Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Jeep Gladiator Sport
Specs
Class: Midsize Pickup Truck
Nation of Manufacture: U.S.
Miles pushed: 144
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | B- |
| Match and End | B |
| Gas Economic system | C+ |
| Worth | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not replicate Shopper Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | C+ |
| Tall Man | C+ |
| Large & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Large” ranking based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter |
| Engine Kind | V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | 4WD |
Noticed gas financial system: 18.0 mpg
Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 24/32/27 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas kind: Common gasoline
Base value: $38,100 (not together with $1995 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check automobile: Particular paint ($895), Excessive Tide bundle ($5700), Cargo Group ($2095), LED Headlamp and Fog Lamp Group ($1595), Trailer Tow and Auxiliary Change Group ($1295), Comfort Group ($2295), Know-how Group ($1495), Energetic Security Group ($1595), hardtop headliner ($655), slush mats ($170)
Worth as examined: $58,440
Audio-System Model
Alpine
Audio-System High quality
Poor Honest Good Very-Good Glorious
Professionals and Cons
The good: Enjoyable to drive, enjoyable to be seen in
The great: Doubles as convertible, unstoppable in snow, good energy
The not so good: Expensive choices, freeway noise, excessive cabin step-in
Evaluate
Query: Simply how off-road prepared do it’s good to be? We ask as a result of like each Jeep Wrangler, each Jeep Gladiator comes “Path Rated,” which suggests you’re in fairly good condition—come hell or excessive water—for many floor situations, even in a base instance of the model’s midsize pickup.
Path Rated
Per Jeep, “The ‘Path Rated’ badge isn’t given to a Jeep Model automobile. It’s earned. Each Path Rated 4×4 has succeeded towards a collection of grueling exams in 5 classes: Traction, Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation and Floor Clearance.”
So, if you happen to’re Jeep is already geared up for severely nasty situations, why spend cash making it extra off-road worthy? Why not spend your option-and accent finances on making your Jeep extra enjoyable as a substitute?
Restricted Version
To that finish, Jeep added 4 trim packages to the Gladiator board of fare for 2025, every of which places the emphasis on enjoyable. Out there for the entry-level Sport, are new Excessive Tide, Darkish Sky, Joose, and Mojito look packages. Every bundle is designed to raise the Gladiator enjoyable issue, with out comprising consolation, or including an excessive amount of price to the underside line.
Be aware: Jeep describes the brand new packages as “restricted version.” On the time this evaluate was printed, we didn’t know whether or not or not any or all the packages can be accessible in 2026. That mentioned, we do know what the Gladiator will in any other case go largely unchanged shifting into 2026.
Take a look at Automobile
Shopper Information lately spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 Gladiator Sport geared up with the Excessive Tide bundle in attention-getting Joose. Although clearly meant to evoke the colour of orange juice, we discovered our Joose-colored Gladiator the perfected Halloween accent. (See Spirit Halloween pics beneath.)
The $5700 Excessive Tide bundle attire the bottom Sport up properly, and consists of the next options and equipment:
Alas, the extra-fun Joose paint isn’t included in that bundle; it provides $895 to the underside line.
Room and Consolation
Moving into the Gladiator, is a little bit of a chore, made barely tougher by the Excessive Tide bigger wheels and tires. That step has its rewards, nevertheless, as outward visibility is superb, particularly from the motive force’s seat.
There’s loads of front-row area, although taller drivers might need for a bit extra legroom, and bigger drivers might need for a bit more room between them and the steering wheel. Rear-seat area is grownup enough, however can change into scarce when located behind taller front-row occupants.
Noise
Cabin noise is, to nobody’s shock, elevated, particularly at freeway speeds. We suspect the Excessive Tide’s included off-road oriented tires are partially responsible. For scooting round city, tire noise actually isn’t a problem—heck, it’s a part of the enjoyable—however the drone might change into an annoyance on lengthy freeway drives. You’ll want to take your test-drive Gladiator out on the open highway earlier than making a purchase order resolution.
Experience and Dealing with
Experience high quality is sweet, even superb, and most highway imperfections are softened earlier than reaching the cabin. There’s some dive in laborious braking, and a bit softness in laborious cornering. Each points, once more, could also be attributed to the massive tires. On the plus facet, steering really feel is superb, giving the Gladiator a sporty really feel even in routine driving.
Energy and Efficiency
The usual 3.6-liter V6 engine offers loads of energy for fast bursts from a cease in addition to freeway merging maneuvers. The engine sounds each refined and just a bit sporty, and is in character with the Gladiator’s mission. The 8-speed computerized transmission—present in quite a lot of Jeep and Ram fashions—is almost flawless in operation, and offers easy and well timed shifts.
Gas Economic system
We noticed precisely 18 mpg in routine driving throughout our analysis. By absolute requirements the gas financial system efficiency is a bit disappointing, however given the facility and off-road potential of the Gladiator, to not point out the pickup-truck utility, appears fairly cheap.
Convertible
We didn’t take away the roof of our check truck, however have loved the open-air cabin of a Gladiator previously. Whereas pulling the roof panels off the highest of a Gladiator or Wrangler generally is a chore, the open-air expertise rewards the hassle. Plus, the truck’s cabin is fixed-roof heat and safe when the inflexible roof panels are secured in place.
Worth
At greater than $60,000, the Gladiator in Excessive Tide trim is hardly an off-the-cuff buy, however our check truck was laden with non-obligatory options that inflated the underside line. Thrift seekers may be capable of find a extra calmly optioned Gladiator that ought to feel and appear simply as entertaining, for nearer to $50,000—even in Joose.
As a sensible every day driver, the Gladiator doesn’t make sense for long-distance commuters. However for folk in search of a enjoyable, second or third automobile, this spirited Jeep can fill the position of convertible, pickup truck, critical off-roader, and basic temper improver, the Gladiator makes loads of sense, not that logic ought to play a big position in deciding to buy one. And if one thing apocalyptic does occur, you’re all set.
2025 Jeep Gladiator Excessive Tide in JooseObserve Tom on Twitter
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2025 Jeep Gladiator Excessive Tide Photos
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