2023 RAM 1500 vs 2024 Jeep Gladiator

Do you remember when pickup trucks were used only by construction workers and gardeners? They were work machines, meant to have scratched beds, a cab full of McDonald’s wrappers, and a big dent on the tailgate from an unfortunate run-in with a telephone pole.

Not anymore. Today’s trucks give luxury vehicles a run for their money, with fancy features and ridiculous amounts of technology. Today we’re looking at the 2023 Ram 1500. This truck hasn’t gotten a major update since 2019, and while it still holds its own next to the offerings from Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota, the others are catching up quickly.

The open-air driving experience you can enjoy with a Gladiator is just one of many appealing things about it. As expected of a Jeep, the Gladiator is also a rock star off-road. And some versions of this crew-cab midsize truck offer substantial payload and towing capacity. Better yet, Jeep has updated the 2024 Gladiator with minor styling revisions, next-generation infotainment technology, added comfort and convenience features, and new range-topping trim levels. A Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid arrives in 2025.

Verdict: Though we’re fans of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator, it requires some trade-offs. Fuel economy is poor, the ride can be rough, the interior is loud at higher speeds, and the cabin looks like you can hose it out—because you can. Buy a 2024 Gladiator for what it can do and not for the image it projects, and you’ll more easily accept its inherent flaws.