Key Points
- The 2026 Jeep Gladiator improves on its predecessor with hinges to make removing the doors easier, but there are otherwise no major changes.
- Pricing for the 2026 Gladiator starts at $40,825 (all prices include $1,995 destination).
- Expected plug-in hybrid 4xe has been canceled
- New Willys ’41 trim channels military history
The mid-size Jeep Gladiator pickup truck remains secure in its niche as the only pickup with doors and a top designed for easy at-home removal. In that regard, the 2026 model is improved over its predecessor, as Jeep says it has tweaked the hinges to make removing the doors even easier. A plug-in hybrid powertrain was expected to join the Gladiator lineup, but Jeep has, uh, pulled the plug on that plan. Other than the new Willys ’41 trim, which pays homage to the vehicles that helped win World War II, the Gladiator enters 2026 unchanged.
Related: Enlisted: 2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys ’41 Pays Tribute to Military History
Release Date and Pricing
The 2026 Jeep Gladiator is on sale now. Full pricing is as follows:
- Sport: $40,825
- Sport S: $44,020
- Willys: $47,225
- Rubicon: $53,995
- Rubicon X: $61,990
- Mojave: $55,990
- Mojave X: $61,990
Trim Levels and Safety Features
It should come as little surprise that safety is not the first consideration in a pickup designed to have major body panels easily removed, but the Gladiator’s lack of modern safety equipment is still jarring. No modern driver-assist technologies are standard on the entry-level Sport. The Sport S adds adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitors and rear parking sensors are optional on all trim levels.
Standard equipment on the Sport includes 17-inch steel wheels with 32-inch all-season tires, skid plates protecting the fuel tank and transfer case, front and rear tow hooks, a trailer-hitch receiver and wiring, a damped tailgate to prevent slamming, and power windows and locks. Inside are air conditioning, push-button start, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio and eight speakers. To that, the Sport S adds 17-inch aluminum wheels and heated side mirrors.
The Willys ups the Gladiator’s off-road capability somewhat without the full buy-in — and accompanying bill — of the Rubicon and Mojave. It features a locking rear differential, 32-inch mud tires on black 17-inch wheels and prewired auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories. The Willys also gets an appearance upgrade — body-color fenders and LED headlights and foglights — as well as a few more convenience features: keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control and ambient lighting.
While all Gladiators are built for travel beyond paved roads, the Mojave and Rubicon are the hardcore trims. Both sit higher than lesser trucks on 33-inch all-terrain tires and wider axles, featuring lower rear-end gear ratio for improved climbing capability off-road, rock rails to protect the lower body from trail damage, front skid plates, brush guards and cutaway fenders for greater tire clearance. As the Gladiator’s upright glass is particularly prone to rock chips, the Mojave and Rubicon also get a tougher Gorilla Glass windshield.
The Mojave also features Fox remote reservoir shock absorbers, while the Rubicon boasts a locking front differential and an electronically controlled disconnecting front anti-roll bar for greater suspension articulation.
On both the Mojave and Rubicon, the X trim level adds a body-color hardtop, a steel front bumper and a front-facing camera for improved visibility off-road. They also include heated leather seats — power-adjustable in front — a heated steering wheel, navigation, nine speakers, remote start, blind spot monitors, rear parking sensors and LED taillights.
Powertrain Specs and MPG
The plug-in hybrid Gladiator is not happening, but now Jeep is suggesting there may be a different optional powertrain on the horizon, one from the opposite end of the spectrum: the 392 6.4-liter V-8 that has powered special-edition Wranglers since 2021. There’s no set date for a V-8 Gladiator at the moment though; the only engine available for 2026 is the 3.6-liter V-6. Making 285 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque, it is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive.
The Gladiator returns an EPA-rated 17/22/19 mpg city/highway/combined. Most trims are rated to tow 6,000 pounds, but with their lower gearing, the Rubicon and Mojave can tug up to 7,700 pounds.
Read More About the Jeep Gladiator From Cars.com:
- Here Are the 10 Cheapest Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Right Now
- What’s the Best Mid-Size Off-Road Truck for 2025?
- Is the 2025 Jeep Gladiator a Good Pickup Truck? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
- 2025 Jeep Gladiator Dark Sky: Fancy Finishes at a Lower Price
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