Just rented a Jeep for a week... I don't get it?

It’s a loaner truck from a company I’m sub-contracted to at a remote site. Having said that, I believe it’s the personal truck of one of their workers, so it is in very nice shape.

 

Just the tail lights?

 

Just plain

 

Ridgeline beats them all.

 

LOL you guys, I've run both. I realize this is a Tacoma site, but. Yeah, if you compare a cheap crappy rental of either model in base trim, it isn't very exciting and will ride/perform poorly compared to a better trim of the alternative model.

My Mojave on 35s with stock Fox 2.5 remote resi suspension front and rear that is vastly technically superior to anything Toyota offers as a stock product, runs 35s with no trimming required. The TRD Pro Fox 2.5 non-resi and 2.0 resi rears are no comparison to Jeeps top of the line suspension offerings. Chrysler's Pentastar 3.6 is widely regarded as an outstanding engine design, producing 90% torque at 1800 RPM and winning several engineering awards with proven long term reliability.



Add the JL/JTs also run one of the worlds best regarded automatic transmissions of all time. Funny thing, it is the same ZF transmission as the new Toyota Supra, in a JT, but the Tacoma didn't get it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0BZhs4Ugag&t=13s

No-one says 3rd Gen's 3.5 Atkinson cycle engine and Tacoma auto trans are the best, the 3rd Gen Tacoma forums are full of engine power and auto transmission complaints. That isn't a thing for the Gladiators, because the engine and auto trans are outstanding. And because the 3.6 is not limited with an Atkinson cycle, Magnuson was able to boost it to 440hp with a bolt on kit, far higher output than a Tacoma SC.

Throw in reinforced solid front and rear axles. Those Tacoma spindle upgrades? The Mojave has reinforced cast iron knuckles for desert jumping from the factory. It is also the only production vehicle to feature hydraulic suspension jounce bumpers from the factory. And the top and doors come off as well as having a multi-position tailgate. The stock Gladiator rear disc brakes are larger than StopTechs biggest BBk kit able to fit on the stock front Tacoma 17" wheels and vastly larger than the Tacoma's stock brakes.

The Tacoma is an outstanding truck with many great qualities, I've had 4 Toyota trucks over the last 10+ years and loved them, but dismissing on brand alone is somewhat ridiculous at best. One of the things I would ding the Gladiator on is price, as the higher trims with options add up really quick but the TRD Pros are starting to get up there in price too.