Foton Tunland vs Jeep Gladiator
What's the difference?

Foton Tunland

$39,990 - $49,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Jeep Gladiator

$82,990 - $84,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz Vito

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

Volkswagen Transporter

Summary

2026 Foton Tunland

2026 Jeep Gladiator

By Marcus Craft

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

V6, 3.6L

Fuel Type

Diesel/Electric

—

Fuel Efficiency

8.0L/100km (combined)

12.4L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Price-tag
Roomy cabin
Reasonable off-road

Cool looks
Fun to drive
Meaningful updates

Dislikes

Under-powered
Annoying driver-assist tech
Needs better off-road tyres

Noisy and unrefined
Rhinoscerine appetite for fuel
Sub-par towing and payload

2026 Foton Tunland Summary

If you’re in the market for a big US-style ute but you’re not keen to spend the big bucks, this Chinese-made workhorse might be right for you.

This is the 2026 Foton Tunland V9-S 4x4. It’s just under six metres long and costs just under $50,000. A lot of ute for the price.

This top-spec Tunland has a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, a 48V mild-hybrid system, and front and rear diff locks.

So, what is this ute like to drive off-road?

Read on.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Jeep Gladiator Summary

If you believe there should be a ute version of everything, Jeep has long been there for you with a tray-backed Gladiator version of its iconic Wrangler off-roader.

But the Gladiator has hardly attracted the same love as its mainstream ute rivals, preferring a more lifestyle-oriented vibe, which it leans into extra hard for this 2026 update.

While it might look pretty much identical from the outside, Jeep has made some pretty significant changes underneath to make it a better overall offering, with a nice reduction in price, too.

So is it now worth your consideration? Read on to find out.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2026 Foton Tunland 2026 Jeep Gladiator

Verdict

You have to give Foton some credit because the 2026 Tunland V9-S 4x4 is a big US-sized ute without the big US-style price-tag.

On the surface this is an impressive vehicle. It’s well-equipped, comfortable, reasonably capable off-road and is generally nice to drive.

But under closer scrutiny, and when driving the Tunland, some substantial flaws soon become obvious, not the least of which is an underdone powertrain and some annoying driver-assist tech.

Still, it is a lot of ute for the money, so the Tunland represents a strong case as a budget buy.

Verdict

The Gladiator is far from the most practical, versatile, or sensible dual-cab on the market. Not going to lie, though. This is the most fun I’ve had in a ute in a long time.

Foton Tunland vs Jeep Gladiator What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Foton Tunland vs Jeep Gladiator
What's the difference?