyres anyways
I wish they had a regular cab or extended cab option. That truck is way too long for my needs.
i doubt they would sell well. Most of the customers are the people who buy jeeps and never offroad them
@@maxwell5428 just once I want to see a "which truck handles the grocery store parking lot better" video.
Nicholas Desmarais you do know that the Wrangler Unlimited is a thing, and has been for a very long time?
@Eazy Gunz check out the Dodge Ram 2500 v10 review by Top Gear.
Imagine if they could have made that Jeep like the Avalanche, so back seats can flip forward to get 8 feet of bed.
To me at least it seems the Gladiator is like the midsize Dodge Powerwagon...rugged, muscular but still capable off road but just not as nimble(?) or fast. Whereas the ZR2 is like the Ford Raptor....quick, fast(er) relatively speaking and fun. Comes down to I would say more work capable vs more spirited off road fun. Starting to appreciate the look of the Gladiator more now that its been out for a little bit especially from the side. Probably better with a set of 35s on it. Very cool review!
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Hari
Feel like the colorado is still more of a truck than the gladiator
ptpvideogaming Why is that?
The colorado is a better truck on the street, but they have the same size bed. The gladiator has a higher payload.
Even though the jeep tows and hauls more?
And the Jeep has a solid front axle?
@@333jsh yep, that too. I'd take the jeep in a hearbeat
great job. this is the first video I'm aware of that shows the Jeep Gladiator with top off, doors off and windshield down.
ZR2 for me. The Gladiator looks good and all. The ZR2 is my choice.
Gladiator basically needs a 2-3" lift and 35s from the factory because otherwise there is a lot more risk of damage.
Right! I can't understand why they chose such a long wheelbase on a vehicle like the Jeep.
Because they already have the wrangler JL 4 door? It comes from the factory with 33s and space leftover for 35s with literally doing nothing else.
@@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix because 9 out of 10 people will never have an issue with it in stock form. And the 1 person who will is probably going to mod it anyway.
@@linger2001 very true, but I'd be one of the few that would use this for offroading. The reason I like my discovery II so much is the short wheelbase for a 4 door. It has an amazing breaker angle.
I feel like Chrysler adding a 5 foot bed to a stock Wrangler frame was a bad choice because it looks like an aftermarket frame extension from a 3rd party mod compant
Did y'all just say the bed is too deep ? y'all aren't real truck guys
It's probably just cause they're 5'-2" tall.
Price matters, I will pass on the Jeep Gladiator. I'm all for the ZR2!!
A fully loaded Rubicon is just shy of $60k.... that gets a big HELL NO from me.
Actually it's 60,800. You are right! Ouch
Yeah, but it starts at 43.5 for a Rubicon and a TRD Pro starts at 41.7...i completely agree that the Gladiator is expensive, but it's not out of line with similar stuff.
An aev zr2 with a duramax comes to 58k but that's with everything added. But it still has more then a Rubicon
That's a lot of money, but still a bargain compared to the price of European off-roaders, G-Class, Discovery...
The jeep is good for a daily commuter and mall crawler and even better so with the diesel, but only biased fans would say its ahead of the game in its class. I love the look of both but if i had to choose one id go with the zr2 diesel.
Great review. Nice to see something thorough and on a real test course.
I’m a Jeep guy, but would buy the ZR2 if I needed a truck. Better value & I like the design more than the Jeep. Jeep interior is nicer.
Towing and payload go to jeep too
I’d probably go with a Tacoma. Toyota is basically at reliability level 100.
ZR2. Front/rear locker. Shorter wheel base. Diesel.
The Jeep also has front and rear lockers, as well as electronic disconnecting sway bars. There will be a diesel next year. You are correct about the shorter wheelbase, but you can put 35 inch tires on the Jeep without any further modifications, which would help with the breakover angles. I will say this for the Colorado, the Bison is pretty cool, but AEV could not do much else with it as far as suspension because Chey did not want to have them move the mounts for those big ass shocks they have. I will be curious to see how well tose hold up over time with heavy use. Not to mention the Bison is very difficult to get a hold of due to low production numbers. Both are cool Enjoy what you got!
I really like both. The ZR2 is perfect for my central NJ location, but I really like the Gladiator and its jeep capability as well as the fact you can get a manual transmission. But if I HAD to choose one as a daily, probably the ZR2. If the Gladiator came with a hemi(I know it wont) orif the diesel came with a stick, I'd grab that
Duratracks aren’t “big knobby tires” 🙄
Seriously. These were the best guys they could find to test offroad trucks?
Compared to their daily Toyota pruis' 13 inch tires they are
They kept talking about how much more clearance and approach angle the Jeep had but it kept scraping the rear bumper in places the ZR2 didn’t touch either bumper.
Win for ZR2.
Aftermarket could easily give Jeep the win.
i think ill go with the zr2
Sounded like a Jeep commercial. I drove both the Rubicon and the ZR2 and just bought a ZR2. There was no comparison. As far as height issues and visibility, my wife is 5' 2" and loves it. I might never get to drive it!
We all wanted Power Wagon capability in a smaller truck and here it is.
And I'm not sure if I like it. I have to see one "in the wild" to be sure but it just looks too awkward off road compared to the ZR2.
The ZR2 can be modified easily to overcome small issues pointed out - relocate the spare to roof, bed or tailgate mount. Add an electric tailgate unlock and locking roll top bed cover for a fully locked bed.
Smaller cargo area is better? Only from a Jeep fanboy!
It is very easy to find a v6 zr2 for under $40,000 new, diesels for $42,000. That is a bargain. There is no way the dealers with be giving discounts on the Gladiator anytime soon. So real world price difference is a bit higher.
There will be discounts on the gladiator 100%
Gladiator starts at 35k
@@SPNKr02 "STARTS" is the key word. 4X4 colorado/tacoma/rangers start at about $26k.... fully loaded Chevy Colorado with all the bells and whistles will barely break $48k. You want the fully loaded (compatible level) jeep? you are in the $64k ball park.
So unless you are buying a bare bones jeep, you're spending way over the chevy or any other competitor.
Jeep at all comparably equipped levels is about $8k to $10k more then any other mid sized trucks...
its likely more off road capable and likely will have a much better resale then the others, but unless you've got money to burn or a die hard jeeper... this is way over priced... especially when everyone complains the other mid size trucks are too expensive.
Gladiator will be 60k loaded. Go try. Lol
@@SPNKr02 There's a chevy dealership by me that has a zr2 for $36,500
The Gladiator is what trucks have always been in the past and always should be in my opinion. Highly versatile off road cargo carrying vehicles. Not a minivan with a bed. There's to much fat injected in today's trucks IMO. And don't get me started on what passes for an "SUV" in this day and age...
An off-road truck comparison where they didn't even have to use lockers...
You're looking at a lot of damage if the terrain requires lockers engaged. They're loaner cars.
CatharticCathexis not true
These guys dont really strike me as having spent much time off road.
Very bias review, the Gladiator driver was definitely sucking up to Jeep, it bottomed out more than the Colorado and yet he says it's better offroad?!?!
The ZR2 is the easy winner, more power, lighter, cheaper, more maneuverable and a lot better daily driver.
Or just get mopars 2 inch lift haha. Plus most people will never take their trucks off-road so not a big deal. If a Jeep guy or girl get this they’d probably put the extra 2 inch lift on it anyway.
Chevy's are junk
@@ramtrucks721 compare to what ?.. fiat ?...
@@fj400007 you clowns act like fiat fired everyone, closed all the plants, moved the plants overseas, and imported Fiats with whatever logos on them. The same people that built them before Fiat build them now. Just like when Mercedes owned controlling share in them. Stop with the stupid crap already.
GM takes money from the Chinese. Heck Buick is mostly made in China last I heard.
At least Fiat is moving the plants back to America unlike some other manufacturers
Totally agree Ferguson. I knew the Jeep driver would say Jeep would win. ZR2 has a diesel option as well. If you want to see a real unbiased review, see TFL, they're the best...
I'm really surprised that neither of you commented on the gladiator ' s rear suspension. In the video, it looked like there wasn't any! The zr2 looked composed through all of the terrain that the gladiator looked like it was having a hernia.
I guess were both watching a different show .I 'm pretty sure I heard the guy's voice shaking in the ZR2 from the chevy;s suspension . LOL
I own the Colorado but I also love the gladiator as well. Both are great midsize trucks and are fun to drive
The fact the the Jeeps recirculating ball steering system is much stronger and safer than a rack and pinion off-road or hitting pot holes.
Is it me or the doors of the gladiator were wobbling in the woops?
Those final words of explanation were great. Makes me want to take my truck out west to those beautiful places. A 4x4 truck should make an excellent overlanding vehicle with a popup bed camper!
I think the gladiator is really cool. It’s the only truck that can give you an open air experience but it’s way to long. The zr2 is hands down my first choice I can take the doors off it is I really want to lol
A couple of snowflakes doing a comparison. “The bed is too deep” “The back seat folds down to high” it’s a freaken truck, a deep bed is good.
Guess that's why a major biz like Edmonds only has 150k subs lol
Love the depth. I've got a Decked storage system in the bed of my ZR2 and still have room on top for additional storage.
More like a snowflake in the comments can't handle someone else's opinion of a fucking truck bed.
It is a review though! At least they're out there in the dirt.
C Hoss not for poseurs!
Funny how in the "washboard" part of the ride, the guy in the Chevy -- you can HEAR the bumps in his voice -- you can hear he is being shaken. The guy in the Jeep sounds like he's driving on a highway. Listen from 4:30-4:37 or so to really hear it.
This comparison seems a little shady to me seems like they was doing a whole lot of praising to the jeep 😒 or is it just me
Tellie Smith just you it looks like.
you're spot on. they gotta get off jeeps nuts so we can get a legitimate comparison. that break over angle is terrible. that wash they took it through both trucks could've done in 2wd. but they put the Colorado in 4 low?? no mention of lockers? crazy how many gladiator fanboys there are even before anyone owns one lol.
Bought and paid for by the highest bidder
If all the praise was to the ZR2 it’d have been okay though? I think they were excited about it and a lot of good things were said about the ZR2 as well.
Edmund's biased shit everytime against GM, no matter how great their cars are, ZR2 easily beats the gladiator. The end.
just want to say we dont buy solid axle cars because of the way they drive on the highway. either it doesnt bother you like with me or you get used to it.
what we are after is the off road capability the flex gets better the higher you go unlike IFS. IFS only flexes as much as it would stock when lifted.
I loved the Jeep until I saw how much it dragged. As a person who’s done hard core off roading that will get you trapped fast!
Jeep costs more plus needs upgrades to compete?
The ZR2 won this in my eyes.
Have fun taking the top off and folding the windshield of the ZR2. 😉
Jeep cost more? That Colorado starts at 41 base and damn near every one you see on the lot is knocking at 50k.
Jeep gladiator starts at 35
@@sjw811 Not sure where you're getting that information. With the GM incentives out there, you can pick up a ZR2 for under $40k. I got one with almost every option for $37k.
If you really did "hard core off roading" than you'd realize a couple of things: You are comparing stock vehicles... which you wouldn't be doing any "hard core off roading" in anyway. So, since we know that, which one is more receptive to modification? Without a doubt its the Gladiator. Solid axles front and rear, giving more articulation. Simple to lift. Made to take new bumpers, a winch, lights, etc. The ZR2 can't even accept a winch mount. You know what will get you trapped fast? Damage from a poorly designed and protected undercarriage that was never meant to be on an off road vehicle. A lack of recovery options. Less capability to air down in rough terrain. There is no doubt which of these vehicles is more capable off road, and touching skids has nothing to do with it. You know very little about wheeling, and it shows.
Great review. As a ZR2 owner, I like the removable top feature on the Gladiator. I was impressed that the ZR2 appeared to handle the obstacles a little better than the Gladiator. I was hoping to see a little more of the capabilities of these two machines. I would love it if you guys did another review and threw in the Tacoma TRD Pro and the Ranger 4X4. Keep up the good work.
Great review!! Keep it up. Love how thorough this was you covered all kinds of terrain and even a ramp index. And I think you are spot on with the good and bad of each.
Comparison tests involving Jeeps are almost pointless because if you want a Jeep, you want a Jeep and nothing else will do. That said, I'm impressed with the ground clearance of the ZR2 and totally get the desert truck thing- the more the merrier. Good review and keep the off-road stuff coming!
Been a jeep fan/owner my entire life but , ZR2 or nothing for me. The gladiator is just way too long and ugly. Everything behind the front seats is hideous, in my opinion. I'd love to see you put 7,000 lbs behind the jeep to test FCA's best in class tow rating. I'm guessing after an underware change you'd agree that 5,000 lbs is about as much as you want to tow with a midsize v6 truck.
That 7k towing capacity is only the lowest trim Sport model with the auto transmission. If you get any trim with a manual trans the towing capacity is only 4k lbs.
I tow a ~5500lb camper with my 2018 Colorado z71 and it's fine with a weight distributing hitch. It's also rated to 7000. The mileage sucks but it pulls fine.
@@ParkerLumpee To each their own. I 've seen too many people crash their shit because the load they are pulling weighs more than their tow vehicle. It's not the power or gas milage that worries me, it's what happens in a panic situation when you are pulling a load that weighs more than your tow rig . I pull a 5500 lb jeep/trailer combo with a fullsize 1500 Z71 and couldn't imagine using a smaller truck....
@@bdd1469 it's all about weight loading, wheelbase, and if you have trailer brakes. The problem on the jeep wranglers was that they had very short wheelbases. My diesel Colorado is a crew cab with long bed. I've towed a couple boats and a couple campers around 7k lbs with no problems. I'm not saying its ideal because that is a lot of weight but it gets it done easy.
@@derikbishop3144 Lol. I think you misunderstood. The wrangler isn't towing anything, it's on a car trailer being towed by a long box 1500... I totally understand weight bias, trailer brakes, proper loading , etc.. I've towed hundreds of thousands of miles all across the country with trucks and trailers of all kinds.
Im not a chevy guy but I'd much rather own the zr2. Finally chevy builds a midsize truck worth talking about.
If FCA offered a Hemi option from the factory... they would sell every one of them. Also dreaming of a Colorado with the 5.3 liter V8 option.
Jeep already sells every single Wrangler they make and they'll do the same with the Gladiator, Hemi or not.
The ZR2's decrease in towing is more due to not enough airflow going through the nose to keep it cool without the airdamn present on the lower trim levels...test it and you will find out for yourself...owned both the Z71 and now the ZR2
shopping for a midsized pickup and its come down to a chevy zr2 and a jeep gladiator, this video was awesome!
the Jeep guy trying to say the Multi's are not tuned for off road is just pure nonsense. ZR2 guy was more honest with his review. and the wind noise on Jeeps is annoying from factory let alone a couple years down the road. I guess just take the doors and roof off so it has a reason to have noise.
This by far is the best review. Unbiased and very informative. Thank you guys!
These guys suck balls
I’m ready for the Colorado overhaul! Silverado looks. Revamped suspension. But for the love of god, keep the turbos out of it....
My Colorado diesel has a turbo on it, I love it. Don't you dare try to take it from me!
Derik Bishop I was talking about the new turbo gas that the Silverado has. I don’t want a ranger twin. Diesel is always different. Lol.
@@red.riot.2280 nowadays a turbo is practically required to meet fuel consumption and emissions requirements. They are way more reliable than they used to be. That being said I feel like any enthusiast vehicle should be available with a big motor and manual transmission.
What is that phone mount in the Rubicon?
The guy in the chevy trying to speak with all the vibration the ride is giving him is hilarious.
It's a good video. A big long but there is a lot of good information and a fair comparison. If you are trying to decide between these two trucks you should watch this video.
What makes it it’s a convertible and you could take the doors off that’s JEEP
But you can get a manual and that’s everything
ZR2 bed height makes for a great overland vehicle with a topper.
They're like big remote controlled RC cars....so much fun
Great video guys! Thanks for this comparison.
Nice video, keep the good work.
I want that Jeep Gladiator, both front and rear locking diffs, high and low trans range with a 4:1 ratio for much better torque when climbing steep terrain. Ability to be a fully convertible truck and can take the doors off, along with a water resistant touch screen which is a plus. Highest tow rating on the Sport variant of the truck with a good sized 3.6L V6. A manual transmission which is sadly rare nowadays unless you get a muscle car with a manual, but I like the option to have one because. Next year they are releasing the gladiator with a diesel engine which is my selling point for the power they produce and the fuel milage they provide. Thanks Jeep for another great vehicle to add to the competition and make the others have to come up with good ideas again.
You can put the Chevy tailgate at a 45 by looping the cables over the lock posts or whatever they're called.
foghelmut is that a factory recommended procedure? Does Chevy rate the tailgate to hold a certain weight?
@@ALMX5DP I'm not aware of this being an official recommendation, but it's something I've seen people do.
@@foghelmut Yeah I know the old Colorado had two posts for which to connect the tailgate cables, however this loop thing seems potentially problematic. If you have a lot of weight those cables might be okay looped over, but a big bounce could cause them to slack and drop off making for a very messy cleanup. Not sure why Jeep is advertising it like that unless it really has a secure foot.
The complaints of high bedsides are irrelevant when it comes to the true reason they are so high. Most put a tonneau cover on their truck and it’s really nice to still have a depth of 21” or more with the cover closed. Allows for a lot more capacity of gear and especially an expedition cooler. The shallow beds on some trucks really suck. The gladiator has a puny 17.5” of depth prior to even putting on a topper. That sucks.
it's to bad GM doesn't have an SUV based on this truck.
they could call it the Trailblazer or something!
amen
That's where GM f***ed up the new blazer should be the trailblazer and they could have made a true blazer off the Colorado after seeing how well the bronco will do( assuming itll be a hit on the market)
@@ajflament8012 The new "Blazer" is a city cruiser, not the rugged off-roader like it was originally. It makes me sick to my stomach looking at the new one sometimes.
Agree !
I don't even want either of these vehicles but damn was this a well-made video. Edmunds, keep up the good work
So you're coming out of the closet with this post?
After trading a 15 JKU for a diesel ZR2, I'm not going back to jeep. That JKU spent as much time in the repair shop as it did in my driveway. That was my 5th and LAST jeep. Ever since jeep got rid of the straight 6, jeep reliability has sucked.
agreed, I kinda wish GM or ford bought the brand. Maybe then more innovation would be brought and current jeep wouldn't suck.
The power top for the gladiator would be awesome!
ZR2 with diesel! 🤘😁
They’re going too add a 3.0 eco diesel to the gladiator next year and I think if you do a lot of pavement driving the Colorado is difficult too beat and thanks for taking the key ring off the Colorado during the off road segment
Just seems like they built for different style off roading. The Zr2 seems more for faster higher speed trails. Such as the ford raptor. The Gladiator seems more for over-landing and crawling. The solid axle on the gladiator make a better platform for modifications. The zr2 can probably be modified but less extensive and more expensive.
These are both winners. The 2 best off-road capable trucks from the factory, and they're both U.S. brands. The jeep is way more fun though.
So a Raptor or a Tacoma TRd pro aren’t as good? Gotcha.
@@benfromsk7740 correct
Only 31s on the ZR-2?? And it doesn’t look like it could take a 33”.
I just noticed it looks like it has molly on the back of the front seats so you can attach bags and gear to it. That's frickin cool.
90% of the zr2 owners won't be doing any worse terrain then this test track ... good review for the new zr2
These are 2 of the most unlikely guys I'd think would do this sort of thing
It's just two nerds with a script driving 10 mph. Big deal. One said, "the bed is too deep!" Yeah buddy stick to driving that Prius.
Setting aside the ZR2's visibility and payload height issues, it would have been the near perfect off-road truck except for its fatal flaw of the two plows attached to the rear axle. What was Chevy thinking? The IFS makes it a better all-around vehicle, but limits it off-road as well.
The Jeep looks like it has it all except the break-over and the inescapable maneuverability hit it takes from overall length. Departure angle isn't great either, but the truck isn't vulnerable so much on the rear. I think I'll give it a serious look in a couple of years after they shake it down. I love my T4R, but I miss having a truck bed after a year.
I relocated those plows on mine!
@@casTingcall07 didn't know you could do that, but good on you. Hopefully Chevy changes their mind on that.
We don’t want a wrangler truck. We want a chief kaiser.
The fact that the ZR2 has a diesel option makes it leagues bettr than any jeep. We're finally catching up with the rest of the world.
Bit disappointed that it was not mentioned that the zr2 has a diesel model available now; Jeep is promising, but not really committing to a date. I’m also not sure if comparing the rubicon with 33s to the zr2 with 30.6 tire size is a completely fair equivalency test without mentioning that.
I was thinking thr same thing. I have the 2016 Colorado Z71 Trail Boss diesel rated 7700lbs towing. It's the reason why I got it.
Wait until the Jeep gets a few miles on it and develops the infamous death wobble
That break over angle on the Jeep is worse then I thought. The fan boy acted like it wasn’t a big deal but it will be. I’ll take the ZR2 and save 15k to boot.
Or save ~12k and get the ZR2 with a diesel.
Both of them: narrating how great their suspension and shocks are and how smooth the ride is then zooms on a shaky and cabin shot
Huge fan of the ZR2, but I love my JKU something about being able to rock crawl with the roof off.
ZR2 in this configuration I guess the Gladiator in this configuration the ZR2 destroys the Gladiator hands-down in rock crawling! It's not even close like what are you thinking! I guess you could have your opinion but you're wrong
This comment section has me rolling. People be mad because these guys have an opinion and dont love how big the bed is, and "big knobby tires" come on guys those really are big and knobby compared to any normal street tire.
The Jeep is a versatile vehicle, i hope its built to last and Fiat does not ruin it. I also like you can get a manual shift. Good Review