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Jeep Gladiator vs Nissan Frontier

2026 Jeep Gladiator vs 2026 Nissan Frontier — two standard pickup trucks compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Jeep Gladiator

2026 Jeep Gladiator

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WDAWD/4WD
VS2 – 4Nissan Frontier wins 4 of 6 categories
Nissan Frontier

2026 Nissan Frontier

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Nissan Frontier is more fuel-efficient: 21 vs 19 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $350 a year less in fuel for the Nissan Frontier (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Jeep Gladiator is the bigger car, about 7 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Jeep Gladiator has had fewer recall campaigns (14 vs 26).

The two cars

The 2026 Jeep Gladiator is a standard pickup truck offered with a 3.6L 6-cyl engine and 4-wheel drive. It measures about 217 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 137-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,751 lb (4dr Pickup Overland).

The 2026 Nissan Frontier is a standard pickup truck offered with a 3.8L 6-cyl engine and rear-wheel drive and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 224 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 140-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,806 lb (Crew Cab).

Buying used? The 2024 Gladiator and the 2015 Frontier have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2021 Gladiator and the 2022 Frontier.

Basics

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6L 6-cyl
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl
4-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

19 MPG
Best combined MPG
21 MPG
17 city
City / highway MPG (best)
19 city
$3,550
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,200

Performance & space

285 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
–
–
Seats (most)
5
216.9 in
Length
210.2 in
74 in
Width
72.8 in
73.6 in
Height
71.7 in
4,683 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,550 lb

Safety & reliability

2
Driver-assist features standard
12
2
Recalls (2026)
1
14
Recalls, all years since 2005
26
3
Owner complaints (latest year)
11

Interest

6,586
Wikipedia views, 30 days
8,265

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2015
2021
Year to avoid
2022

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Jeep Gladiator if…

  • You want more room (7 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (14 vs 26 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Nissan Frontier if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (21 vs 19 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (7 in shorter)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Pros & cons of each

2026 Jeep Gladiator

  • Emergency braking not standardAutomatic emergency braking is optional or limited to some trims.

2026 Nissan Frontier

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Jeep Gladiator specs →Full 2026 Nissan Frontier specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →