Is the Gladiator a Real Truck or Just a Stretched Jeep Wrangler?

The Gladiator is Jeep’s new midsize pickup truck. Despite its five-foot pickup bed, the Jeep Gladiator shares a frame and drivetrains with the Wrangler Unlimed SUV. But the Wrangler is an excellent base for a midsize pickup truck, and the truth is that the Gladiator can even compete with entry-level half-ton trucks such as the Ram 1500.

Is the Jeep Gladiator good at towing?

The Jeep Gladiator’s maximum towing capacity is 7,650 pounds. In addition, its solid axle construction makes it more stable while heavily loaded than some vehicles with more power but independent rear suspension.

The Jeep Gladiator has the same 3.6-liter V6 as the Jeep Wrangler and entry-level Ram 1500. But for the Gladiator, Jeep engineered a better cooling system included in the towing package. This is what enables the Gladiator to tow so much with a gasoline-powered V6. This towing capacity also requires and eight-speed automatic and an upgraded axle ratio.

You can also order the Jeep Gladiator with a 3.0-liter turbocharged “EcoDiesel” V6. This engine was available in the Ram 1500 until 2022. While it has a slightly lower towing capacity than the gasoline Gladiator, it has a ton of low-end torque, so it strains less under load.

Does the Jeep Gladiator have a high payload capacity?

The Jeep Gladiator has a 1,710 pound maximum payload capacity. That is not the highest in its class, because many of its competitors offer lightweight 2WD powertrains which increase their trucks’ payload capacities, but every Gladiator has 4WD.

In fact, Jeep advertises the Gladiator as having the highest payload capacity of any 4WD midsize pickup truck. With the Jeep’s signature body-on-frame construction and solid axles both front and rear, it is unsurprising that it’s up to carrying heavy loads.

One of the Gladiator’s biggest payload limitations is the size of its pickup truck bed: five feet long and just 44.8 inches wide. That said, at 35.5 inches tall, it is a relatively deep pickup bed. It is a bit larger than the Tacoma’s five-foot bed (though you can order a Tacoma with a 6.1-foot bed too). It is much smaller than even the smallest bed available on a full-size pickup truck.

Is the Jeep Gladiator an expensive truck?

One unique aspect of the Jeep Gladiator is its high base price. It has an MSRP of $38,305 ($39,305 after destination fee). That makes it more expensive than the entry-level trim of every full-size truck except the Nissan Titan.

Why is the Jeep Gladiator so expensive? Many entry-level full-size trucks come with small, two-door regular cabs and 2WD powertrains. Every Gladiator has a full-size four-door cab and 4WD. Here’s how the Gladiator and Ram 1500 prices stack up, based on options:

Next, read why the diesel Jeep Gladiator will be a collectible classic or see the truck’s towing capacity put to the test in the video below: