2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular aesthetics of the F-150 midsize pickup to a more robust level. Larger in every dimension, the Super Duty models truly embodied the heavy-duty truck look. This styling was not merely for show, as the Super Duty trucks featured numerous upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. Long bed lengths allowed for better cargo hauling, and the trucks' tall ride height provided superior ground clearance for tough terrains or messy job sites. The trucks boasted giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and bodywork designed to withstand daily wear and tear.

The cabin of the Super Duty varied significantly depending on the cab configuration. The base XL trim offered good headroom and legroom but was otherwise a stripped-down work truck. Lower trims featured simple cloth upholstery, while higher trims, such as the Super Duty Limited, could be outfitted with leather and upscale finishes that rivaled many luxury cars.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator started with a Wrangler, stretching and fortifying the frame for serious towing and hauling, and crafted a short 5-foot cargo bed designed to preserve as much departure angle as possible while still providing the utility midsize pickup buyers needed. The result was a unique vehicle that looked a bit odd at first glance—tall, long, and narrow, especially with the Wrangler-based bodywork. However, driving the Gladiator was a different story, especially when taken to far-flung places with the top down.

For 2021, Jeep introduced a new Willys special edition with a blacked-out grille, limited-slip rear differential, rock rails, and 32-inch all-terrain tires. The 80th Anniversary Edition added special badges, finishes, and materials, while the High Altitude luxury model featured body-color detailing, black 20-inch wheels, and premium Nappa leather. Pricing started at $33,545 for a base Sport model, but our test truck, an Overland trim with nearly every option and a new turbo-diesel engine, came to $58,525. The interior, with optional heated front seats, leather upholstery, and top-shelf infotainment, was as nice as it gets for a Gladiator, but the truck remained designed for rugged use with durable materials throughout.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains. The base engine was a 6.2-liter V8 producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-liter V8 was available, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The most powerful option was the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, rated at 475 hp and a staggering 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Super Duty trucks came standard with rear-wheel drive but could be upgraded to four-wheel drive. The F-350 model could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity, with maximum payload capacity reaching 4,060 pounds in some configurations and towing capabilities exceeding 36,000 pounds with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain. Off-road capabilities were enhanced in the Super Duty Tremor models, which featured factory lift kits and beefy tires.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator initially offered a 3.6-liter gasoline V6, but for 2021, a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 became available for an additional $4,000. This diesel engine produced 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 442 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 2,800 rpm, providing substantial low-end grunt and better fuel economy than the gas engine. During testing, the diesel averaged 22.6 mpg on a mountainous loop, slightly below the EPA's estimated 24 mpg in combined driving. A Gladiator Sport with the standard engine could tow up to 7,650 pounds and haul up to 1,700 pounds of payload. The diesel powertrain, while not matching these figures due to engine-cooling restrictions, still pulled 6,000-6,500 pounds of trailer and had a similar payload capacity to other Gladiator configurations. The diesel-powered Gladiator Rubicon excelled in off-road conditions, with its low-end torque making it easy to tackle tough trails. On paved roads, the diesel Gladiator exhibited the same charms and aggravations as the standard gasoline version, with slow and sloppy steering, a stiff and jouncy ride, and plenty of wind noise on the freeway.

Despite its focus on hardcore utility, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered plenty of creature comforts. The front seats came in a 40/20/40 folding bench setup as standard, providing a comfortable armrest with cupholders for the driver and front passenger. Crew Cab and Super Cab models offered generous rear seats with easy access through the trucks' huge doors. However, the Super Duty trucks were more at home on job sites than on tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, and their large doors and tall ride height made entering and exiting a challenge. Loading child seats and entering the truck could be difficult, even with running boards. The trucks also featured a clever tailgate design with optional steps and a handle for easy entry into the bed.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator was not designed for comfort. The seats offered proper support front and rear, but the truck's small door openings, snug seating positions, close proximity to the steering wheel and windshield, and cramped rear legroom required some acclimation. Side steps or rails, mounted high to preserve breakover angle, made entering and exiting the Jeep 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 included multiple tie-down hooks. It featured an adjustable tailgate that accommodated sheets of plywood lying flat on the wheel wells and the tailgate lip. Payload ratings ranged from 1,075 pounds to 1,535 pounds, depending on trim level, engine, and transmission.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Menus were clearly labeled and required fewer taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use. The base XL trim had a non-touch display, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims offered upgraded audio systems. The trucks were available with various tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches, and a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, while inherently old school, offered modern technology. The standard FCA Uconnect 3 setup with a 5-inch display included Bluetooth, voice text reply for Android devices, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The optional Uconnect 4 system with a 7-inch touchscreen, standard on Sport S trim, added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-shelf 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 and response times and specific voice recognition prompts. For 2021, Jeep offered a forward-facing Trail Cam with the Overland trim, which helped drivers navigate off-road obstacles.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though many were available as added-cost upgrades or on higher trims. A trailer tow package included special camera views and Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Other available features included blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision alerts. As commercial vehicles, Super Duty trucks were not crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, in standard specification, included a reversing camera and little else. Depending on the trim level and equipment, advanced driving assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams were available. Our test truck had all these features, with blind-spot monitoring being particularly useful due to the narrow side mirrors. The adaptive cruise control worked well, and Jeep offered both adaptive and standard cruise control. The NHTSA gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating with the standard gasoline engine and a three-star rollover resistance rating regardless of engine selection.