What Is the 2025 Jeep Gladiator?
The Jeep Gladiator is a five-seat mid-size pickup with a reputation for off-road driving prowess; it’s essentially a long-wheelbase pickup version of Jeep’s popular Wrangler SUV. Under the hood is a 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 paired with an eight-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Jeep makes part-time 4WD standard, with full-time 4WD optional. A broad range of trims and appearance options are available; at the top of the line are the rock-crawling Rubicon and a high-speed desert runner called Mojave. With its removable top and doors, the Gladiator is in something of a class of its own, but its traditional mid-size pickup rivals include the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma.
What’s New on the 2025 Jeep Gladiator?
After a mild refresh for the 2024 model year, the Gladiator loses its six-speed manual transmission for 2025; an eight-speed automatic is now the sole transmission. Among other minor updates is a new Dark Sky Appearance Package that adds some of the Mojave trim’s visual touches to other versions. Jeep has stated that the Wrangler’s 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain will be added to the Gladiator lineup in the 2025 calendar year; it will likely arrive as a 2026 model.
What Features in the 2025 Jeep Gladiator Are Most Important?
Standard features include:
- 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Two USB ports
- Folding soft top
- Removable doors
- Fold-down windshield
- 17-inch steel wheels
- 32-inch all-season tires
- Underbody skid plates
- Two-speed transfer case
- Tow hooks
- Push-button start
- Eight-speaker audio system
Available features include:
- Three-piece hardtop
- Power-adjustable side mirrors
- Limited-slip differential
- Rock rails
- Fox shock absorbers
- 33-inch all-terrain tires
- Leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- 7-inch digital instrument cluster
- Navigation
- Ambient interior lighting
- Electronically disconnecting front stabilizer bar
- One-inch lift kit
- Front-facing off-road camera
Should I Buy the 2025 Jeep Gladiator?
The Jeep Gladiator makes a lot of sense for mid-size pickup truck shoppers who intend to regularly venture off-road and crave the open-air fun of a convertible. Quite simply, short of Jeep’s own Wrangler SUV, there are few (if any) vehicles with this degree of rock-crawling capability. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it comes at a significant premium over traditional mid-size pickups. Cabin noise is another issue, as is numb steering feel and a relatively tight passenger cabin. On the plus side, with so many trims and options, you’ll likely never see two identical versions of the Gladiator. Its infotainment system is also one of the best in the business, with clear graphics and simple menus.
