2026 Jeep Gladiator: Capability, Trims, and How to Choose

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.

The decision most buyers actually face is Rubicon versus Mojave — and those two are built for opposite jobs. Here’s how the 2026 lineup sorts out.

Powertrain

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

Standard 4×4 with solid front and rear axles — increasingly rare, and a large part of why this truck goes where it does. A two-speed transfer case handles low-range work.

Steering is crisp and the suspension keeps the truck planted at highway speed while staying maneuverable on tight, rocky trails.

Towing and Payload

Up to 7,700 pounds of towing and up to 1,725 pounds of payload when properly equipped — among the stronger figures in the midsize truck class.

Both require specific configurations. Check the door-jamb sticker on the specific truck before matching it to a trailer.

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, upgraded shocks, and lower gearing. For slow, technical rock work.

Mojave — built for speed. Desert Rated rather than Trail Rated, with internal bypass shocks, a reinforced frame, a front lift, and a hydraulic jounce bumper tuned for high-speed running over open terrain.

For El Paso, Las Cruces, and southern New Mexico, the Mojave is often the more relevant truck. If your version of off-roading is running washboard and sand at speed rather than picking a line over rocks, drive it before you default to the Rubicon. It’s the trim most people around here haven’t considered.

Both add skid plates, larger tires, and enhanced traction hardware over the standard trims.

Ground Clearance and Trail Rated

Up to 11.1 inches of ground clearance, with generous approach and departure angles that clear obstacles stopping other SUVs.

The Trail Rated badge reflects testing across five categories: traction, water fording, maneuverability, articulation, and ground clearance. Unlike most off-road badging, it means something specific.

The Bed

A five-foot steel bed with integrated tie-downs, an available spray-in bedliner, and a three-position tailgate.

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 since morning.

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

Interior

A 12.3-inch Uconnect touchscreen with fast processing, crisp graphics, wireless smartphone integration, and easy access to navigation and vehicle settings.

Premium materials with available leather-trimmed seating and enhanced sound insulation — a real improvement on a vehicle with removable roof panels, where seams are part of the design.

Practical storage including lockable rear-seat compartments and a flat load floor. In an open-bed vehicle, secure interior storage matters more than most people realize.

Open-Air Configurations

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

Top options run from a soft top to a removable hardtop to available power configurations, depending on trim.

Safety and Driver Assistance

• Available Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path Detection
• Standard rearview camera, useful for both parking and trailer alignment
• Optional parking sensors
• High-strength steel framing engineered to distribute impact forces away from occupants

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 considerably 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 2026 Jeep Gladiator have? A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic and standard 4×4.

How much can the 2026 Jeep Gladiator tow? Up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped, with payload up to 1,725 pounds. Both require specific configurations.

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 running over open terrain, with internal bypass shocks, a reinforced frame, and a front lift.

How much ground clearance does the Gladiator have? Up to 11.1 inches depending on trim and configuration.

How big is the Gladiator’s bed? Five feet, in steel, with integrated tie-downs, an available spray-in bedliner, and a three-position tailgate.

Can you remove the doors and roof on a Gladiator? Yes, along with folding down the windshield. No other midsize pickup offers that.

What does Trail Rated mean? A Jeep designation based on testing in five categories: traction, water fording, maneuverability, articulation, and ground clearance.

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.