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The Jeep® Gladiator is the only mid-size truck in America with removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and three different roof options. It pairs Wrangler-style off-road DNA with a real five-foot steel bed, class-leading gas towing capability, and a payload that can carry your sled, your tools, or both at once. From a Sport built for everyday work to a Mojave X tuned for desert speed, there’s a Gladiator built for whatever central Minnesota throws at it.
I’m Jordan Malone-Forst, Assistant General Manager at Jay Malone CDJR in Hutchinson. My family has been selling and servicing Jeeps in McLeod County since 2005, and the Gladiator is one of the most versatile trucks on our lot. This page is your starting point — trims, engine, towing, off-road capability, technology, and how the Gladiator compares to its sibling, the Wrangler. For full current model year specs and pricing, head over to our 2026 Jeep Gladiator Buyer’s Guide.
Current model year: 2026 Jeep Gladiator
For 2026, the Gladiator adds the new 85th Anniversary Edition celebrating Jeep’s 85-year heritage, plus the bold new Reign exterior color. The lineup spans eleven distinct trim and package configurations from $39,820 to $61,210 MSRP, all powered by the proven 3.6L Pentastar V6 with the 8-speed automatic. See our full 2026 trim level breakdown for what each one includes and how to choose.
Every current Gladiator is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 with engine stop-start, paired with an 8-speed 850RE automatic transmission. The V6 produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque — enough to handle full towing, hauling, and off-road work without the complexity of a turbo or hybrid powertrain. Four-wheel drive is standard across the entire lineup, with three different 4WD systems depending on trim: Command-Trac on most trims, Rock-Trac with a 4:1 low range on Rubicon, and a desert-tuned setup on Mojave.
When properly equipped, the Gladiator tows up to 7,700 pounds and offers an available 4x4 payload of up to 1,720 pounds. The Sport and Sport S require the Max Tow Package (4.10 axle ratio, anti-spin differential, GVW upgrade) to hit the full rating, while higher trims come better equipped from the factory. The five-foot steel bed includes integrated tie-downs, an easy-lift tailgate, and 35.5 cubic feet of cargo volume. Read our Gladiator towing and bed capability guide for trim-by-trim ratings, package details, and Minnesota-specific advice on snowmobile and boat trailer towing.
Two trims take the Gladiator to its capability ceiling, and they do it in completely different ways. The Rubicon is a low-speed rock crawler — Rock-Trac 4:1 transfer case, electronic locking front and rear differentials, an electronic disconnecting front sway bar, and 33-inch all-terrain tires. The Mojave is a high-speed desert runner — Fox internal by-pass shocks front and rear, hydraulic jounce bumpers, a reinforced frame, performance suspension, and an Orange Desert Rated badge. Both are Trail Rated®, but the experience is night and day. Our Rubicon vs Mojave deep dive covers which one fits Minnesota terrain and how to choose.
Every current Gladiator comes standard with a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen — the largest standard screen in the mid-size truck class — with wireless Apple CarPlay®, wireless Android Auto™, Alexa Built-in, and integrated off-road trail guides. Higher trims add Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, the Safety Group, and an integrated forward off-road camera (TrailCam). Plus all the open-air features that make Jeeps Jeeps: removable doors, fold-down windshield, soft top, three-piece hard top, and the Sunrider for Hardtop. Get the full technology, safety, and tops breakdown.
The Gladiator is built on the Wrangler platform, but they aren’t the same vehicle — and the choice between them is a real one for a lot of buyers. The Wrangler is shorter, lighter, cheaper, and still offers the 6.4L 392 V8 if you want a Hemi-powered Jeep. The Gladiator gives up the V8 option but adds a real five-foot bed, full pickup framing, and meaningful towing and payload. Our Wrangler vs Gladiator comparison walks through who should buy each one.
Jay Malone Motors has been family-owned since 2005, and we treat our customers like neighbors because most of them are. We’ve been voted Best Place to Buy a Vehicle, Best Auto Mechanic, Best Place to Buy Tires, and Best Auto Body Shop in Hutchinson. We carry the trims central Minnesota actually wants — Rubicons, Mojaves, Saharas, and Sports with the Max Tow Package — and if we don’t have the exact one you want on the lot, we’ll find it or factory-order it without charging you a locator fee. Our Mopar®-certified service team can handle everything from oil changes to full off-road builds, and we’ll be here for the life of your truck. That’s why our motto is Your Dealer for Life.
Jeep Gladiator at a Glance
For 2026, the Gladiator starts at $39,820 MSRP for the Sport and tops out at $61,210 for the Mojave X, with eleven distinct trims and packages in between. All prices add a $1,995 destination charge ($2,045 in Hawaii). Jay Malone CDJR carries a range of trims on our Hutchinson lot at any given time — browse current inventory here.
No. Every current Gladiator is powered by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 with an 8-speed automatic. The EcoDiesel option from earlier model years is no longer offered, and there is no V8 Gladiator. If you want a V8 Jeep, you’d look at the Wrangler 392 instead, which we cover in our Wrangler vs Gladiator comparison.
Yes — properly equipped, the Gladiator tows up to 7,700 pounds, which covers most boat trailers, snowmobile trailers, UTV trailers, and small camper setups. The Sport and Sport S need the Max Tow Package to reach the full 7,700-lb rating; Rubicon, Rubicon X, Mojave, and Mojave X come better equipped from the factory. Always check the door-jamb label and weigh your loaded trailer before towing.
Yes. Every Gladiator is 4x4. Sport, Sport S, Sahara, Willys, Texas Trail, and 85th Anniversary Edition use the Command-Trac part-time 4WD system. Rubicon trims add Rock-Trac with a 4:1 low range and front and rear electronic lockers. Mojave uses a desert-tuned setup with Fox shocks and a rear locker.
Yes — the doors come off, the top comes off, and the windshield folds down. It’s the only mid-size truck on the market that does any of those, let alone all three. For Minnesota summers, that means actual open-air driving on lake roads and county highways. Mopar offers a Doors Off Mirror Kit so you can stay legal with your doors removed.
We’re at 1165 Hwy 7 W in Hutchinson, MN, serving McLeod County and all of central Minnesota — including Glencoe, Litchfield, Willmar, Dassel, Cokato, Winsted, and Waconia. Most of our customers drive in from within an hour, and we’ve had buyers come from across the state because of how we treat people. Get directions and store hours here.
About the Author
I’m Jordan Malone-Forst, Assistant General Manager at Jay Malone Motors in Hutchinson, MN. I’m proud to be part of the family business my dad Jay started in 2005 — and even prouder to serve the community I grew up in. When I’m not at the dealership, you’ll find me involved with the Hutchinson Ambassadors and Chamber of Commerce. If you have questions about any Jeep Gladiator or want to talk through your options, reach out — I’d love to help.