At the time of writing, the Jeep Gladiator was the most expensive new bakkie you could buy in South Africa. The Jeep might sport impressive figures now, but as with all things performance-related, it is all relative. Therefore, it would be easy to state the claimed figures for the Jeep and call it a day, but with the fire-breathing Ford Ranger Raptor due to be launched soon, how do the Gladiator's performance figures stack up?
Jeep Gladiator
The Figures
| Jeep Gladiator 3.6 Rubicon double cab | Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 4x4 | |
| Engine | 3.6-litre V6 petrol | 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol |
| Power and torque | 209 kW & 347 Nm | 292 kW & 583 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h* | 8.1 seconds | 6.0 seconds* |
| Top speed | 156 km/h | 178 km/h |
| Ground clearance | 249mm | 272mm |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 2 721kg | 2 500kg |
| Wading depth | 800mm | 850mm |
| Weight | 2 242kg | 2 475kg |
| Price** | R1 329 900 | R1 040 070** |
*As per figures quoted by publications in other countries.
** Price as converted from Australian Dollars, while the actual local price is likely to be significantly different.
Ford Ranger Raptor
Verdict
Having looked at the figures important for performance-based bakkies, the latest Ford Ranger Raptor seems to truly outperform the Jeep, however, a real-world test between the two, which should include technical off-roading, will have to take place before a definitive conclusion can be reached.
