2020 Jeep Gladiator

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator has a starting price of $33,545 for the base Sport trim, making it one of the more expensive midsize trucks. Next in the lineup is the Sport S at $36,745, followed by the Altitude at $40,340, the Overland at $40,395, and the North Edition at $45,915. Topping the range - at least in terms of features and capability - are the Rubicon and the Mojave, both of which cost an identical $43,875. Once the automatic gearbox is added, these two trims cost nearly the same as the North Edition. Right at the top of the pile, the High Altitude carries a base asking price of $51,745.

All prices are exclusive of taxes, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,495. On all trims besides the North Edition, the default six-speed manual gearbox can be upgraded to the eight-speed automatic for an additional $2,000. The North Edition can only be had with the automatic gearbox.

Much like its sibling, the Jeep Wrangler, the Gladiator doesn't possess the most refined road manners amongst midsize pickups. It was built with off-roading in mind. The steering is vague and offers 1970s levels of play, causing the truck to feel loose at highway speeds. Of course, the vague, tractor-like steering can be forgiven when you experience it off the pavement, where direct inputs are discouraged as the steering wheel could be ripped from the driver's hands or cause unintended veering. In fact, while the vague steering works to the Gladiator's detriment on the road, it is an advantage when driving fast on dirt or sand.

Keeping the Gladiator pointed in one direction at high speed is remarkably easy and with the Mojave trim, the truck floats over bumps like a Rolls-Royce. Whereas the Rubicon trim level is built for slow-speed rock crawling, the Mojave was designed for high-speed desert running, like the Ford F-150 Raptor. It features 2.5-inch FOX internal bypass shocks with front and rear external shock reservoirs to keep the suspension from overheating. Jeep also added industry-first front hydraulic jounce bumpers, which act as a form of secondary suspension to keep the Gladiator from bottoming out when jumped. All of these changes result in a pillowy ride that protects the occupants from tremendously large surface impacts. Even if you take a bump at outrageous speeds, the Mojave falls back to the Earth's surface with a ballerina's grace. It takes some getting used to but eventually, you learn to stop bracing for impact.

High-speed off-roading is the Mojave's forte but like all Gladiator models, it is still Trail Rated. The Command-Trac 4x4 system features a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio. An Off-Road Plus mode alters the throttle positioning, making it easier to control the truck when crawling over thicker terrain. Managing to get the Gladiator stuck in any situation is likely the fault of the driver, not the truck.

A relatively high base price of $33,545 and fully-loaded price that exceeds $60,000 will ensure that the Gladiator will never outsell more mainstream trucks like the best-selling Toyota Tacoma. But Jeep has managed to carve out a niche with vehicles like the Wrangler, proving that more than a quarter of a million people per year are willing to sacrifice a bit of everyday livability for off-road credentials. Some of these Wrangler owners may pivot to the Gladiator and the truck could also attract off-road adrenaline junkies who have always wanted a Jeep but needed the space of a pickup bed.

Jeep didn't set out to break new ground in classic pickup truck criteria such as towing, bed space, and payload capacity. Instead, it wanted to inject the Wrangler's fun features into a midsize pickup truck segment that was seriously lacking a sense of humor before the Gladiator's arrival. Traditional truck buyers may not find the Gladiator's casual approach to capability suitable for their lifestyle but anyone who is looking for the most off-road-ready pickup available and either can't afford or doesn't want the massive bulk of a Raptor, the Jeep Gladiator can't be beaten.

Jeep offers the Gladiator in a variety of trim levels and equipment packages, knowing that many of its customers will opt for a base truck and turn to the aftermarket for modification. If you want the most "factory modified" Gladiator, we suggest getting the Mojave. Jeep's first Desert Rated model feels plusher out on the road thanks to its over-engineered Fox suspension. Depending on what kind of off-roading you plan to do, the Mojave offers a high-speed advantage over the similarly-priced Rubicon trim, which also looks the part with appropriately sized off-road wheels and tires. Our Gladiator Mojave tester came with an as-tested price of $61,505 with nearly every option installed but the number of looks and approving nods we received while driving it felt like enough to justify the high asking price.

Like the Jeep Gladiator, the Toyota Tacoma is a midsize truck that is a brilliant choice for off-roading. The rugged Tacoma is significantly more affordable, starting at just over $26,000, and like many other trucks, offers different cab configurations and bed sizes. But whereas the Toyota has the option of a bigger six-foot bed, the Gladiator can tow more (over 800 lbs more than the Tacoma, in fact). The Tacoma has the option of a cheaper four-cylinder, but it is rather underpowered, whereas a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp gets fairly close to the Gladiator's output. In the Toyota's favor are more standard safety features, and it's expected to be the more dependable truck in the long term. But the Gladiator is newer and has that novel removable roof. Both trucks have their strengths, and while the Gladiator is newer and better for towing, the Tacoma's reliability and greater cargo capacity are aspects that matter in a truck.

The Gladiator has much in common with the Wrangler, as these two capable Jeeps both share a V6 engine, nearly identical dashboards, and a similar front-end design. They also stand out from rivals with the ability to remove the doors and roof for the most outdoorsy experience possible from inside a vehicle. Being so similar, both these Jeeps share the same weaknesses, though: the lack of standard safety kit is unforgivable, and neither promises to be exceptionally reliable, a bit of a worry when one considers how deep into the bush they can both take you. The difference between the Wrangler comes down to the Gladiator's exposed bed, with the latter offering a lot more space for cargo overall, along with superior space and storage inside the cabin. Both the Wrangler and the Gladiator have tons of personality, and a choice between them will come down to your individual needs.