2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights. The new grille moved away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model, but remained imposing. The massive headlights, though still large, featured additional detail and contouring, making them look less like a glass-fronted dorm fridge. These subtle changes resulted in a more mature-looking heavy-duty pickup. However, the design was still a modest evolution of the 2017 model, and as newer trucks like the redesigned 2021 F-150 hit the road, the Super Duty began to look dated. The cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, ideally suited for work use but less inviting compared to rivals like Ram. The F-350 Super Duty was available in six trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited, each offering a range of features from basic work truck amenities to luxury touches.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator started with a Wrangler, stretched and fortified the frame for serious towing and hauling, and crafted a short 5-foot cargo bed designed to preserve departure angle while providing utility. The result was a unique vehicle that looked a bit odd at first, with its tall, long, and narrow proportions. However, driving the Gladiator, especially in off-road conditions, revealed its charm. New for 2021 were the Willys special edition, the 80th Anniversary Edition, and the High Altitude luxury model. Pricing started at $33,545 for the base Sport trim, but our test truck, an Overland trim with nearly every option and the new turbo-diesel engine, came to $58,525. The interior, while durable and designed for rugged use, offered optional heated front seats, leather upholstery, and top-shelf infotainment and sound systems.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came with three engine options. The standard 6.2-liter gas V8 produced 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 delivered 475 hp and an astounding 1,050 lb-ft of torque. New for 2020 was a 7.3-liter gas V8, putting out 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 could be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission or an available 10-speed automatic, which was standard on the 7.3-liter gas engine and the 6.7-liter diesel engine. The F-350 had impressive towing capacities: 24,200 pounds for conventional towing, 32,500 pounds for fifth-wheel towing, and 37,000 pounds for gooseneck trailers. It also offered a maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds. The Tremor off-road package added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and other off-road enhancements.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator introduced a new 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 option, costing an additional $4,000. This engine produced 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, offering substantial low-end grunt and better fuel economy than the standard 3.6-liter gasoline V6. The diesel engine averaged 22.6 mpg during testing, compared to 20.3 mpg for the gas engine. The Gladiator Sport could tow up to 7,650 pounds with the standard engine and haul up to 1,700 pounds of payload. The diesel powertrain, while not matching these figures due to engine-cooling restrictions, still offered impressive towing and payload capacities. Off-road, the diesel-powered Gladiator Rubicon excelled, with its low-end torque making it ideal for challenging trails. On paved roads, the Gladiator exhibited the same charms and quirks as the gas version, with slow steering, a stiff ride, and plenty of wind noise.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened first. The Super Crew offered a massive cab with ample headroom and legroom, and rear seats that folded up for a large load floor. The F-350 came with either a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the longer bed available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate for easier loading.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator was not designed for comfort, with small door openings, snug seating positions, and cramped rear legroom. Side steps or rails, while preserving breakover angle, made entry and exit more challenging. In-cabin storage included netting on the door panels, a small center console bin, cupholders, a dash-top tray, and an undersized glove compartment. A locking and removable storage bin under the rear seat was also available. The Gladiator’s 5-foot steel cargo box held 35.5 cubic feet of cargo and featured multiple tie-down hooks, an adjustable tailgate, and optional accessories like a spray-in bedliner and Trail Rail cargo organizer. Payload ratings ranged from 1,075 pounds to 1,535 pounds, depending on trim level, engine, and transmission.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for easy navigation. However, it occasionally experienced bugs, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, with a 360 camera and Trailer Reverse Guidance, was a standout feature, making trailer backing easier by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator offered modern technology despite its old-school design. The base Uconnect 3 system with a 5-inch display included Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio. The optional Uconnect 4 system, with a 7-inch touchscreen, added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-tier Uconnect 4C system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and navigation, included SiriusXM Guardian connected services, an Alpine premium sound system, and an Amazon Alexa skill. The system was user-friendly but showed signs of aging with slow load times and specific voice recognition prompts. The forward-facing Trail Cam, available with the Overland trim, was useful for off-road adventures.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims included additional features like a reverse-sensing system, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, adaptive cruise control, and adaptive steering.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, in its standard form, included a reversing camera. Depending on the trim level, it could be upgraded with advanced driving assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The test truck had all these features, with blind-spot monitoring being particularly useful due to the narrow side mirrors. The NHTSA gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.