2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2021 GMC Sierra 1500

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator was a unique creation, starting with a Wrangler and extending its frame for enhanced towing and hauling capabilities. Jeep designed a short 5-foot cargo bed to maintain a good departure angle while providing the utility midsize pickup buyers needed. Initially, its tall, long, and narrow appearance, especially with the Wrangler-based bodywork, seemed odd. However, driving the Gladiator, especially in off-road conditions, quickly endeared it to enthusiasts. The 2021 model introduced new editions like the Willys special edition and the 80th Anniversary Edition, adding unique features and luxury touches. Pricing for the base model started at $33,545, but our test truck, equipped with Overland trim and a turbo-diesel engine, came to $58,525. The interior, while durable and designed for rugged use, offered optional heated seats, leather upholstery, and top-tier infotainment systems.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, particularly in its Denali trim, was a symbol of luxury in the truck world. The AT4 variant, priced at $66,695, was the off-road-ready version, featuring a 2-inch suspension lift, off-road suspension, skid plates, and unique design elements like red front recovery hooks. The AT4 CarbonPro Edition added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed and a MultiPro Audio System. The Sierra's black-on-black color scheme looked sleek but was impractical for off-road use. Inside, the truck featured durable but somewhat uninspiring black plastic materials, with some caramel seat trim and metallic accents. The cabin was functional, with rubber floor mats and an industrial-themed design, but it lacked the luxury one might expect from a truck that could exceed $70,000 in Denali trim.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator introduced a new 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine option, costing an additional $4,000. This engine produced 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 442 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 2,800 rpm, offering substantial low-end grunt and better fuel economy than the standard 3.6-liter gasoline V6. During testing, the diesel engine averaged 22.6 mpg, slightly below the EPA's estimated 24 mpg. The 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, still offered impressive towing and payload capacities. Off-road, the diesel engine's torque made it a formidable performer, effortlessly tackling tough trails with the Selec-Speed off-road cruise control system. On paved roads, the Gladiator exhibited the same charms and quirks as the gasoline version, with slow steering, a stiff ride, and noticeable wind noise.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered an affordable Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine for $995. This engine produced 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 460 pound-feet of torque starting at 1,500 rpm, delivering maximum thrust quickly. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Duramax engine provided smooth and responsive performance. During testing, the Sierra averaged 21.1 mpg, slightly below the EPA's 24 mpg rating. The AT4's suspension handled rough terrain confidently while providing a comfortable ride on highways. The Sierra's towing capacity with the Duramax engine reached up to 9,300 pounds, with a payload rating of 2,150 pounds. Our test truck, a crew cab, 4WD, short bed AT4, had an 8,800-pound towing capacity and a 1,810-pound payload rating.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator prioritized utility over comfort. The seats were supportive, but the small door openings, snug seating positions, and cramped rear legroom required some adjustment. 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. The 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 varied from 1,075 to 1,535 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered spacious and comfortable seating, with large, supportive front chairs and ample rear seat space. The test truck's leather seats, while durable, lacked a sense of luxury. Both front seats had power adjustments, heating, and cooling, while the rear seats were heated. High-clearance side rails and the MultiPro tailgate made entry and exit easier. The CarbonPro Edition's cargo bed, made of carbon fiber composite, saved weight and improved durability. The Sierra's bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, with up to 12 cargo tie-downs. In-cabin storage was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups, though the rear seatback cubbies offered some additional space.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, while inherently old school, offered modern technology. The base Uconnect 3 system with a 5-inch display included Bluetooth, voice text reply for Android devices, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Uconnect 4 system, standard on Sport S trim, added a 7-inch touchscreen with 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 slower response times and less intuitive voice recognition. The forward-facing Trail Cam, available with the Overland trim, was useful for off-road navigation.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 featured numerous camera-based technologies, including a surround-view camera, trailer- and bed-view cameras, and a rear camera mirror. The optional Technology Package added a 15-inch head-up display and an 8-inch driver information display. The infotainment system offered a choice between a 7-inch and an 8-inch touchscreen display, both running the latest hardware and software for fast and responsive performance. The test truck's 8-inch display included large volume and tuning knobs, physical menu shortcut buttons, and excellent voice recognition technology. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The AT4's Bose premium sound system was adequate but not as impressive as competitors' offerings. The Sierra's 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and 115-volt in-dash electrical outlet proved useful during a power outage.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator's standard safety features were minimal, including only a reversing camera. Depending on the trim level, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) like 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, offering both adaptive and standard modes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500's safety features were optional, even on higher trims. Forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking were available but not standard. The Denali trim included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, with lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a Safety Alert Seat available on other trims. Adaptive cruise control was optional for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Our test truck had all these features, with adaptive cruise control performing well but being slow to accelerate after lane changes. The Sierra's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Marginal" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for front passenger protection and LATCH anchor accessibility.