2025 Jeep Gladiator: Rubicon or Mojave, and What Else to Know

The Gladiator is the only midsize pickup you can take the doors and roof off of. That makes it different from a Tacoma or a Ranger before you’ve driven it.

But the decision most buyers actually face is Rubicon versus Mojave, and those two are built for opposite jobs. Here’s how the 2025 lineup sorts out.

The Engine

A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic.

This is the powertrain for 2025. Jeep discontinued the EcoDiesel option after the 2023 model year, so if you’ve read about a diesel Gladiator, that was an earlier truck.

Solid front and rear axles, a two-speed transfer case, and standard 4×4 — the hardware that earns the Trail Rated badge rather than just wearing it.

Towing and Payload

Up to 7,700 pounds of towing and up to 1,725 pounds of payload when properly equipped.

Both figures require specific configurations. Ratings vary by trim and equipment, so check the door-jamb sticker on the specific truck before matching it to a trailer.

Trailer-Sway Control helps keep things stable when you’re hauling — worth having on a truck this size in West Texas crosswinds.

Rubicon or Mojave?

This is the question worth answering before you shop, because the two are tuned for opposite terrain.

Rubicon — built to crawl. Front and rear locking differentials, an electronic sway bar disconnect for maximum articulation, and Fox shocks. Lower gearing for slow, technical rock work.

Mojave — built for speed. Desert Rated rather than Trail Rated, with 2.5-inch Fox internal bypass shocks, a 1-inch front lift, reinforced frame components, and a hydraulic jounce bumper.

For the terrain around El Paso and southern New Mexico — sand, washboard, and high-speed dirt roads — the Mojave is often the more relevant truck, and it’s the one most people here haven’t considered. If your version of off-roading is running open desert rather than picking a line over rocks, drive it before you default to the Rubicon.

The Bed

A steel bed with integrated tie-downs, the Trail Rail Cargo Management System, an available spray-in bedliner, LED bed lighting, and a 400-watt power outlet.

The bed is the whole argument for a Gladiator over a Wrangler. It handles what you don’t want inside a vehicle — wet gear, dirt bikes, firewood, a cooler that’s been in the sun all day.

It’s shorter than a full-size box, so if you regularly haul lumber or long materials, look at a Ram 1500 instead.

Open-Air Configurations

Removable doors and a fold-down windshield — features no other midsize pickup offers.

Top options: hardtop, soft top, or the available Sky One-Touch Power Top, which retracts at the press of a button. If you’ll open it up more than a couple times a year, the power top pays for itself in convenience. If you won’t, save the money.

Interior

A 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

An available Alpine audio system with a removable wireless Bluetooth speaker — genuinely useful at a campsite.

Weather-resistant materials throughout, with available leather-trimmed seats and all-weather floor mats. Available heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Rear-seat legroom is generous for a midsize truck, and lockable under-seat storage keeps tools and valuables out of sight — which matters more in an open-bed vehicle than most.

Exterior

The seven-slot grille in a streamlined treatment that improves cooling airflow, with round LED headlights and available LED fog lights.

Wheels in 17- and 18-inch designs with off-road tires. The Mojave and Rubicon add high-clearance fenders and rock rails.

Colors including High Velocity Yellow and Firecracker Red, alongside limited-edition options.

Safety

• Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path Detection
• Rear Park Assist with dynamic gridlines
• Standard rearview camera, plus an available front-facing off-road camera that shows what’s directly under the nose when you can’t see over a crest
• A high-strength steel frame and advanced airbag system

Gladiator, Wrangler, or Ram 1500?

Wrangler — shorter, more maneuverable on tight trails, enclosed cargo. Right if you don’t need a bed.

Gladiator — the Wrangler experience plus a bed and more towing. Longer, which costs some agility.

Ram 1500 — full-size, longer bed options, more towing, better highway ride. Right if the truck is primarily a truck.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engine does the 2025 Jeep Gladiator have? A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic. The EcoDiesel option was discontinued after the 2023 model year.

How much can the 2025 Jeep Gladiator tow? Up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped, with payload up to 1,725 pounds. Both require specific configurations, so confirm on the specific truck.

What’s the difference between the Gladiator Rubicon and Mojave? The Rubicon is built for slow, technical rock crawling, with front and rear locking differentials, an electronic sway bar disconnect, and lower gearing. The Mojave is Desert Rated for high-speed desert running, with 2.5-inch Fox internal bypass shocks, a 1-inch front lift, and reinforced frame components.

Can you remove the doors and roof on a Gladiator? Yes, along with folding down the windshield. Top options include a hardtop, soft top, or the available Sky One-Touch Power Top.

What is the Trail Rail Cargo Management System? An adjustable rail system in the bed that lets you position tie-down points and dividers where you need them for different loads.

Does the Gladiator have a power outlet in the bed? An available 400-watt outlet is offered, useful for tools, camp equipment, or charging gear on site.

Where can I see a Jeep Gladiator near El Paso? Sunland Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 950 Crockett St. in El Paso, TX, serving Las Cruces, Sunland Park, and Alamogordo. Browse our Gladiator inventory or contact us at 915-584-9393.

Come Drive Both

If you’re weighing a Rubicon against a Mojave, drive them back to back. They’re tuned for opposite kinds of terrain and the difference is obvious within a mile. And take a top off while you’re here — that’s the part no spec sheet conveys.

Browse our Gladiator inventory, our full Jeep lineup, or our used and certified pre-owned inventory.

Building one out? Our parts department handles Mopar accessories, and you can browse the accessory catalogs or order parts online.

Check current offers and incentives, estimate a payment, value your trade, or apply for financing.

Our service department handles Gladiator maintenance and warranty work, and you can schedule service online any time.