Jeep Gladiator vs Ford Ranger comes down to what you want a midsize truck to do. The Gladiator wins on towing and on the trail: Jeep Canada lists the 2027 Gladiator at up to 3,493 kg (7,700 lb) of towing, a little more than the 2026 Ranger, and it rides on solid Dana 44 axles front and rear with doors and a roof that come off. The Ranger wins on power, with an available 315 horsepower V6, and its standard 2.3L carries slightly more payload than the Gladiator, though the V6 Ranger carries less. If your weekends run to a trailer, a gravel road or a muddy field approach, browse new Jeep Gladiator inventory at Dunn Ram Trucks and compare the window stickers.
Shopping already? Browse our new Jeep Gladiator inventory in Portage la Prairie.
Our Gladiator figures come from Jeep Canada's 2027 Gladiator pages, Stellantis Canada's "What's New for 2027" release for the Gladiator and Stellantis Canada's 2027 product information; the winter tire rule comes from Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). The Ranger figures come from Ford Canada's Ranger pages, which show the 2026 model year as the newest, so we compare each truck's newest Canadian year. Ford Canada prints its towing and payload in pounds, so every kilogram figure for the Ranger is our own conversion. We read all of it on October 31, 2026. For the Gladiator against another rival, our Jeep Gladiator vs Toyota Tacoma comparison covers it.
Key Takeaways
- The verdict: the Gladiator for towing, trails and open air; the Ranger for more engine with its V6, or a little more payload with its standard 2.3L.
- A little more towing from the Gladiator. Jeep Canada lists up to 3,493 kg (7,700 lb) on a Sport or Sport S with the Max Trailer Tow Package and calls it best in class for gas towing; Ford Canada lists the Ranger at up to 7,500 lb (about 3,402 kg, our conversion).
- Solid axles front and rear. Jeep Canada lists Dana 44 solid front and rear axles on the 2027 Gladiator and calls them segment exclusive.
- Doors and roof that come off. Stellantis Canada's 2027 product information lists full framed removable doors and a soft top as standard on the Sport S.
- More power from the Ranger: Ford Canada lists its available 2.7L EcoBoost V6 at 315 horsepower (hp) and 400 pound feet (lb ft), against 285 hp and 260 lb ft for the Gladiator's 3.6L Pentastar V6.
- Ice is a tire question. Four wheel drive helps you get moving; winter tires help you stop and steer.
Jeep Gladiator vs Ford Ranger Side by Side
Here are the two trucks row by row, each from its maker's Canadian pages.
| What You Compare | 2027 Jeep Gladiator | 2026 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.6L Pentastar V6: 285 hp, 260 lb ft, eight speed automatic | 2.3L EcoBoost standard on the XL, XLT and Lariat (10 speed automatic on the XL); available 2.7L EcoBoost V6 on the XLT and Lariat: 315 hp, 400 lb ft; 3.0L EcoBoost V6 on the Raptor only |
| Maximum towing | 3,493 kg (7,700 lb), Sport or Sport S with the Max Trailer Tow Package | 7,500 lb (about 3,402 kg, our conversion) |
| Maximum payload | 780 kg (1,720 lb), Sport or Sport S with the Max Trailer Tow Package | 1,763 lb (about 800 kg) with the 2.3L; 1,513 lb (about 686 kg) with the 2.7L V6; our conversions |
| Axles | Dana 44 solid front and rear | Ford Canada's pages we read do not name the axle type |
| Box | 153 cm (60.3 inch) | 151 cm (59.6 inch), our conversion from Ford Canada's 1,514 mm |
| Trims | Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Altitude, Mojave and Mojave X, Rubicon and Rubicon X, by Stellantis Canada's 2027 information | XL, XLT, Lariat and Raptor |
A tow rating belongs to one configuration, so ask our team for the figure on the exact truck.
The 2027 Jeep Gladiator at a Glance
Engine. Stellantis Canada's release lists the 3.6L Pentastar V6 at 285 hp and 260 lb ft, paired only with an eight speed automatic.
Towing and payload. Up to 3,493 kg (7,700 lb) of towing and up to 780 kg (1,720 lb) of payload, which Jeep Canada bases on a Sport or Sport S with the Max Trailer Tow Package.
Four wheel drive. Jeep Canada's capability page lists Command-Trac as standard on most Gladiator models, Rock-Trac as standard on Rubicon models, and Selec-Trac on the Mojave X and on the Willys with the 35 inch tire package.
What is new. Stellantis Canada lists a new Sahara and Altitude, and a 35 inch tire package standard on the Rubicon X, all with late availability. Our 2027 Jeep Gladiator what's new post goes through the changes.
The 2026 Ford Ranger at a Glance
Engines. Ford Canada lists a 2.3L EcoBoost as standard on the XL, XLT and Lariat, with a 10 speed automatic on the XL, an available 2.7L EcoBoost V6 at 315 hp and 400 lb ft on the XLT and Lariat, and a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 exclusive to the Raptor.
Towing and payload. Up to 7,500 lb (about 3,402 kg) of towing with the available Trailer Tow Package, and up to 1,763 lb (about 800 kg) of payload with the 2.3L or 1,513 lb (about 686 kg) with the 2.7L V6, all our conversions from Ford Canada's pound figures. Ford Canada lists the Raptor at up to 5,510 lb of towing.
Trims. XL, XLT, Lariat and Raptor, with 4x4 standard on all four, by Ford Canada's Ranger page.
Where the Gladiator Wins
More Towing on the Spec Sheet
Jeep Canada lists the 2027 Gladiator at up to 3,493 kg (7,700 lb) and calls it best in class for gas towing, based on J.D. Power's midsize pickup segmentation. Ford Canada lists the 2026 Ranger at up to 7,500 lb. The gap is 200 lb, so for a typical utility trailer or a pair of sleds either truck will do; the Gladiator's rating is the higher of the two if your trailer sits right at the edge. For more on hitching up, our Jeep Gladiator towing capacity guide has the details.
Solid Axles for Rough Ground
Jeep Canada lists Dana 44 solid front and rear axles on the 2027 Gladiator and calls them segment exclusive, along with a 4:1 transfer case on Rock-Trac models and heavy duty forged front and rear tow hooks. For a muddy field approach after a fall rain or a rutted trail through the bush, that hardware is what the Gladiator is built around.
Open Air in July
Stellantis Canada's 2027 product information lists a black Sunrider soft top and full framed removable doors with quick release hinges as standard on the Sport S. Jeep Canada says driving with the doors off is for off road use and to follow the owner's manual. Come summer at the lake, the Gladiator is the one of these two that opens up.
Where the Ranger Wins
More engine. Ford Canada lists the available 2.7L EcoBoost V6 at 315 hp and 400 lb ft, against the Gladiator's 285 hp and 260 lb ft. On the four lane Trans-Canada Highway to Winnipeg, that is extra passing power.
A little more payload. Ford Canada lists up to 1,763 lb (about 800 kg, our conversion) with the 2.3L, against 780 kg (1,720 lb) for the Gladiator. The gap is about 20 kg, and the V6 Ranger is rated lower, at 1,513 lb (about 686 kg), so check the payload sticker on the door jamb of the exact truck either way.
A desert runner. Ford Canada lists the Ranger Raptor with a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 exclusive to that model. The Gladiator's off road trims, the Mojave and Rubicon, take a different approach with the Pentastar V6 and their own axles and four wheel drive systems.
Cold Starts and Ice: Block Heaters and Winter Tires
A minus 30 morning is hard on any engine. If your truck has a block heater, plug it in the way its manufacturer directs before a cold start, and if it does not, our service department installs block heaters.
Neither truck's four wheel drive stops it on glare ice. Four wheel drive helps you get moving in snow; winter tires help you stop and steer on ice and packed snow. We are a participating retailer in the MPI Winter Tire Program. Manitoba Public Insurance says that from October 1, 2026, only "manufacturer designated winter tires that display the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol will be eligible" for the program. All weather and all season tires no longer qualify, even with the mountain snowflake mark. Our service department supplies and installs new tires, so book a winter tire installation with our service team before the snow stays.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Jeep Gladiator if you tow close to the limit, drive rough ground, field approaches and trails, or want to take the doors and roof off when the weather turns.
Buy the Ford Ranger if most of your kilometres are pavement and you want the stronger V6, or if every last kilogram of payload counts and the standard 2.3L does the job.
FAQs
Does the Jeep Gladiator or the Ford Ranger tow more?
The Gladiator, by a little. Jeep Canada lists the 2027 Gladiator at up to 3,493 kg (7,700 lb) on a Sport or Sport S with the Max Trailer Tow Package, and Ford Canada lists the 2026 Ranger at up to 7,500 lb (about 3,402 kg, our conversion). A rating belongs to one configuration, so ask our team for the figure on the exact truck.
Which has more horsepower, the Gladiator or the Ranger?
The Ranger with its available 2.7L EcoBoost V6, which Ford Canada lists at 315 hp and 400 lb ft. Stellantis Canada lists the 2027 Gladiator's 3.6L Pentastar V6 at 285 hp and 260 lb ft.
Can you take the doors and roof off a 2027 Jeep Gladiator?
Yes. Stellantis Canada's 2027 product information lists full framed removable doors with quick release hinges and a soft top as standard on the Sport S. Jeep Canada says driving with the doors off is for off road use and to follow the owner's manual.
Which carries more payload, the Gladiator or the Ranger?
The Ranger with its standard 2.3L, by about 20 kg. Ford Canada lists the 2026 Ranger at up to 1,763 lb (about 800 kg, our conversion) with the 2.3L and 1,513 lb (about 686 kg) with the 2.7L V6, and Jeep Canada lists the 2027 Gladiator at up to 780 kg (1,720 lb).
Where can I see a new Jeep Gladiator near Portage la Prairie or Winnipeg?
On our new Jeep Gladiator inventory page, which shows the trucks listed today at Dunn Ram Trucks in Portage la Prairie. We deliver anywhere in Manitoba with road access; ask our team about the details.
The Bottom Line
Buy for the job. The 2027 Jeep Gladiator brings a slightly higher tow rating, solid axles front and rear and a top and doors that come off; the 2026 Ford Ranger brings more engine with its V6, and a little more payload with its standard 2.3L. Read the window sticker of the truck in front of you, because every rating belongs to one configuration.
Dunn Ram Trucks in Portage la Prairie serves Jeep buyers across Manitoba. See the new Jeep Gladiator inventory, see what your vehicle is worth with our instant cash offer tool, and apply for financing online before you come in.
Tyler Dunn, Dunn Ram Trucks, Portage la Prairie
