Text by Tom Appel
2025 Jeep Gladiator Sport
Specs
Class: Midsize Pickup Truck
Country of Manufacture: U.S.
Miles driven: 144
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B |
| Power and Performance | B- |
| Fit and Finish | B |
| Fuel Economy | C+ |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | C+ |
| Tall Guy | C+ |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter |
| Engine Type | V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | 4WD |
Observed fuel economy: 18.0 mpg
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 24/32/27 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $38,100 (not including $1995 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($895), High Tide package ($5700), Cargo Group ($2095), LED Headlamp and Fog Lamp Group ($1595), Trailer Tow and Auxiliary Switch Group ($1295), Convenience Group ($2295), Technology Group ($1495), Active Safety Group ($1595), hardtop headliner ($655), slush mats ($170)
Price as tested: $58,440
Audio-System Brand
Alpine
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The great: Fun to drive, fun to be seen in
The good: Doubles as convertible, unstoppable in snow, good power
The not so good: Pricey options, highway noise, high cabin step-in
Review
Question: Just how off-road ready do you need to be? We ask because like every Jeep Wrangler, every Jeep Gladiator comes “Trail Rated,” which means you’re in pretty good shape—come hell or high water—for most surface conditions, even in a base example of the brand’s midsize pickup.
Trail Rated
Per Jeep, “The ‘Trail Rated’ badge is never given to a Jeep Brand vehicle. It’s earned. Every Trail Rated 4×4 has succeeded against a series of grueling tests in five categories: Traction, Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation and Ground Clearance.”
So, if you’re Jeep is already equipped for seriously nasty conditions, why spend money making it more off-road worthy? Why not spend your option-and accessory budget on making your Jeep more fun instead?
Limited Edition
To that end, Jeep added four trim packages to the Gladiator board of fare for 2025, each of which puts the emphasis on fun. Available for the entry-level Sport, are new High Tide, Dark Sky, Joose, and Mojito appearance packages. Each package is designed to elevate the Gladiator fun factor, without comprising comfort, or adding too much cost to the bottom line.
Note: Jeep describes the new packages as “limited edition.” At the time this review was published, we did not know whether or not any or all of the packages would be available in 2026. That said, we do know what the Gladiator will otherwise go largely unchanged moving into 2026.
Test Car
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2025 Gladiator Sport equipped with the High Tide package in attention-getting Joose. Though clearly meant to evoke the color of orange juice, we found our Joose-colored Gladiator the perfected Halloween accessory. (See Spirit Halloween pics below.)
The $5700 High Tide package dresses the base Sport up nicely, and includes the following features and accessories:
Alas, the extra-fun Joose paint is not included in that package; it adds $895 to the bottom line.
Room and Comfort
Stepping into the Gladiator, is a bit of a chore, made slightly more difficult by the High Tide larger wheels and tires. That step has its rewards, however, as outward visibility is excellent, especially from the driver’s seat.
There’s plenty of front-row space, though taller drivers may wish for a little more legroom, and larger drivers may wish for a little more space between them and the steering wheel. Rear-seat space is adult adequate, but can become scarce when situated behind taller front-row occupants.
Noise
Cabin noise is, to no one’s surprise, elevated, especially at highway speeds. We suspect the High Tide’s included off-road oriented tires are partially to blame. For scooting around town, tire noise really isn’t an issue—heck, it’s part of the fun—but the drone may become an annoyance on long highway drives. Be sure to take your test-drive Gladiator out on the open road before making a purchase decision.
Ride and Handling
Ride quality is good, even very good, and most road imperfections are softened before reaching the cabin. There is some dive in hard braking, and a little softness in hard cornering. Both issues, again, may be attributed to the big tires. On the plus side, steering feel is excellent, giving the Gladiator a sporty feel even in routine driving.
Power and Performance
The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine provides plenty of power for quick bursts from a stop as well as highway merging maneuvers. The engine sounds both refined and just a little sporty, and is in character with the Gladiator’s mission. The 8-speed automatic transmission—found in a number of Jeep and Ram models—is nearly flawless in operation, and provides smooth and timely shifts.
Fuel Economy
We saw exactly 18 mpg in routine driving during our evaluation. By absolute standards the fuel economy performance is a little disappointing, but given the power and off-road potential of the Gladiator, not to mention the pickup-truck utility, seems quite reasonable.
Convertible
We didn’t remove the roof of our test truck, but have enjoyed the open-air cabin of a Gladiator in the past. While pulling the roof panels off the top of a Gladiator or Wrangler can be a chore, the open-air experience rewards the effort. Plus, the truck’s cabin is fixed-roof warm and secure when the rigid roof panels are secured in place.
Value
At more than $60,000, the Gladiator in High Tide trim is hardly a casual purchase, but our test truck was laden with optional features that inflated the bottom line. Thrift seekers might be able to locate a more lightly optioned Gladiator that should look and feel just as entertaining, for closer to $50,000—even in Joose.
As a practical daily driver, the Gladiator doesn’t make sense for long-distance commuters. But for folks looking for a fun, second or third car, this spirited Jeep can fill the role of convertible, pickup truck, serious off-roader, and general mood improver, the Gladiator makes plenty of sense, not that logic should play a large role in deciding to purchase one. And if something apocalyptic does happen, you’re all set.
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2025 Jeep Gladiator High Tide Pictures
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