The 2021 Jeep Gladiator is a crew-cab pickup truck with close visual and mechanical ties to the automaker’s Wrangler off-roader.
With standard 4-wheel drive and a choice between gasoline and diesel V6 engines, the Gladiator comes in several trim levels, each with various optional features.
A single body style is available: a 4-door cab with a 5-foot bed. Unlike other pickup trucks such as the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, the Gladiator comes standard with a removable soft top and offers a composite hardtop with individually removable panels. Owners can even remove their doors with a supplied tool kit.
The standard 3.6-liter V6 sends 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque to the wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The optional turbodiesel — EcoDiesel in Jeep-speak — puts out 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, and it comes only with the automatic gearbox. The turbodiesel is unavailable on the Gladiator Mojave, though it’s optional on other trim levels.
A part-time 4-wheel-drive system is optional, while Jeep’s Selec-Trac transfer case with a mode suitable for use on any terrain is optional.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport (Original starting price when new: $36,555)
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The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport started at $36,555.
The base version of the Gladiator comes with white paint — other hues cost extra — plus 17-inch steel wheels wearing 32-inch tires. Buyers can upgrade its fabric roof to a better-insulated material, or a black 3-piece hardtop is available.
Inside, it comes with air conditioning and a basic AM/FM radio with a 5.0-inch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port.
The Sport S package adds power windows, mirrors, door locks, and alloy wheels. It also opens up the door to more options, such as the Selec-Trac transfer case, LED lighting, and adaptive cruise control.
A Willys package primarily includes cosmetic tweaks such as black-finish alloy wheels and grille. However, a few off-road-oriented functional upgrades include a limited-slip rear differential, rocker guards, and mud-terrain tires.
Additional options include available 7.0- and 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, navigation, Alpine-branded speakers, heated seats and steering wheel, and a trailer-tow package that ups the truck’s lugging ability to as high as 7,250 pounds.
Who is this trim for? The base Sport is a blank canvas for off-roaders planning to modify their Gladiator trucks. The Sport S package comes with enough amenities to do duty as a daily driver.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport includes:
Various top options — From basic fabric for top-down ease to the security and (relative) silence of composite panels, the Gladiator has a top type for anyone.
Available Sport S package — This “popular equipment” package adds features most buyers will want out of a daily driver ready for weekend adventures.
Available infotainment upgrades — These larger screens allow smartphone mirroring for select navigation, communication, and entertainment apps.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Overland (Original starting price when new: $42,995)
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The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Overland started at $42,995.
The Gladiator Overland builds on a relatively well-optioned Sport with 18-inch alloy wheels, color-matched fender flares, side steps, dual-zone automatic climate control with a cabin air filter, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a household-style power outlet in the center console.
It also includes the 7.0-inch touchscreen with the option to step up to the 8.4-inch screen with a built-in navigation system.
As in the Sport, Jeep makes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, the Alpine audio system, a hardtop, and the towing package optional on the Gladiator Overland.
Options not available on the Sport include leather upholstery and a color-matched hardtop.
Who is this trim for? While far from luxurious, the Overland is the plushest version of the Gladiator and its color-matched trim gives it a dressier look.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Overland includes:
18-inch alloy wheels — These bigger wheels have a flashy look, though their slightly smaller sidewalls are detrimental to off-road use.
Luxury upgrades — Owners can outfit the Gladiator Overland with leather seats and a color-matched hardtop, making it the most stylish version of this pickup.
Available crash-avoidance tech — Jeep bundles automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights in a single package. A separate package includes blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alerts.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave (Original price when new: $46,835)
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The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave started at $46,835.
In Jeep-speak, Mojave is code for an off-roader aimed at high-speed use in sand or dirt. It comes equipped like a Sport S in terms of comfort and convenience features, with more significant changes underneath.
Fox 2.5-inch shocks with separate reservoirs and hydraulic jounce bumpers ensure that the Gladiator Mojave can bounce through sand dunes quickly without providing too rough a ride. Its raised suspension clears 33-inch all-terrain tires, including a locking rear differential.
Like the Sport and Overland, the Gladiator Mojave is available with various options.
Who is this trim for? Think of the Gladiator Mojave as Jeep’s smaller and more affordable answer to the Ford F-150 Raptor. Mojave’s mission is to explore places like its namesake — at speed.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave includes:
Fox suspension components — These trail-tuned shocks and other components give the Gladiator a remarkably plush ride over just about any terrain — and at any speed.
33-inch tires — The Gladiator Mojave has high-clearance fenders that help clear its 33-inch tires.
Locking rear differential — The tap of a button directs power to a single rear wheel (the one with traction) to help extract the Gladiator from a sticky or sandy situation.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon (Original price when new: $46,835)
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The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon started at $46,835.
It may wear a price and equipment list similar to the Mojave, but the Rubicon is a different beast — engineered for trail riding at lower speeds.
To that end, Jeep installed a transfer case with a crawl ratio enabling the truck to lope along at low speeds to clear large obstacles safely. It includes front and rear locking differentials and a sway bar operators can disconnect with the flick of a switch, plus steel bumpers with removable end caps. Fox monotube shocks and 33-inch tires round out its list of off-road upgrades.
Jeep also offers a full-time transfer case for use on any terrain and the same wide range of option packages on other trim levels.
Who is this trim for? The Gladiator Rubicon is the most capable version of this Jeep pickup for most off-roaders who plan to venture down trails or to remote campsites.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon includes:
Rock-Trac transfer case — This particular transfer case has a 4.0:1 low-range ratio, which means the Jeep can move very slowly over challenging obstacles.
Front sway-bar disconnect — To increase wheel articulation (to keep at least one wheel on the ground for traction), this trick feature disconnects the sway bars that would typically reduce body lean in cornering.
Fox monotube shocks — While not as sophisticated for high-speed use as those on the Mojave, these shocks provide a more comfortable ride off-road than the standard shocks.