2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

For the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the truck boasted a wide range of design options that set apart each trim level. Buyers could customize their trucks with different grilles, finishes, wheel sizes, styles, and bumper types in black, body-color, or shiny finishes. The Silverado offered versatility with three cab styles: Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab. Trim levels ranged from the utilitarian WT (Work Truck) to the luxurious High Country. For off-road enthusiasts, Chevrolet provided a Trail Boss treatment option for the Custom or LT trims. The Silverado's MSRP spanned from $28,500 to $57,100, exclusive of the $1,595 destination charge.

In a test review, the Silverado LT Trail Boss, equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and multiple option packages like Midnight Edition, Convenience Package II, Leather Package, and Advanced Trailering Package, climbed to a price of $59,185. With its black paint, black wheels, and blacked-out exterior trim, the test truck had a custom look but was challenging to maintain in pristine condition.

The exterior design of the Silverado was generally appealing, though some trim treatments and color combinations worked better than others. However, the interior left much to be desired. The cabin's industrial design featured plastic silver trim that attempted to mimic metal, cluttered surfaces, and a dated appearance. Despite leather seats, the cabin did not justify the nearly $60,000 price tag, lacking a cohesive modern design.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator had a unique look due to its origins from the Wrangler. Jeep extended and reinforced the frame to cater to towing and hauling needs, resulting in a distinctive, albeit initially odd, appearance. This oddity transformed into charm over time, especially for those who ventured into rugged terrains with the Gladiator, allowing nature to become part of the driving experience.

In 2021, Jeep introduced new editions like the Willys special edition and the 80th Anniversary Edition, along with the luxurious High Altitude model, adding various cosmetic and functional enhancements. Pricing for the Gladiator started at $33,545 for the base Sport model with basic features. However, the reviewed Overland trim with nearly all options and a turbo-diesel engine reached $58,525, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Gladiator's interior reflected the Wrangler's design, focusing on utility and durability rather than luxury. Materials were chosen for their robustness, and the cabin featured Jeep Easter eggs, enhancing the sense of belonging to an exclusive community.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered five engine choices and three transmissions, suiting diverse needs and preferences. New for 2020 was a 3.0-liter turbodiesel 6-cylinder engine delivering 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 460 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm, with an EPA highway rating of up to 27 mpg. Depending on the trim, this engine could cost up to $6,705 extra.

The LT Trail Boss trim's test truck featured a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This powerful engine offered impressive acceleration and an authoritative exhaust note. The Autotrac 4WD system's Auto mode ensured the truck accelerated confidently on various surfaces.

Off-pavement, the LT Trail Boss excelled with its Z71 Off-Road Package, including an off-road suspension, Rancho shocks, skid plates, a 2-inch factory lift, and more. On the road, however, the all-terrain tires whined at cruising speeds, and steering response lagged slightly behind driver input, affecting cornering precision.

Fuel economy for the 6.2-liter V8 averaged 16.8 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 17 mpg. Compared to a previous test of the 5.3-liter V8 model, the 6.2-liter engine demonstrated better real-world performance.

In the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 was standard, complemented by a new 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 option for $4,000. The turbo-diesel engine produced 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 442 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 rpm to 2,800 rpm. Though the test achieved 22.6 mpg, falling short of the EPA's 24 mpg estimate, it outperformed the gasoline V6's 20.3 mpg during a previous test.

The Gladiator Sport's towing capacity with the standard engine reached 7,650 pounds, with payload figures up to 1,700 pounds. The diesel engine, while not matching these towing figures due to cooling constraints, offered 6,000-6,500 pounds of towing capacity, performing excellently off-road with its robust torque.

The diesel Gladiator handled off-road trails effortlessly, benefiting from instant low-end torque. On paved roads, it exhibited the same rugged charms and annoying traits as the gasoline version, including slow steering response and a stiff ride.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500's interior was comfortable for long drives, particularly with the test truck's leather upholstery and 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the lack of a height adjuster for the front passenger seat detracted from overall comfort. The Silverado Crew Cab's back seat offered abundant space and impressive thigh support, further enhanced by available heating, USB ports, and air conditioning vents.

Storage solutions were plentiful, with dual glove compartments, a large center console bin, lower door panel bins, and hidden compartments within the rear seatback cushions. Hauling and towing capacities were also impressive, with the Silverado able to haul up to 2,250 pounds and tow up to 13,400 pounds, depending on the configuration.

In the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, comfort was secondary to rugged functionality. Though the seats provided adequate support, the small door openings, snug seating positions, and cramped rear legroom required adjustment. Side steps or rails, mounted high for off-road clearance, proved more cumbersome than useful for entering or exiting the vehicle.

Storage options included netting on the door panels, a small center console bin, cupholders, a dash-top tray, and an undersized glove compartment. The Gladiator's 5-foot steel cargo box offered 35.5 cubic feet of cargo space, multiple tie-down hooks, and an adjustable tailgate accommodating sheets of plywood. Payload ratings ranged from 1,075 to 1,535 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came standard with a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Chevrolet Connected Access services, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Optional upgrades included a high-definition display, navigation, SiriusXM 360L, wireless device charging, and a Bose premium sound system.

The advanced trailering technologies were particularly noteworthy, offering up to 15 camera views of the hitch, trailer, and surroundings, and included features like Transparent Trailer. The Camera Trailer Package, head-up display, and camera-based rearview mirror were additional visibility aids, though not present in the test truck.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, despite its old-school roots, offered advanced technology through its Uconnect systems. While the base Uconnect 3 system with a 5-inch display was basic, the Uconnect 4 system with a 7-inch touchscreen brought Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-shelf Uconnect 4C system in the test truck featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, SiriusXM Guardian, remote engine start, and a WiFi hotspot.

Although user-friendly, the Uconnect 4C system showed signs of aging with slow system response times and a voice recognition system requiring specific prompts. The forward-facing Trail Cam, available for the first time with Overland trim, proved valuable for off-road navigation, allowing drivers to see obstacles hidden by the hood.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 included standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. However, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) were limited to LTZ and High Country trims. Crucial features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist were not available on lower trims, even as options.

Crash-test ratings were mixed, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarding the Silverado a 4-star overall rating. The driver and front passenger protection in head-on collisions also scored 4 stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated front passenger protection in a small overlap frontal-impact collision as Marginal, and the truck's headlights as Poor.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, in its standard form, offered minimal safety systems, featuring only a reversing camera. However, depending on trim levels and options, ADAS like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams could be added.

The test truck had a full suite of these safety features, with blind-spot monitoring proving particularly useful due to the narrow side mirrors. Adaptive cruise control worked effectively, enhancing freeway driving. NHTSA ratings for the Gladiator included a four-star frontal-impact rating with the standard gasoline engine and a three-star rollover resistance rating.