The Car Guide’s 2020 Best Buys: Jeep Gladiator
Every year, The Car Guide publishes its Best Buys in nearly 30 different vehicle categories. Today we continue our review of the 2020 winners with a look at midsize pickups.
As the recipient of the North American Truck of the Year award, the one-of-a-kind Jeep Gladiator (MSRP from $45,495) naturally tops our list of the best midsize pickups you can buy in 2020.
- Also: 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon: Going to Extremes
- Also: Gladiator Mojave Becomes the First “Desert Rated” Jeep
If the Gladiator deserves so much praise, it’s largely because of its exceptional capabilities for work and off-road driving. Equipped with the renowned 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, it achieves the best towing (7,650 pounds) and the best payload (1,600 pounds) among all 4x4 midsize pickups. Don’t forget that a 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 producing 442 pound-feet of torque will join the lineup later in 2020.
A serious adventurer in any trim, especially the high-end Rubicon and freshly introduced Mojave, this Jeep pickup further stands out with removable doors and roof panels in Wrangler fashion. By the way, the lone configuration is a four-door cab with five-foot bed. We love the design, space, controls and infotainment system found inside.
Sure, the Gladiator is more expensive to buy, insure, fuel and maintain, but if you’re looking for a big man’s toy as much as a work tool, it will serve you quite well.
Our defending champ, the Honda Ridgeline (MSRP from $42,490), slides in second place this year. Unlike other models in this class, it’s built on a unibody structure, resulting in SUV-like ride quality and handling. We also appreciate its reasonable fuel consumption, cleverly designed cargo box and excellent reliability.
Finally, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon (MSRP from $24,098 and $24,798, respectively) complete the podium in the midsize pickup segment. They continue to be available in a variety of configurations and trim levels, in addition to the three different engines, most notably a 3.6-litre V6 and a turbo-diesel four cylinder. They also boast a great 4WD system, a user-friendly infotainment system and unbeatable pricing.
The Car Guide’s 2020 Scores
- Jeep Gladiator – 78%
- Honda Ridgeline – 77%
- Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon – 76%
