2021 Chevy Colorado vs 2021 Jeep Gladiator

• 2021 Chevy Colorado

  

  Starting at

  $25,200

  2021 Jeep Gladiator

  

  Starting at

  $33,545

  181-308	Horsepower (HP)	260-285
  7,700	Max Towing Capacity (lb-ft)	7,650
  49.9	Bed Size (cu.ft.)	35.5

  If you are searching for an affordable midsize truck that has plenty of cool features, then you have come to the right place. In a battle for supremacy, the 2021 Chevy Colorado vs 2021 Jeep Gladiator is the head-to-head competition you've been waiting for. Here, we will compare one of America's favorite midsize trucks (the Chevy Colorado) to the newest addition to the Jeep lineup.

  The two vehicles are different in almost every way. The only real similarity that they share is their market segment as midsize pickups. While the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is the cool new kid on the block, it is better suited for extreme off-roading. Meanwhile, the well rounded 2021 Chevy Colorado is a reliable and practical truck that is both affordable and great for families. It can even handle off-loading for a weekend adventure with the kids. Now, let's dive in deeper to understand what makes these two trucks so different.

• Performance

  

  Let's start with the category that will push the Colorado ahead of the Gladiator. Popping the hoods of both vehicles, you will find both gasoline and diesel options. However, the Colorado has three powertrain options, while the Gladiator only has two. Let's take a look at the numbers.

  Gasoline Engines

  The standard powertrain used for the new 2021 Chevy Colorado is a 2.5-liter I-4 motor paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Fitted with rear-wheel drive (4x4 is optional), this powertrain generates 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. It also has the ability to pull up to 3,500 lbs. As for the fuel efficiency, this particular engine gets 22 MPG combined (19 city/25 highway). There is no powertrain option on the Jeep Gladiator that is comparable to this one.

  The Colorado can also be equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 motor. Coupled with rear-wheel drive (4x4 is optional) and an 8-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain produces 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. It can haul up to 7,000 lbs, and it gets about 21 MPG combined (18 city/25 highway). Meanwhile, the standard Gladiator engine is a similar 3.6-liter V6 unit. But at 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, it isn't as powerful as the Colorado. The gas mileage also isn't as good, with an average of about 19 MPG combined (17 city/22 highway). With this engine, the Gladiator is rated tow up to 7,650 lbs, but with less power, it will not be as confident as the Colorado.

  Diesel Engines

  Finally, let's take a closer look at the diesel options. The Colorado uses a 2.8-liter 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Equipped with rear-wheel drive (4x4 is optional), this powertrain pushes out 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This bumps up the estimated fuel economy to 23 MPH combined (20 city/30 highway). It also increases the maximum towing limit to a best in class 7,700 lbs.

  On the other hand, the Jeep Gladiator gets a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Generating 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, it is a bit more powerful than the diesel Colorado. The average fuel economy is a bit higher as well since it's rated at 24 MPG combined (22 city/28 highway). However, these numbers are more geared towards low-end torque for rock crawling, and the heavier weight of the diesel means that it can only tow up to 6,500 lbs. This means that the diesel Colorado option is better for daily driving, which is what most families do.

• Exterior

  

  Body styles are very important for trucks. Since these are both classified as midsize models, they are a bit more compact than, for example, a full-size Chevy Silverado.

  Colorado Configurations

  The 2021 Chevy Colorado is available in Extended and Crew Cab body styles. This means that there is seating in the back on both models. There is no regular, two-seater cabin option for the new Colorado. The Extended Cab has clamshell doors and can seat four people. This configuration allows you easy access to the back seats, but it isn't quite as convenient as a four-door Crew Cab. This model comes with a standard 6.1-foot bed. The second option is the Crew Cab style. With available seating for up to five people, this style is easier for back-seat passengers to get into. You can also choose between the 6.1-foot standard bed and the short bed, which measures about 5.1 feet in length.

  Gladiator Configurations

  On the other hand, things are a bit different for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. It comes in one body style, which is a four-door model. More importantly, it is only available with a small 5-foot bed. This body style is essentially just a Wrangler Unlimited model without a roof over the back cargo area. It's more like an unfinished SUV than an actual truck.

  Exterior

  When comparing the exterior styling elements between the 2021 Chevy Colorado vs 2021 Jeep Gladiator, you may be surprised at just how different these two trucks look. As we mentioned earlier, the Jeep Gladiator looks more like a Wrangler with a haircut, and the Chevy Colorado has more of a traditional truck style. Let's break down the exact differences. Keep in mind that exterior features may vary depending on which trim level you choose.

  Wheels

  First, let's discuss wheel choices. Both trucks have a plethora of wheel options to choose from. These wheels range in sizes from 17- to 18-inches for the 2021 Chevy Colorado and 17- to 20-inches for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The Colorado has 13 wheel options with different finishes and spoke designs. Meanwhile, the Gladiator has ten wheel options that vary in design and finish. The combinations are vast with both trucks.

  Trim

  Exterior accents can either be body-colored or black depending on the trim level of either vehicle, but chrome accents are also available for some Colorado models. LED lighting and fog lamps are not standard on either model, but both vehicles do offer higher trims that have enhanced lighting features. Since the Jeep Gladiator is made for extreme off-roading, it does come standard with rock rails and skid plates. However, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison gets rugged off-roading enhancements as well.

  Paint

  The last point we will mention is the paint options. The 2021 Chevy Colorado is available in seven unique shades, including classic colors like Black, Satin Steel Metallic, Summit White, and Cherry Red Tintcoat. The other colors that add even more personality to the look of the Colorado include Bright Blue Metallic, Sand Dune Metallic, and Crush (orange). On the other hand, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is offered in eight shades. However, they aren't as fun. These include Black, Granite Crystal Metallic, Sting-Gray, Billet Silver Metallic, Bright White, Firecracker Red, Hydro Blue Pearl, and Snazzberry Pearl (dark red).

• Interior

  

  2021 Colorado

  Every 2021 Chevy Colorado comes with an advanced infotainment system. Starting at the Work Truck base trim, you'll get a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system. Moving to the LT trim, you'll get four USB ports, an 8-inch touchscreen, and the option to add a seven-speaker Bose stereo. Hill-descent control is added to the Z71 trim, and the top-of-the-line ZR2 trim gets a navigation system. If you want a Colorado model that is perfect for off-roading, you can opt for the ZR2 Bison.

  2021 Gladiator

  Meanwhile, the base trims of the Jeep Gladiator come with a rather small 5-inch touchscreen standard. Those models also lack important connectivity features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the higher trims do offer 7-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreens with all the missing features, that means paying more for what comes standard in the Colorado. Available in 8 trims (including sub-trims) and one special edition model, there are a lot of interior variations for the Gladiator. However, all of them have a rather basic outdoorsy look, while the Colorado offers a more comfortable and modern interior design. These differences are a large part of what makes the Chevy a better choice for most drivers.

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