The 2023 Jeep Gladiator is a capable compact pickup that’s great for hauling loads around town or heading to your favorite campsite with a trailer in tow. As you’d expect from a Jeep vehicle, you’ll get a strong powertrain, spacious interior, and excellent towing abilities with the Gladiator. Our Jeep experts here at Huffines Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram (CJDR) Lewisville reviewed the 2023 edition of Jeep’s compact truck to tell you more about its towing and engine capabilities. Feel free to contact us with any questions or to arrange a test drive near Dallas.
Jeep Gladiator Engine and Performance
Since debuting for the 2019 model year, the Gladiator has boasted a rugged appearance thanks to the platform it shares with the off-roading specialist Wrangler. Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator also has a great range of engine options for on-road and off-roading adventures. The first is a 3.6L V-6 that puts out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. You can also opt for a V-6 turbodiesel. Although it has a slightly lower output at 260 horsepower, its 442 lb-ft of torque provides impressive power for towing and handling rough terrain.
The turbodiesel engine provides the best fuel economy, achieving up to 28 mpg on the highway and a solid 22 mpg in the city. If you opt for the standard V-6, you’ll manage a maximum of 23 mpg at highway speeds and 16 mpg in the city. You’ll benefit from the Gladiator’s impressive ground clearance when you leave the paved road. Combined with its all-terrain tires, its performance on a trail or a more challenging route gets close to the famous Wrangler.
Jeep Gladiator Towing Capacity
Depending on your chosen configuration, the Gladiator’s towing capacity varies between 4,000 and 7,700 pounds. To get the highest towing capacity, you’ll need to select the Sport trim, the gas-powered engine, and the standard manual transmission. The diesel-powered engine has a slightly lower towing capacity at 6,500 pounds, but the extra torque offered means you may find it easier to pull heavy loads with the turbodiesel.
To access the top towing capacity, you’ll also need to add the Max Trailer Tow package. This option includes several features that make it easier for you to pull a trailer. You’ll gain a 4.1:1 axle ratio, a trac-lok limited-slip differential, larger tires, and fender flares. The Max Trailer Tow package also includes the features you get in the more basic Trailer Tow package, including a class IV hitch, a 240 amp alternator, and heavy-duty engine coolant.
If you’re wondering what these numbers mean in real life, the Gladiator’s 7,700 lb towing limit should be more than enough to pull a family-sized camper. If your Gladiator is on the lower end of its towing spectrum, the 4,000 lb limit should be enough for a midsized trailer or boat.
The top payload for the Gladiator’s cargo bed is 1,710 pounds. The best setup for accessing this upper limit is the Sport trim with the gas-powered engine. If you have the turbodiesel engine, your maximum hauling capacity will be 1,325 pounds.
2023 Gladiator Cargo and Passenger Capacity
The cargo bed in the Gladiator is 5 feet long. This should provide plenty of room to transport equipment and materials for a DIY job or your luggage to head out of town for a vacation. If you need to carry lengthy cargo over a short distance, you can fix the tailgate in a half-open position to create more space.
You’ll find seating for up to five people in the cabin. The two rows of seats provide plenty of legroom and headroom, with the second row comfortably seating two adults or three kids. The standard setup includes cloth upholstery with manual seat adjustments. However, you can upgrade to leather upholstery and power adjustments for a touch more luxury.
Trims and Pricing for the 2023 Gladiator
There are nine trims to choose from if you buy the 2023 Gladiator, so you’ll have no shortage of configuration options. These trims are Sport, Willys Sport, Sport S, Willys, Freedom, Overland, Rubicon, Mojave, and High Altitude. The Sport trim leads the way if looking purely at towing numbers. That said, you may want to upgrade to another trim to gain some convenient features while still retaining a strong towing capacity. The base trim has an MSRP of just over $38,000.
Before we get into more details about each trim, you should know that your trim choice affects your towing capacity. The base Sport and Sport S trims have a maximum towing capacity of 4,000 pounds with the manual transmission or 4,500 with the automatic. With the Max Trailer Tow package, you can boost the capacity to 7,700 pounds. The Rubicon can tow up to 7,000 pounds with the automatic transmission and the gas-powered engine.
Stepping up to the Willys Sport gives you the option of upgrading to the turbodiesel engine. The Sport S and Willys add a few more conveniences, such as keyless entry and power door locks and windows. The Freedom trim gains leather upholstery and a steel bumper on the front with winch hooks. As for the Overland, it offers a premium nine-speaker stereo and an 8.4 inch infotainment screen.
The Rubicon and Mojave trims are the most rugged in the lineup. While the Rubicon is designed for handling rocks and other obstacles, the Mojave is ideal for tackling sand dunes and traveling at a faster pace. The Rubicon gets heavy-duty shock absorbers, locking front and rear differentials, and low gearing. It’s a good choice if you plan on towing a load at the rear off the beaten track.
The Mojave leaves out the locking differentials and instead offers an upgraded suspension with more ground clearance. The range-topping trim is the High Altitude, which features all the interior luxury upgrades you could desire.
Would you like to find out more about the Gladiator or see it in action on the road? Our Jeep experts would be happy to help you arrange a test drive or auto financing so you can go ahead and complete the purchase. Feel free to give us a call or drop by our Lewisville dealership today to check out the selection of Gladiators on offer in our new Jeep inventory.