Jeep Gladiator vs Toyota Hilux vs Ford Ranger Raptor: Which has the lowest running costs?

Toyota is going to great lengths to promote its sporty GR sub-brand in the local market, and products such as the Corolla Cross are the perfect vehicles in which they can find new customers that are excited about the brand, but still want an efficient crossover. The GR-S certainly looks the part, but at its core, it is ultimately still a practical family crossover, so how does it compare with the Hyundai Venue and Volkswagen T-Cross in terms of running costs?

The figures

	Jeep Gladiator 3.6 Rubicon double cab	Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 GR-Sport / GR-S	Ford Ranger 2.0Bi-Turbo double cab 4x4 Raptor
Engine size	6-cyl, 3.6-litre petrol	4-cyl, 2.8-litre turbodiesel	4-cyl, 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel
Power/Torque	209 kW/347 Nm	165 kW/550 Nm	157 kW/500 Nm
Gearbox	8-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	10-speed automatic
Ground clearance	249mm	286mm	283mm
Airbags	4	7	7
Driven wheels	All	All	All
Braked towing capacity	3 721-kg	3 500-kg	2 500-kg
Fuel capacity	83-litres	80-litres	80-litres
Claimed consumption	12.4 L/100 km	8.0 L/100 km	8.3 L/100 km
CO2 emissions	288 g/km	210 g/km	220 g/km
Service plan	5-year/100 000km(maintenance)	9 service/90 000km	Opt (R18 740.40)
Price	R1 329 900	R865 400	R951 900(R970 640 with service plan)

 

Related: Jeep Gladiator (2022) review

Comparing the trio

Purchase price

The models we have chosen for this comparison are competitors from a pricing and body-style perspective. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72 months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 11%.

Jeep Gladiator 3.6 Rubicon double cab

With the instalment parameters in place, the Jeep will work out at R22 782 per month over 72 months.

Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 GR-S

With the instalment parameters in place, the Hilux will work out at R14 800 per month over 72 months

Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTurbo double cab 4x4 Raptor

With the instalment parameters in place, the Ranger will work out at R16 307 per month over 72 months.

Fuel consumption

On paper, the Toyota has the lowest claimed fuel consumption followed by the Ford and then the Jeep. We have tested all three models in this comparison and in the real world the Hilux is the most frugal of the three.

Service plans

The Jeep is the only product that features a maintenance plan as standard, while the Toyota comes with a service plan, while the Ford's plan is an optional extra. The Ford loses out in this round as its service plan is an R18 740.40 extra, and is valid for 6 years/90 000km.

Verdict

Having looked at the data, in the first five years of ownership, we are confident that the Hilux will be the most cost-effective of the trio.