2027 Jeep Gladiator: What Changed, What Stayed, and What to Know

Whiteside County drivers who want a pickup for gravel roads and winter commutes will find the 2027 Gladiator, which carries over its 285-horsepower V6 and standard four-wheel drive and adds the announced Sarge special edition, at Kunes Auto Group of Morrison.

Jeep's open-air midsize pickup is a carryover year, so the biggest changes (an automatic-only lineup and the end of plug-in hybrid plans) are already part of the story. This guide covers what changed for 2027, what stayed the same, and which trim fits your trails, your tow rating, and your budget.

Mechanically, the 2027 Gladiator is the 2026 Gladiator. There is no new engine, no redesign, and no new grille that Jeep has confirmed. The one addition is the Gladiator Sarge, a special edition from Jeep's Twelve 4 Twelve series that Jeep announced in June 2026 as a tribute to the original 1941 Willys MB military Jeep.

Jeep built the Sarge on the Willys and Rubicon trims, so it is a special-edition package and not a standalone trim. It adds '41 Green accents, military-style star graphics, bronze tow hooks, 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, steel Rubicon rock rails, and body-color fender flares, along with a Drab Green and Cattle Tan interior. It is mostly an appearance and equipment package and keeps the Gladiator's standard V6 and eight-speed automatic. Jeep priced the Sarge about $500 above a comparably equipped Willys or Rubicon, so ask us whether it is available yet.

The recipe stays intact: a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, an eight-speed automatic, standard four-wheel drive, a five-foot bed, removable doors and roof, and a fold-down windshield. The manual transmission left a year ago, so every Gladiator is an automatic. EPA ratings are 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

The lineup runs through the Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, Mojave, Mojave X, and Rubicon X, plus the newly announced Sarge special edition. The Sport S and Willys are the value picks, with the Willys adding off-road tires, upgraded suspension, and a limited-slip differential. The Rubicon is the benchmark for rock crawling, with front and rear locking differentials, an electronic sway-bar disconnect, rock rails, skid plates, Off-Road+ mode, and 33-inch all-terrain tires.

The Mojave is tuned for high-speed desert running, and the Mojave X and Rubicon X add premium touches such as leather-trimmed seating, Alpine audio, larger digital displays, and a front off-road camera.

Jeep has not published 2027 Gladiator pricing yet. Ask us for the current price on any Gladiator on our lots, and keep in mind that starting prices do not include options. Jeep priced the announced Sarge special edition about $500 above a comparably equipped Willys or Rubicon.

Locking differentials send power to both wheels on an axle when traction runs out, an electronic sway-bar disconnect lets the front suspension flex farther over rocks, rock rails protect the rocker panels, and skid plates guard vital components underneath. The Rubicon includes all of these, while the Willys and Mojave offer different mixes of off-road gear.

The Gladiator's five-foot bed is what separates it from a Wrangler. Jeep lists towing as high as 7,700 pounds on some Gladiators, and the rating varies by trim and equipment, so ask us to confirm the number for the exact truck you want.

Gladiators pair truck utility with Jeep's open-air design: the doors and roof come off, the windshield folds down, and the cabin is built for trail days. Higher trims add leather, Alpine audio, and larger screens, and driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control are available. Ask us to walk you through the equipment on the trim you want.

Jeep backs the Gladiator with a 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty. Ask us about No Fear.

The Gladiator takes on midsize pickups such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford Ranger, and dealers describe it as the only open-air pickup in its segment. It trades fuel economy (17 city, 22 highway) for trail credentials that rivals do not offer.

The Gladiator shares its look, open-air design, and trail capability with the Wrangler, and adds a five-foot bed and a longer body. That means more cargo flexibility and a higher tow rating, with the trade-off of a longer wheelbase on tight trails. Shoppers who want the shortest turning circle choose a Wrangler, while shoppers who want to haul bikes, firewood, or camping gear choose a Gladiator.

EPA ratings of 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway reflect the Gladiator's size, boxy shape, and trail-ready hardware, and tire choice affects fuel economy on every trim. The V6 delivers steady power for daily commuting, highway passing, and trailer pulling.

The Gladiator suits shoppers who want a truck that doubles as a weekend trail machine and who value open-air driving over a quiet highway ride. If most of your miles are on pavement with heavy loads, compare ride comfort and payload with conventional midsize pickups, and ask us to put you behind the wheel of both.

A full redesign of the Gladiator is expected for a later model year, but Jeep has not announced timing, so the 2027 Gladiator is the current model carried over. Kelley Blue Book reports that Jeep canceled plans for a plug-in hybrid version.

Choose the Sport S or Willys for an affordable, trail-ready truck, the Rubicon for serious rock crawling, the Mojave for desert and washboard roads, and the Mojave X or Rubicon X if you want premium features. Consider the Sarge special edition if the military heritage look appeals to you, and ask us whether it is available yet on the Willys and Rubicon.

Ask our team about Gladiator availability and which trims are on the lot.

Jeep has not published 2027 Gladiator pricing yet. Ask us for the current price on any Gladiator on our lots, and keep in mind that starting prices do not include options.

No. It carries over, and the one announced addition is the Gladiator Sarge special edition.

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

No. Jeep dropped the six-speed manual, so every Gladiator has the eight-speed automatic.

No. The V6 is the only engine, and Kelley Blue Book reports that Jeep canceled plans for a plug-in hybrid.

Jeep lists towing as high as 7,700 pounds, depending on trim and equipment.

It is a military-inspired special edition that Jeep announced in June 2026 for the Willys and Rubicon trims, with '41 Green accents, star graphics, bronze tow hooks, and a Drab Green and Cattle Tan interior. It is an appearance and equipment package and not a standalone trim, so ask us whether it is available yet.

Jeep announced the Gladiator Sarge in June 2026. Ask us whether it has arrived at our stores.

Yes. The doors and roof are removable, and the windshield folds down.

Jeep builds the Gladiator at its Toledo, Ohio assembly complex.

Yes. Kunes Auto Group of Morrison on E Lincolnway sells new Jeep models for Morrison and the surrounding Sauk Valley, and can tell you about Gladiator availability.

The Gladiator seats five.

Yes. Four-wheel drive is standard on every 2027 Gladiator.

The Gladiator uses the Wrangler's open-air design and adds a five-foot bed and a longer body for hauling and towing.

The lineup includes the Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, Mojave, Mojave X, and Rubicon X, plus the announced Sarge special edition.

Kunes Auto Group of Morrison is at 627 E Lincolnway in Morrison, Illinois 61270, serving Sterling, Rock Falls, Fulton, Prophetstown, and the wider Whiteside County area. Stop in to ask about the Gladiator lineup and your trade (a spec sheet cannot tell you how a Mojave handles a washboard road). The map below shows the way. We make it EASY!