Previous to my Gladiator, I owned a 2018 3rd Gen Tacoma. It was an awesome truck and I had it built just the way I wanted it. There were some things I probably would've done differently, but I was figuring it out as I went.
I purchased that truck as my third Tacoma; previously I had owned two 1st Gens. I test drove the 3rd Gen and noticed some oddities, but assumed I'd figure it out. In the end, those annoyances never went away, and it's what drove me to the Gladiator. This is my breakdown of why I made the change and how they stack up.
What I Liked About The Tacoma
Off-Road Capability: I never encountered a place I couldn't go. With the TRD Off-Road package, I had rear lockers and MTS which created a limited slip for the front. I had a 2" OME lift and 35s, which gave plenty of clearance.
Cockpit and Storage: I really liked the position of most of the buttons, cruise control settings, etc. My truck had 14 cup holders, which was ridiculous, but they functioned as great storage.
Appearance: I will always think the 3rd Gen is a great body style. Plus, I had modified mine such that it was setup uniquely and I never saw another truck just like it. The look reflected the build that I needed for what I wanted to do, but it didn't hurt that I liked it so much, or that it got so much attention on the road.
Reliability: It's a Toyota, so it'll last forever. In 3 Tacomas, I've had a parking brake cable snap and a center console clip break. That's it.
Steering Assist: Didn't discover this until 6 months before I sold it, but I love it. It beeps at you when you depart your lane, which can be annoying, but it also does a fantastic job providing some stability while driving. It doesn't fully steer for you, but when you're driving on a windy highway in a vehicle that grabs every rut it can, something to roughly keep you tracking straight, while also managing the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you is awesome.
What I Didn't Like About The Tacoma
Not Made To Lift: Most people add a 2" lift and 33" tires, and that's a good performance upgrade with a good look. But, if you do that, you have to cut the body mount. And, you need to regear. And, you need to go to special shops that can properly set your aftermarket UCAs to a good caster setting. That's a lot of work and a lot of money just to add a couple of inches in clearance.
Cabin Comfort: This was really the biggest reason I started to look elsewhere. The driver's seat is low to the ground and forces your legs out, rather than down. That means your thighs aren't supported, which can hurt your back. The steering wheel didn't telescope more than 1-2 inches, roughly 3" less than I felt like I needed to get comfortable. Even the arm rest was too low for me to rest my elbow and steer. No matter what I did, I couldn't get comfortable. On longer drives, even just 1-2 hours, I was anxious to get out of it because my back hurt or I was just generally uncomfortable.
Cabin Height/Factory Packages: When ordering the truck, I chose the package that offered dual climate control and a moonroof. I wanted both, but after a while owning the truck, it became clear to me that I just don't fit in a Tacoma with a moonroof. When equipped, it cuts down on headroom by a good 2 inches. I couldn't even wear a hat and drive. My head would regularly rub the roof unless I leaned to the right or slouched in the seat. Add to that bent knees as I have to keep myself close enough to the steering wheel to operate the vehicle. Lastly, I'd crane my head down just to look up and see the color of a stoplight. I'm 6'1, which isn't short, but I should easily fit in the average vehicle, let alone a truck.
Road Noise: Less road noise and primarily engine noise, I suppose. Every touch of the gas pedal was very noticeable in the cabin and it was really annoying. Driving up to the mountains, downshift after downshift, screaming at 4,000-5,000rpms going up hills was maddening. The Prinsu roof rack didn't help on windy days, but it was just such a "raw" ride for a $45,000 vehicle.
Shifting: The gear ratio and shift mapping for this truck is horrendous. I legitimately avoided driving the truck before I spent $800 on an Orange Virus Tune. That mostly fixed the problem, but it's absurd that you'd have to fork over that much money just to make a new vehicle drivable.
Cruise Memory: If you set your adaptive cruise distance to 1, then turned off the cruise and turned it back on, it would again be set back to 3. Minor annoyance, but when there are a few buttons you've got to press to engage cruise, the simpler the better.
Where The Gladiator Is Better
I have a separate post entitled Jeep Gladiator: Best and Worst Features. Go there for the full write-up. To put it simply though, the Gladiator is a very comfortable ride that I've found to be mostly pretty quiet. Its capability puts the Tacoma to shame, and its level of out-of-the-box customization makes a build 100x easier. It has everything the Tacoma has, and then some. The Gladiator design is also really thoughtful, considering things like arm rest height, pre-drilled holes, and a floor mat drain plug.
With minor drawbacks in comparison, like the lack of Steering Assist, loose steering, breakover angle, and a few quirks, it's hard not to realize the Gladiator is a far better truck (insane msrp not considered). I can drive this truck for hours on end, and get out feeling normal, rather than being desperate to get out and stretch, dreading getting back in for another leg of the trip.
Lastly, the Gladiator is just really fun to drive. I didn't expect I'd take the top off much, but I've done it on a couple of occasions and it makes driving so much more fun. Tack that onto a vehicle that will go anywhere and give you a comfy ride along the way, and you've got a vehicle it's almost impossible to complain about.