2025 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator Put to the Test in Their Element

Off-road-ready vehicles are seldom used in extreme environments, but the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are two exceptions. One is an iconic SUV, the other is a rugged pickup. Both are designed and engineered to tackle the toughest, most remote terrains with their generous ground clearance, advanced 4x4 systems and sturdy chassis that can be fitted with a large number of accessories.

In yet another showcase of their amazing capabilities, Jeep Canada recently invited members of the automotive media including The Car Guide to put the Wrangler and Gladiator to the test in Bobcaygeon, about 150 km northeast of Toronto. The program included a full day of rock climbing and mud slinging.

• Also: 2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392: Too Bad for Canada
• Also: Jeep Has a New Wrangler for Backcountry Adventures

Our two test vehicles for the event included a two-door Wrangler equipped with the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (270 hp/295 lb-ft) and a Gladiator featuring the venerable, naturally aspirated 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 (285 hp/260 lb-ft). The different body styles and configurations gave us a unique opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses in specific off-road applications.

Clawing and Grinding

First things first, our driving instructor stressed the importance of following the signs and tips of spotters along the way. These people would tell us how to align the wheels, what settings to engage, the ideal speed to tackle various obstacles, and more. With a bit of humor, he also warned us against taking on the biggest obstacles even though “skid plates are there for a reason” and brushing them is only natural.

We started the day behind the wheel of the Gladiator, initially driving on a perfectly smooth gravel road that was no challenge at all. With the 4x4 system locked into 4H, the truck went from one corner to another without difficulty.

Then, all of a sudden, we headed into the woods where a major overnight storm had turned the trail into a mud field and some of the rocks into slippery balls. We could not have asked for better conditions to seriously put the Gladiator through its paces.

After switching to 4L, we dove right in and watched the high-riding, high-gripping truck go up and over big rocks as if it was child’s play. While the spectacle of the front and rear axles moving up and down can be impressive from the outside, life inside the cabin is utterly normal. Large, mud-filled ruts didn’t pose a problem, either.

Thanks to superb torque distribution and good throttle response, it's quite easy to modulate acceleration and have the correct speed to overcome the different obstacles that stand in the Gladiator’s way. We really liked how the V6 behaved in these conditions, showing plenty of flexibility and a healthy enough dose of torque without compromising traction. When tackling steeper terrain, we switched the transmission to manual mode and used the first gear. The rest of the time, the eight-speed mixer did a very good job on its own. 

Although it's based on the Wrangler and shares many components with it, the Gladiator has one major handicap: its long wheelbase. The former has a wheelbase of 2,460 mm in two-door configuration and 3,008 mm in four-door configuration, while the latter extends its wheelbase to 3,487 mm, making sharp or protruding boulders much more difficult to deal with.

Scraping the underbody is not a rare occurrence, especially when going down obstacles. No sweat, though: as we mentioned earlier, that’s what the sturdy skid plates are for. But if you're thinking of buying a Gladiator for serious off-road challenges, consider yourself warned.

Wrangler is King

For the second part of this test drive, we jumped behind the wheel of a two-door Wrangler that came with a few options giving it even better off-road capability, most notably 35-inch tires that proved a blessing on many occasions.

Thanks to its short wheelbase and larger-size, high-traction rubber, this Wrangler seemed to make a mockery of the obstacles around it. Only once during the entire afternoon did we hit a rock, whereas the Gladiator often let out creaking noises from its underbody.

On the flip side, that shorter wheelbase also affects stability at times, so one of the wheels can end up in the air. It’s not a dangerous experience if you’re able to anticipate what’s coming during the most difficult climbs. As for the 2.0-litre turbo engine, it’s not as pleasant to use as the V6. The gas pedal requires more finesse as torque delivery is a little more violent here. We were caught off-guard once or twice, but ended up getting used to it.

We didn't get to drive four-door Wranglers at the event, but the ones we occasionally followed on the trails appeared to be more stable than their two-door siblings, although they did hit some rocks a few times. There was a Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid model, too, and we noticed that it was less comfortable clearing larger obstacles. Blame it on its shorter ground clearance—27 cm versus 37.5 cm for conventionally powered Wranglers.

Price Cuts to Boost Sales

Now, let’s talk business. Jeep sales have seemingly gone off a cliff in recent months, so the company is responding with significant price cuts in an effort to attract more customers.

The 2025 Wrangler is now up to $9,000 cheaper and (somewhat) reasonably priced. Just remember not to go overboard with options and accessories, however, because you could be in for a shock. Consider this: our two-door Wrangler Willys tester started at $40,700 but ended up at $65,710 with all the bells and whistles included.

It’s a similar story with the Gladiator. For 2026, Jeep has slashed prices of the Mojave and Rubicon models by $8,100 and the Sport S by $10,900. The Willys model is down $11,400 from 2025.

Again, this should help a vehicle that suffered from being way too expensive compared to other midsize pickups. The 2025 Gladiator Rubicon we tested retailed from $73,095 and carried a final price tag of $92,495 with the many options that were added to it.

Oh, and one last thing you need to know: unlike the Wrangler, which offers a plug-in hybrid variant (4xe), an electrified Gladiator is now out of Jeep’s plans.