2027 Wrangler vs Gladiator
Both are built on the same tough platform. Here is how the SUV and the pickup actually differ.
Quick Take
The 2027 Wrangler is a dedicated SUV starting at $38,630, with three engine choices and body styles from 2-door to 4-door. The 2027 Gladiator is a mid-size pickup built on a stretched Wrangler platform, with a 5-foot bed, a single V6 engine, and a higher 7,700-lb max tow rating. Most buyers who want an SUV and open-air capability at the lowest price choose Wrangler; buyers who need a real pickup bed choose Gladiator. Jeep Portsmouth sells and services both.
The 2027 Jeep Wrangler and 2027 Jeep Gladiator share a platform, a face, and the same removable-top, removable-door open-air experience, but they are built for two different jobs. Wrangler is the dedicated SUV, available from a budget 2-door Sport to a 470-hp Moab 392. Gladiator takes that same DNA and stretches it into a mid-size pickup with a genuine cargo bed. Jeep Portsmouth stocks both, and the real differences between them come down to engine choice, towing, and whether you need an SUV's enclosed cargo area or a pickup's open bed.
The Wrangler runs eleven trims from $38,630 to $81,990, across 2-door and 4-door body styles, with three engine choices topping out at 470 hp on the Willys 392 and Moab 392. Removing the doors and folding the windshield down is the same process on any Wrangler trim. See the full Wrangler Overview.
The Gladiator is a four-door crew-cab pickup built on a stretched Wrangler platform, with a bed roughly 5 feet long and 4 feet wide. It runs a single 3.6L V6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft) across the lineup, standard on every trim. Like the Wrangler, it keeps removable doors and a folding windshield on capable trims.
| Spec | 2027 Wrangler | 2027 Gladiator |
| Engine choices | 3.6L V6, 2.0L turbo, or 6.4L V8 (470 hp) | 3.6L V6 only (285 hp) |
| Max towing (properly equipped) | 5,000 lbs | 7,700 lbs |
| Wrangler EPA (2-door V6 manual) | 17 city / 23 hwy / 19 combined mpg; the available 2.0L turbo rates higher at 21 combined | |
Wrangler wins on engine choice and top-end power with the 470-hp V8. Gladiator wins on towing, the pickup's whole reason for existing. Both carry the same 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.
Both models share the same Uconnect 5 system on a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard. Wrangler offers a 2-door body style Gladiator does not, giving Wrangler a tighter, more maneuverable footprint for buyers who don't need rear-seat space or a bed. Gladiator's crew cab and bed combination gives it genuine hauling room the Wrangler's cargo area, up to 72.4 cu ft with the rear seats folded, cannot match for bulky or dirty cargo.
| Model | Starting MSRP |
| 2027 Wrangler Sport (2-door) | $38,630 |
| Gladiator Sport (current jeep.com pricing) | $41,815 including $1,995 destination |
Wrangler's 2-door Sport undercuts Gladiator's starting price because Gladiator is four-door only. Compare a 4-door Wrangler against Gladiator for the closer apples-to-apples price, since neither model comes in a cheaper 2-door pickup configuration.
Wrangler gives you the 2-door body style, the only way into the lineup at $38,630. It offers three engine choices instead of one, topping out at 470 hp on the Willys 392 and Moab 392, an option Gladiator's single-engine lineup doesn't have. Wrangler's tighter turning radius, especially in 2-door form, is the easier vehicle to park on downtown Portsmouth streets or a tight marina lot. And Wrangler's rear cargo area converts to genuine enclosed, lockable storage the moment you close the tailgate, something an open pickup bed can't offer.
Gladiator tows up to 7,700 lbs properly equipped, well past Wrangler's 5,000-lb ceiling, the clear choice for a heavier trailer or a bigger boat. Its payload rating, up to 1,720 lbs properly equipped, gives it real work-truck capability the Wrangler's SUV body was never built for. And the open bed itself carries loads a Wrangler's enclosed cargo area simply can't fit: lumber, a full-size ATV, or a load you don't want inside the cabin.
If you want an SUV, want the lowest entry price, or want the option of a 2-door body style, the Wrangler is built for you. See Wrangler inventory. If you regularly haul a heavier trailer, need a real cargo bed, or want the higher tow and payload ratings, the Gladiator is the one to look at. Jeep Portsmouth's team can walk you through both side by side on the lot.
Jeep Portsmouth, on Lafayette Road (Route 1) in Portsmouth, stocks both the 2027 Wrangler and Gladiator for shoppers across the Seacoast, including Exeter, Dover, Somersworth and Rochester. Schedule a test drive of either, or both, to feel the difference in person.
They share a platform and styling, but Gladiator has a longer wheelbase, a single engine option, and higher tow and payload ratings built specifically for hauling.
A 2-door Wrangler Sport starts lower than any Gladiator, since Gladiator comes only as a four-door. Comparing 4-door to 4-door, the two start closer together.
No. Gladiator is offered only as a four-door crew cab.
Gladiator, at up to 7,700 lbs properly equipped, well above Wrangler's 5,000-lb ceiling.
No. Gladiator's 2027 lineup runs a single 3.6L V6; the 6.4L V8 is exclusive to the Wrangler Willys 392 and Moab 392.
Wrangler, especially in 2-door form, is the tighter, easier vehicle to park and maneuver on a daily commute. Gladiator's longer wheelbase suits highway stability and hauling over tight parking.
Yes, Gladiator keeps the same removable-door, folding-windshield open-air design on capable trims.
Both are on the Jeep Portsmouth lot for side-by-side test drives. Browse Wrangler inventory or ask about current Gladiator stock.
See the full Wrangler Specs page, or go back to the 2026 Wrangler Research Hub.
Explore the Wrangler
Next Step
Tell us how you will use it and we will point you at the right configuration on the lot.
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* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.