2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2022 Nissan Frontier

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator was a unique creation, starting with a Wrangler base, stretching and fortifying the frame for serious towing and hauling, and adding a short 5-foot cargo bed. This design aimed 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, might have seemed odd. However, driving the Gladiator, especially in off-road conditions, revealed its charm. The new Willys special edition and the 80th Anniversary Edition added unique features and styling, while the High Altitude luxury model introduced premium touches. Pricing started at $33,545 for the base model, but our test truck, equipped with Overland trim and a turbo-diesel engine, came to $58,525. The interior, though durable and designed for rugged use, offered optional heated front seats, leather upholstery, and top-shelf infotainment systems, making it quite comfortable.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier represented a significant step in Nissan's "Nissan Next" strategy, arriving as a dramatically new midsize pickup truck. With blocky, rugged styling reminiscent of the old Nissan Hardbody pickups, the Frontier was available in nine exterior colors and two interior shades. Our test truck, painted Baja Storm, featured charcoal leather seating exclusive to the off-road-ready PRO-4X and 2WD PRO-X trim levels. The Frontier was slightly longer than its predecessor but still fit well in garages and parking spots. It was designed to compete with the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma. Available in King Cab or Crew Cab configurations, the Frontier offered a 6-foot bed for the King Cab and a 5-foot or optional 6-foot bed for the Crew Cab. Nissan also provided optional accessories like a spray-in bedliner, LED bed lighting, and a three-channel tie-down system. Inside, the Frontier featured Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, improved insulation, and a new center console with ample storage.

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-powered Gladiator Rubicon excelled, thanks to its low-end torque and Selec-Speed off-road cruise control system. On paved roads, the Gladiator exhibited the same charms and quirks as the gasoline version, with slow and sloppy steering, a stiff ride, and noticeable wind noise.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier featured a retuned 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing a class-leading 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided strong acceleration and ample passing power at highway speeds. The Frontier's maximum payload was 1,610 pounds, and it could tow up to 6,720 pounds. A nine-speed automatic transmission managed the power, offering smooth shifts and optimizing fuel economy. Rear-wheel-drive Frontiers achieved EPA estimates of 18 mpg city, 24 highway, and 20 combined, while four-wheel-drive models returned 17/22/19. The Frontier's hydraulic rack and pinion steering system provided a heavier feel compared to competitors. The PRO-4X trim offered a comprehensive off-road kit, including hill-start assist, hill-descent control, an electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shock absorbers, and skid plates. The PRO-4X also featured a surround-view monitor with an off-road mode and a best-in-class approach angle of 32.3 degrees. For those not needing 4WD, the 2WD PRO-X trim retained the off-road styling cues.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator prioritized utility over comfort. The seats provided adequate support, 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. 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 to 1,535 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier excelled in combining comfort and capability. The front seats, featuring Nissan's Zero Gravity technology, were exceptionally comfortable, a rarity in the midsize pickup segment. The Frontier offered convenient storage options, surpassing competitors like the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. The Crew Cab provided adequate headroom and legroom for backseat passengers, though not as spacious as a full-size pickup. The King Cab's rear seats were more suitable for storage than passengers. The Frontier's Crew Cab featured eight cupholders and additional storage beneath the rear seat. Overall, the Frontier felt spacious and ahead of its competitors in terms of comfort and utility.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, while inherently old school, offered modern technology. The standard FCA Uconnect 3 system 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, 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 times and specific voice recognition prompts. The forward-facing Trail Cam, available with the Overland trim, assisted drivers in navigating off-road obstacles.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier saw significant advancements in technology. A standard 8-inch touchscreen came with the S and SV trims, while the PRO-4X featured a 9-inch screen. The interface was user-friendly, with physical knobs and buttons for essential functions. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but required a wired connection. Optional features included a wireless phone charger and a Kicker tailgate audio system. The Crew Cab offered four USB ports, and the optional 10-speaker Fender stereo provided excellent sound quality. The Premium Package, Technology Package, and Convenience Package added various features, including safety systems, bed accessories, and heated components.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, in its standard form, offered basic safety features like a reversing camera. Depending on the trim level, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams were available. The test truck included all these features. The NHTSA gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to perform better than its predecessor. The new Frontier came with standard ADAS under Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a driver attention monitor, intelligent forward collision warning, trailer sway control, rear-door alert, and an easy-fill tire alert. Eight airbags were standard, and optional features included traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and rear sonar.