The 2026 Jeep Gladiator is the only midsize pickup truck that pairs genuine Jeep Trail Rated 4x4 hardware with an open bed, a 7,650-pound tow rating, and the visual identity of a Wrangler stretched into a truck. For Long Island buyers who want a truck that handles beach access, boat launches, weekend trail trips, and daily commuting on the LIE — the Gladiator is the vehicle that actually does all four. Here is every trim in the 2026 lineup and who each one is built for.
Bottom Line: Seven trims — Sport through Rubicon/Mojave X Package — all sharing a 5-foot steel bed, 3.6L V6, and Trail Rated 4x4. The Sahara is the daily driver; Willys is the value off-roader; Rubicon and Mojave are the dedicated trail specialists.
- 5-foot steel bed standard across all trims
- Up to 7,650 lbs tow rating when properly equipped
- Up to 1,700 lbs payload capacity
- Dana 44 axles start at the Willys trim
Why Consider the Gladiator Over Other Midsize Trucks
Most midsize trucks — the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado — are built primarily as work trucks with off-road packages added on top. The Gladiator starts from the opposite direction: it’s a Wrangler with a truck bed, meaning the off-road architecture comes first and the work-truck capability is layered in. For Long Island buyers who use a truck seasonally for beach access, boat trailers, and weekend work while commuting daily, the Gladiator’s combination of Jeep capability and an open bed is unique in the segment.
Sport — The Entry Truck
The Gladiator Sport is the pure entry model. It includes a 3.6L V6 with the option of 6-speed manual or automatic, a soft top, 17” black steel wheels, 32” all-season tires, fog lamps, a 12.3” touchscreen, 8-speaker audio, a 3.5” TFT cluster, manual cloth seats, a 5-foot steel bed, a Parkview rear backup camera, Dana 44 front and rear axles with 3.73 ratio, a Command-Trac 2.72:1 transfer case, black tow hooks, and fuel tank and transfer case skid plates.
The Dana 44 front and rear axles are standard on the Sport — Jeep spec’d the Gladiator with stronger axles at entry than the equivalent Wrangler Sport. The skid plates and trailer wiring are also standard, making the Sport capable of genuine work without trim upgrades.
Best for: Buyers who want the Gladiator at its entry point with the full off-road mechanical foundation.
Sport-S — LED Lighting and Daily Comfort
The Sport-S is the most practical everyday pick in the lower Gladiator range. It adds 17” aluminum wheels, 32” A/T tires, power locks and windows, illuminated sun visors, deep tint glass, a premium steering wheel, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, remote keyless entry, automatic headlamps, power heated mirrors, and LED headlamps and fog lamps.
The adaptive cruise and forward collision warning are the meaningful daily-use additions. Long Island commuters who spend time on the LIE or Southern State Parkway notice the difference between having cruise control with automatic braking and not having it.
Best for: The everyday Gladiator driver who wants LED lighting, LED fogs, and basic comfort tech without jumping to the Willys’s trail hardware.
Willys — The Value Off-Roader
The Willys is the Gladiator’s value proposition for trail use. It adds 17” black aluminum wheels, 32” mud-terrain tires, a black grille, Willys hood and swing gate decals, painted fender flares, a locking rear differential, Off-Road+ 4HI rear axle lock, trailer tow, and auxiliary switches. The Willys also includes cab rock rails.
The mud-terrain tires, locking rear differential, and Off-Road+ are the hardware items that matter. The Willys is the most capable Gladiator before you commit to Rubicon territory — it handles unpaved roads, soft sand, and moderate trails that the Sport-S’s all-season tires would struggle with.
Best for: Long Island buyers who want genuine off-road capability — mud terrain tires and a rear locker — without committing to the Rubicon or Mojave’s full trail hardware.
Sahara — The Lifestyle Pickup
The Gladiator Sahara is the highest-volume trim in the lineup and the Gladiator’s daily-driver pick. It includes a body color hard top and fender flares, LED headlamps, fogs and taillamps, 18” wheels with A/S tires, McKinley leather seats, a 7” driver cluster with passive entry, heated steering wheel and seats, automatic headlamps, remote start, and auto-temp climate control.
The McKinley leather and body color fenders give the Sahara a cohesive, premium appearance that none of the other Gladiator trims match. For Nassau County buyers who want a pickup that doesn’t read as a work truck — that looks finished and premium in a Westbury or Hicksville driveway — the Sahara is the choice.
Best for: Buyers who want the Gladiator as a lifestyle truck — premium leather interior, body color exterior, heated seats, and remote start for everyday use.
Rubicon — Rock Crawler
The Rubicon is the dedicated rock crawling Gladiator. It includes 17” aluminum wheels, 33” off-road tires, Rubicon hood decals, dual vented hood, highline and black fender flares, a 7” TFT cluster, dual zone temperature control, front and rear locking differentials, 4.10 axle ratio, Off-Road+ 4HI rear axle lock, a 4:1 Rock-Trac HD transfer case, an electronic front sway bar disconnect, cab and box rock rails, a steel rear bumper, a front skid plate, and red tow hooks.
For a detailed comparison of the Rubicon and Mojave, see our 2026 Gladiator Rubicon vs Mojave guide.
Mojave — Desert Runner
The Mojave is the Gladiator for high-speed off-road. It includes 33” off-road tires, Mojave hood decals, a performance hood, black fender flares, front seat bolsters, FOX 2.5” Internal Bypass Shocks with reservoirs and front hydro jounce bumpers, a 1” front suspension lift, a rear locking differential, 4.10 axle ratio, cab rock rails, a front skid plate, and orange tow hooks.
X Packages — The Range-Topper
The X Packages at the top of the lineup (Rubicon X and Mojave X) add a body color hard top and fender flares, 9-speaker premium audio, premium Nappa leather seats, 12-way power front seats, a premium cabin package, a hard top headliner, a Bluetooth speaker, forward-facing trail camera, steel front bumper, and a safety group with rear ParkSense and blind spot monitoring.
The X Packages are the most complete Gladiator specification available.
"The Gladiator makes a case I don't have to work hard to make for Nassau County buyers. They can see the beach in their head when they're looking at it. The Sahara is the most popular because it solves the 'I want a truck but I want it to look nice' problem. The Willys is for the buyer who actually uses it on trails and wants real off-road hardware without the full Rubicon package. The Rubicon is for the buyer who has a destination in mind when they walk in."
General Manager, Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram
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Safety data sourced from NHTSA vehicle ratings and IIHS crash test results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 2026 Jeep Gladiator tow? The Gladiator tows up to 7,650 pounds when properly equipped with the factory tow package. This makes it capable of pulling a standard boat trailer, enclosed cargo trailer, or small camper.
Is the Gladiator good for daily driving in Nassau County? The Sahara trim is specifically built for daily driver comfort — McKinley leather, heated seats, remote start, and automatic climate control in a pickup truck body. The longer wheelbase compared to the Wrangler makes the highway ride more composed than many buyers expect.
Does the Gladiator come with a manual transmission? The 3.6L V6 manual is standard on the Sport. Automatic transmission is available on Sport and above, and is standard starting at the Sahara.
What is the bed length on the Gladiator? The Gladiator’s standard bed is 5 feet of usable steel cargo space. This is shorter than most full-size pickup trucks but comparable with other midsize truck options in the class.
See the Full Gladiator Lineup at Westbury Jeep
Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram in Jericho carries the Gladiator lineup including Sahara, Willys, Rubicon, and Mojave configurations. Browse current Gladiator inventory or contact the team to schedule a test drive.