Home Blog Page 3

The Jeep Gladiator Will Get Its Manual Back After All: Report

By
Zach Butler
-
(Images: Stellantis | Jeep)

It hasn’t been too long since the Jeep Gladiator lost its manual option…and now it looks like it could return.

After Jeep’s most recent updates to the Wrangler and Gladiator, there’s been quite a bit of hubbub about both models losing access to their 6-speed manual transmission options at various points in time. First it looked like it was going be 8-speed auto all the way, then Jeep relented and brought back the manual Wrangler with the 3.6-liter Pentastar…and now it seems the automaker could do the same thing for the closely related Gladiator pickup.

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

That nugget of information came from Easter Jeep Safari, where Jeep’s global off-road chief Aamir Ahmed mentioned the manual’s significance with these off-roaders. Provided you go for the three-pedal arrangement, the company can claim a 100-to-1 crawl ratio when paired to the Rubicon’s 4.88:1 axle ratio and the Rock-Trac 4:1 transfer case low-gear ratio. That acknowledgement further came with a nod that a former manual option would return from the dead.

Ahmed’s statements do beg an obvious question, and that’s why did Jeep kill the manual Gladiator in the first place?

Anecdotally, at least, you could probably chalk that up to “nobody wanted them” even without getting any official word for why the automaker discontinued it. Even with a low take rate, you peruse social media groups and owners’ forums, and you’ll still find a dedicated group of folks who do indeed want that maximum capability or just the ability to handle their own gears. While you could also make a business case that it does technically cost money to keep an otherwise unpopular option going, apparently it’s not such a huge burden that Jeep would never bring it back to the Wrangler…and to the Gladiator, for that matter.

Right now, the only 6-speed manual option you can have is with certain trims of the Toyota Tacoma. I was surprised the automaker kept it going with the model’s redesign, but it does make for a more engaging driving experience.

It’s the same sort of deal with the Gladiator, at least for those folks who genuinely enjoy the opportunity. It’s unclear exactly when Jeep could revive a manual Gladiator. That said, the truck’s sole engine option was (and remains) a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Again, it’s also back in the Wrangler, so you can’t imagine it’d be that hard for the company to shake loose a few units to fit in the Gladiator in the coming months. We still have to await official confirmation on that, but there you go: manual lovers rejoice!

Admittedly, it’s been a minute since we’ve driven a manual Gladiator ourselves, but you can check out more below (as well as the latest 2026 Gladiator in another video):

News: Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and GMC Canyon Kick Some Butt in Q1 2026 Sales

By
Andre Smirnov
-
2025 q4 sales report Toyota Tacoma Nissan Frontier Chevy Colorado jeep gladiator Honda Ridgeline ford ranger maverick Hyundai Santa Cruz

The midsize pickup truck segment is still doing very well in the U.S. The Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, GMC Canyon, and Ford Ranger saw their sales go up significantly in Q1 2026 when compared to Q1 2025. Here are all the details. Let’s dig in!

The Toyota Tacoma is still out front with a huge lead. Tacoma sales grew by 15.8%. This is very impressive. What’s more impressive is that Nissan had an amazing quarter with the Frontier nearly claiming the number #2 sales spot for the quarter. The Frontier is just behind the Chevy Colorado, which is still the second-best selling pickup truck. Nissan says that strong consumer demand helped Frontier sales.

On the other hand, Chevrolet Colorado says went down -16.5%. GM did not provide an explanation for this in their press release. On the flip side, the GMC Canyon had an amazing quarter. It slid into 5th sales position for the quarter with a huge 21.2% sales improvement over Q1 2025.

The Ford Ranger also had a very good sales period. Ford says that the base Ranger XL (45.5%) and the top Ranger Raptor trim (36.1%) showed the highest interest from consumers and customers.

The Jeep Gladiator slid down to the last place in the segment in Q1. Still, the overall midsize market grew by 10.2% – which is impressive.

U.S. Midsize Pickup Truck Sales Report (Q1 2026)

ModelQ1 2026Q1 2025Change
Toyota Tacoma69,26359,82515.8%
– GM (COMBINED)*32,623*34,952*-6.7%
Chevy Colorado21,59625,856-16.5%
Nissan Frontier21,41114,48147.9%
Ford Ranger17,77514,91319.2%
GMC Canyon11,0279,09621.2%
Honda Ridgeline10,98010,9510.3%
Jeep Gladiator10,08712,057-16.3%
-> Tacoma Hybrid->6,887->5,99614.9%
——–——————
Totals:162,139147,17910.2%

Compact Pickup Trucks

The Ford Maverick is now the only compact pickup truck on the market, since Hyundai is discontinuing the Santa Cruz. This did not improve Maverick’s sales in Q1 2026. As you can see, the sales are down by -10.9%. More than half of Mavericks sold in Q1 were Hybrids. This is the most fuel efficient pickup truck on the market, if you are not considering all-electric pickups.

Q1 2026Q1 2025Change
Ford Maverick33,86138,015-10.9%
-> Maverick Hybrid->17,050??
Hyundai Santa Cruz4,5446,648-32%

Please take a look at our TFLtruck Youtube channel for all the latest real-world tests and reviews.

News: 2026 Q1 Full-size Truck Sales in the U.S. Are Not Good, Except for Ram Trucks

By
Andre Smirnov
-
fullsize truck sales report numbers q4 2025

The U.S. full-size pickup truck market sales took a bit of a dive in Q1 2026 with one bright exception. GM, Ford, and Toyota saw their pickup truck sales shrink last quarter, but Ram trucks saw a dramatic turnaround with a +24.8% gain. Here are all the details. Let’s dig in!

Chevrolet and GMC trucks are not ringing any alarm bells yet. There Q1 sales decreased -1.5% over Q1 of 2025. GM has a couple of notes about this. The company says that March 2025 had exceptionally high sales, highest since April of 2021. GM says there was a slow down in sales in January and February of 2026 due to severe winter weather in the eastern part of the country. GM says that consumer behavior remains consistent.

GM’s Silverado EV and Hummer EV vehicles saw a huge slump in sales, but the GMC Sierra EV continues its sales increase.

Ford did not provide a specific comment about the decreased F-Series sales. However, the Ford Ranger and the Ford Transit commercial vans had a strong sales performance in Q1 2026. The F-150 Hybrid outsold the Tundra Hybrid approximately 2-to-1.

On the other hand, Ram is pleased to announce that their 1500 light-duty trucks had their best sales quarter since 2022. The Ram HD pickup trucks had their best sales quarter since 2021.

U.S. Full-size/HD Pickup Truck Sales: Q1 2026

ModelQ1 2026Q1 2025Change
GM Trucks (COMBINED)*203,152206,222-1.5%
Ford F-Series159,901190,389-16.0%
Chevrolet Silverado127,545127,681-0.1%
Ram Trucks98,42578,84824.8%
GMC Sierra75,60778,541-3.7%
Toyota Tundra34,61635,550–2.6%
-> F-150 Hybrid->12,904??
-> Tundra Hybrid-> 6,012->5,38011.7%
-> F-150 Lightning**->2,060->7,187-71.3%
Hummer EV (Truck/SUV)1,6533,479-52.5%
-> Silverado EV***->1,406->2,383-41.0%
-> Sierra EV***->1,288->1,2493.1%
—–—–—–
TOTAL: 700,899720,710-2.75%
*COMBINED: Silverado + Sierra (but not Silverado MD), **Lightning included in F-Series, ***EV included in Silverado or Sierra

Please check out TFLtruck Youtube channel for all of the latest real-world pickup truck testing and reviews.

Video: Is This 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 the Most Efficient Out There? Let’s Compare It to Other Engines from GM, Ford, Ram, and Toyota

By
Andre Smirnov
-
2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 mpg denver 100 v8 turbo diesel duramax comparison

It’s time to put the latest GM 5.3L V8 on our standard Denver 100 highway MPG test loop. Is this the most efficient V8 engine out there? How does it compare against other Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 engines? How does it compare to the engines in the new Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and the Toyota Tundra? Let’s dig in!

Denver 100 MPG Loop

The Denver 100 is a highway loop around Denver, Colorado. The normal loop we do is approximately 111 miles, but once in a while – we extend this loop a bit. I am driving just over 119 for this test. This way – we should get a fairly accurate reading at the pump.

The Truck

The truck we are testing is a new 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 RST. It’s a crew cab 4×4 model with a standard bed. The 5.3L V8 produced 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 3.23 to 1 rear axle ratio. This configuration has a towing capacity of up to 9,200 lbs.

Results and Comparisons

This truck achieved a calculated 22.85 MPG (rounded to 22.9 MPG). This is an impressive result, considering that this truck’s engine is not broken in. It can potentially get an even better results after 1,000 miles or more. This result is also significantly higher than this truck’s EPA rating of 20 MPG suggests.

  • 3.0L Duramax Diesel (GMC Sierra) 31.2 MPG
  • Ford F-150 Hybrid 29.6 MPG
  • Toyota Tundra Hybrid 24.0 MPG
  • 6.2L V8 (GMC Sierra) 23.4 MPG
  • 2.7L TurboMax (GM 4-Cylinder) 23.1 MPG

If you would like to see how the Ford F-150 5.0L Coyote V8 and the Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI V8, please take a look at our previous Denver 100 MPG story.

The Verdict

I would recommend the 3.0L Duramax Diesel for those driving over 15,000 miles a year due to its superior efficiency, especially on the highway and when towing a trailer. However, for those who drive less, the 5.3L V8 may just be the “sweet spot” in the lineup over the 2.7L or 6.2L options.

Rumors suggest that GM will replace these engines in 2027 with new 5.7L and 6.6L gas V8 options aiming for better power and efficiency. We have done several video stories about this, but we are still waiting for official confirmation from Chevrolet and GMC about specs, release timing, and pricing.

Real-World Vision: Why Lighting is the Most Overlooked Performance Mod for HD Trucks

By
Grant Davis
-

SPONSORED CONTENT


The “Towing at Night” Reality Check

2026 Chevy Silverado hd led light bulbs headlights

If you follow the testing at TFLtruck, you know that a truck’s capability isn’t just about a 0-60 mph sprint or its max towing capacity on paper. It’s about how that truck handles a 15,000-pound trailer on a 7% grade in the middle of a thunderstorm. While we obsess over torque curves and exhaust braking, many owners overlook the primary safety system that allows us to navigate those scenarios safely: the headlights.

For the modern heavy-duty enthusiast, upgrading to premium LED automotive bulbs is no longer a “mall crawler” modification. It is a functional necessity for anyone who pushes their vehicle to its limits. When you’re hauling a heavy load on a dark mountain pass, the difference between factory halogens and high-output LEDs is the difference between seeing a hazard in time to react and being a passenger in an accident.

Engineering for the T1 Platform: 2020-2026 Silverado 2500/3500

LED Headlight bulbs

The current generation of Chevrolet’s Heavy Duty lineup is a technological marvel. However, the 2020-2026 silverado 2500/3500 LED headlights upgrade is one of the most frequent topics in owner forums. Why? Because the factory-standard halogen bulbs in the WT, Custom, and even some LT trims simply don’t match the modern, aggressive persona of the truck—or its work requirements.

The challenge with the 2020-2026 HD models lies in their electrical complexity. These trucks utilize a sensitive Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) system to control light intensity and bulb life. Generic LED kits often cause these trucks to “strobe” or trigger persistent dashboard errors. A true performance upgrade requires an integrated CANBUS-ready driver that can translate the Chevy’s complex digital signals into a smooth, consistent 6000K white light.

The Optics of High-Profile Vehicles

A major concern often discussed in the TFL community is the issue of glare. Because a Silverado 2500/3500 HD sits so much higher than a standard sedan, a poorly designed led automotive bulbs setup can easily blind oncoming traffic.

This is where “Optical Precision” becomes a performance metric. To achieve a street-legal feel, the LED chips must be oriented to mimic the original halogen filament down to the micron.

  • The Cutoff Advantage: High-end 2020-2026 silverado 2500/3500 LED headlights create a sharp cutoff line. This ensures the light is projected down onto the road where you need it, rather than scattering into the eyes of other drivers.
  • Peripheral Flood: For off-roaders and workers on job sites, a quality LED upgrade also provides a wider horizontal spread, illuminating the ditches where deer and other hazards often lurk.

Thermal Management in Heavy-Duty Work Cycles

If you’ve ever watched a “Ike Gauntlet” towing test, you know that heat is the enemy of performance. This applies to your lights as well. High-output LEDs generate significant heat at the junction point. If that heat isn’t dissipated, the bulb will undergo “Thermal Throttling,” losing up to 50% of its brightness after just 30 minutes of driving.

To survive the work cycle of a 3500 HD, your LED automotive bulbs need a multi-stage cooling ecosystem:

  1. Liquid-Cooled Heat Pipes: Using phase-change technology to whisk heat away from the chips instantly.
  2. Aviation-Grade Aluminum Heat Sinks: Providing massive surface area for passive cooling.
  3. Turbo-Fan Active Cooling: 12,000 RPM fans that ensure the bulbs maintain 100% output even when the truck is idling on a hot job site.

Solid-State Reliability vs. Halogen Fragility

Heavy-duty trucks are subject to intense vibrations, especially those equipped with diesel engines or those frequently driven on corrugated washboard roads. A traditional halogen bulb relies on a thin, glowing tungsten filament. Over time, vibration causes that filament to fatigue and snap.

By switching to 2020-2026 silverado 2500/3500 LED headlights, you are moving to a Solid-State lighting solution. With no moving parts or fragile filaments, LEDs are virtually immune to shock and vibration. For the long-haul trucker or the weekend overlander, this “install and forget” reliability is a significant upgrade to the truck’s overall durability.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Lights Be the Weakest Link

As TFLtruck often demonstrates, a truck is only as good as its weakest component. You can have the best tires, the strongest hitch, and the highest-output engine, but if you can’t see the road ahead clearly, your capability is limited.Upgrading your LED automotive bulbs is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve both the safety and the modern look of your vehicle. For the owners of the 2020-2026 silverado 2500/3500 LED headlights, it’s about ensuring that your truck’s vision is as heavy-duty as the rest of its specs. Next time you’re prepping for a late-night haul or a cross-country adventure, make sure your lighting is ready to lead the way.

1234...1,273Page 3 of 1,273

Latest Reviews

Latest News