Two Jeeps, one decision
The 2027 Wrangler and Gladiator side by side: open-air SUV or open-bed pickup.
Key Numbers: 2027 Jeep Wrangler vs Gladiator
The 2027 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator share a grille, a 285-horsepower V6 and a Trail Rated badge, and they split on one question: where the cargo goes. The Wrangler keeps it inside an SUV body that comes with two or four doors and tows up to 5,000 lbs on the Willys, Rubicon and Rubicon X, properly equipped. The Gladiator puts it behind the cab in a 5-foot bed on a 137.3-inch wheelbase and tows up to 7,700 lbs properly equipped.
Premier Cape Cod sells both, to drivers from Falmouth, Plymouth and Raynham who want to see them side by side. On a peninsula where one vehicle covers the beach lot, the ferry-line queue and the dump run, the real question is whether the load rides inside, where it stays dry and locked, or behind, where it can be long, wet and sandy. The comparison below is built around that, and the 2027 Wrangler research hub, the trims page and the Wrangler specs hold the rest.
Quick Take: Choose the Wrangler when the cargo is gear, groceries and a cooler that should stay inside and locked, when the Jeep has to fit a garage and a village lot, or when you want a V8 or a manual transmission. Choose the Gladiator when the cargo is long, dirty or too big for a cabin, when the tow rating needs to reach 7,700 lbs properly equipped, or when you want a pickup bed under the open sky.
The 2027 Wrangler is Jeep's open-air SUV. It comes as a 2-door on a 96.8-inch wheelbase or a 4-door on a 118.4-inch wheelbase, seats four or five, and offers three engines: a 270-horsepower 2.0L turbo, a 285-horsepower 3.6L V6 and, on the Willys 392 and Moab 392, a 470-horsepower 6.4L V8. Its doors come off without tools, its windshield folds down, and five roof choices run from soft tops to a power top.
The 2027 Gladiator is Jeep's open-bed pickup. It is a crew cab with a 5-foot bed on a 137.3-inch wheelbase, seats five and carries one engine, the 285-horsepower 3.6L V6 with an 8-speed automatic. The 2027 model year lists nine trims, from the Sport S to the Rubicon X, including the Mojave and Mojave X, every one with four-wheel drive, and a 2027 Gladiator Sarge limited edition has been announced in limited quantities. Every Gladiator trim, spec and tow rating is on the 2027 Gladiator research hub.
| 2027 Wrangler | 2027 Gladiator | |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 2.0L turbo (270 hp, 295 lb-ft); 3.6L V6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft); 6.4L V8 (470 hp, 470 lb-ft) | 3.6L V6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic (V6); 8-speed automatic (turbo, V8) | 8-speed automatic |
| EPA mileage, combined | 21 mpg turbo, 19 mpg V6, 14 mpg V8 | 19 mpg (17 city, 22 highway) |
| Max towing, properly equipped | Up to 5,000 lbs (4-door Willys, Rubicon, Rubicon X); 2,000 lbs (2-door) | Up to 7,700 lbs |
| Payload | Per vehicle on the door label | Up to 1,720 pounds, properly equipped |
| Cargo | 31.7 cubic feet behind the 4-door's rear seats, 72.4 cubic feet folded | 5-foot steel bed, 60.3 inches long |
Fuel economy ratings are on fueleconomy.gov. The Wrangler's V8 requires 91-octane premium, while the Gladiator's V6 runs on regular.
| Dimension | Wrangler 4-door | Gladiator |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 118.4 inches | 137.3 inches |
| Overall length | 188.4 inches | 218 inches |
| Curb weight | 4,280 to 4,623 pounds on the V6 and turbo 4-door trims | 4,695 to 5,042 pounds by trim |
| Ground clearance | 9.7 to 11.1 inches by trim | 10 to 11.6 inches by trim |
| Turning diameter | 38.8 feet | 44.5 to 44.7 feet by trim |
| Fuel tank | 21.5 gallons | 22 gallons |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
All prices are MSRP including the $1,995 destination charge, before taxes, title, registration and dealer fees.
| 2027 Wrangler (4-door) | Starting MSRP incl. destination | 2027 Gladiator |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | from $41,635 | Sport S through Rubicon X, nine trims |
| Sport S | from $44,035 | Sport S, about $42,100 plus the $1,995 destination fee |
| Willys | from $48,230 | 8-speed automatic, 4x4 |
| Rubicon | from $53,130 | Current pricing on live inventory |
| Sahara | from $53,405 | |
| Rubicon X | from $63,225 | |
| Willys 392 | from $71,990 | |
| Moab 392 | from $81,990 |
The Gladiator starts at the Sport S, about $42,100 plus the $1,995 destination fee, which puts it about even with the 4-door Wrangler Sport S. Compare the two on our Wrangler inventory and Gladiator inventory pages.
The Wrangler wins on fit and on choice. A 4-door at 188.4 inches and a 38.8-foot turning diameter slips into a garage bay and a crowded village lot, and the 2-door's 32.7-foot turning diameter does it tighter. The cargo area is enclosed, so beach chairs, a cooler and a camera bag stay dry and locked behind the rear seats or in the 72.4 cubic feet that open up when they fold. It is the only one of the two with a turbo, a V8 or a manual transmission, and its roof, door and windshield choices let you run fully open. The 4-door Willys, Rubicon and Rubicon X, properly equipped, tow up to 5,000 lbs, which handles a small boat and a pop-up camper.
The Gladiator wins on hauling. Its 5-foot, 60.3-inch pickup bed holds cargo that never has to fit through a door, so a bike rack, lumber, a wet kayak and sandy beach gear ride behind the cab and out of the cabin. Payload runs up to 1,720 pounds properly equipped, and it tows up to 7,700 lbs properly equipped, which gives a larger boat or a heavier trailer a real margin. The 137.3-inch wheelbase gives it a long, steady stance on a Route 3 run, and its 22-gallon tank gives it a long run between fill-ups. Ground clearance climbs to 11.6 inches on the Mojave and Mojave X, the highest figure in either lineup, and the crew cab seats five with a Wrangler's open-air attitude.
| If you carry... | The Jeep that suits it |
|---|---|
| Gear that should stay dry and locked inside | Wrangler 4-door, from $41,635; shop Wranglers |
| A tight garage and a crowded village lot | Wrangler 2-door, from $38,630; shop 2-door Wranglers |
| A V8 or a manual transmission | Wrangler Willys 392 or a V6 Sport; shop the lineup |
| Lumber, a bike rack or wet, sandy equipment | Gladiator Rubicon or Willys; shop Gladiators |
| A heavier trailer than 5,000 lbs | Gladiator, up to 7,700 lbs properly equipped; shop Gladiators |
| Beach days, a permit and a doors-off summer | Either Rubicon; Wrangler for the tighter turn, Gladiator for the bed |
A permit is part of both stories: Sandy Neck in Barnstable and the Cape Cod National Seashore both require one before a Jeep touches the sand.
Premier Cape Cod Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, at 556 Yarmouth Rd, can put a Wrangler and a Gladiator side by side in the same lot. Schedule a test drive, get pre-approved or value your trade, or call (508) 815-5000. Last year's comparison is still here: 2026 Wrangler vs Gladiator.
The Gladiator, at up to 7,700 lbs properly equipped. The Wrangler's best is up to 5,000 lbs properly equipped, on the 4-door Willys, Rubicon and Rubicon X.
The Gladiator's only engine is the 285-horsepower, 260 lb-ft 3.6L V6, which is also one of three Wrangler engines. The Wrangler adds a 270-horsepower turbo and a 470-horsepower V8.
The Gladiator, at 218 inches against 188.4 inches, on a 137.3-inch wheelbase against 118.4 inches.
With the turbo, the Wrangler rates 21 mpg combined, against 19 for the Gladiator. The Wrangler V6 also rates 19 mpg combined.
It is a 5-foot steel bed, 60.3 inches long.
Yes. Every 2027 Gladiator trim has four-wheel drive, paired with the 3.6L V6 and an 8-speed automatic.
The 2027 Gladiator comes only with an 8-speed automatic. The Wrangler offers a 6-speed manual with the 3.6L V6.
Yes. Call (508) 815-5000 or schedule a test drive, and we will set both up.
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* The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, other fees required by law, finance charges and any documentation charges. A negotiable administration fee, up to $115, may be added to the price of the vehicle.
* 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.