2021 Jeep Gladiator Buyer’s Guide

If you love the Wrangler but wish it had more cargo capacity, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator will be a great fit for your off-roading adventures. Capability is the key with the Gladiator, which can tackle all the toughest trails just like the Wrangler with its legendary prowess. In California, Jeep Gladiator dealers like us meet a lot of off-road enthusiasts who want the combined power of the Wrangler matched by the hauling capability of a truck so you truly can go anywhere and do anything.

Five main trims are available in the 2021 Gladiator lineup: Sport, Overland, Mojave, Rubicon, and High Altitude. Each trim has several options for adding packages or simply purchasing a special edition to build onto trim levels, such as the Willys editions, which add onto the Sport trim. Before we get into the trims, some of the features all Gladiators share include standard four-wheel drive for true Jeep power, and all models are sold as a quad cab body style with a five-foot bed. Expect the 3.6-liter V6 engine paired to a manual transmission to be the standard, and automatic is available across the lineup.

The 2021 Gladiator is only in its second year of production, so it’s still pretty new to the Jeep lineup. Still, Jeep added a few features for the 2021 model year. A turbodiesel V6 engine is now available in the lineup for the Sport, Overland, and Rubicon trims, and it not only saves money at the pump but offers 442 lb-ft of torque. All trims can now add the full-time four-wheel drive capability of Selec-Trac, and the Rubicon gains new four-wheel drive performance capability. Finally, an off-roading camera to provide better frontal views of the trail is now available for the Overland trim.

Sport

At entry-level, the Sport trim is an opportunity to build your Gladiator with the features you want. This is the most basic Jeep, and it comes standard with 17-inch black wheels, the Sunrider soft top, a five-inch touchscreen, and Bluetooth. Listen to music with the standard eight-speaker sound system, and charge your devices with two standard USB ports located in the front row. Storage under the rear seats provides a place to tuck tools or small valuables out of sight and locked securely. This trim is the most capable for towing duty and can handle up to 7,650 pounds for trailering when equipped with the Max Tow package.

Available features like a Gorilla Glass windshield for extra strength against breakage, half doors for getting closer to the outdoors, or the Freedom Top hardtop can be added to the Sport trim, along with numerous other features to rig out your Gladiator. The Sport can be optioned with packages or as the 80th Anniversary Special Edition, which offers appearance upgrades. Packages like the Sport S upgrade the wheels and include powered windows and locks, while the Willys offers larger 32-inch mud-terrain tires and Trac-Lok limited-slip differential with rock rails for adventuring.

Overland

With the Overland, the 2021 Gladiator comes as a more tech-savvy model with more comforts and conveniences included. Upgraded 18-inch wheels and body-color fender flares start the list from the outside, and small amenities like heated exterior mirrors and side steps make this a more convenient truck. The standard seven-inch touchscreen makes using the rearview camera or infotainment system easier, and more powered features are included in the interior, such as voice-activated climate controls and speed-sensitive volume control.

Available features like a leather interior, the Freedom Top hardtop, and LED lighting on the exterior can be added to upgrade the Overland for a more premium truck. When trailering equipment is optioned, the Overland can tow up to 6,000 pounds. Safety features like an engine immobilizer and brake assist are standard, though driver-assist features like Forward Collision Warning or Blind Spot Monitoring can be added. Of course, the Overland is the trim which is the first that can add the forward-facing TrailCam for better visibility on the trail, and with towing equipment, the Overland can tow up to 6,000 pounds.

Rubicon

When it comes to off-roading, the Rubicon trim is the most capable of the Gladiator lineup. No other trim comes with as much standard equipment for taking on trails or backcountry driving. Starting with the Rock-Trac four-wheel drive system, standard for the Rubicon, this system gives the 2021 Gladiator a 4:1 gear ratio that automatically engages for low-speed rock crawling. Combined with the standard 33-inch all-terrain tires, front and rear e-lockers, and tried-and-true Fox shocks, the Rubicon can tackle the most punishing terrain of any other trim.

Add the Max Tow Package, and the Rubicon is capable of towing up to 7,000 pounds. Take on mud, snow, dirt tracks, or rocky terrain, knowing the Rubicon can handle virtually anything. To boost trail riding safety, add the available TrailCam to avoid hitting low obstacles that could damage your Gladiator. With the Rubicon custom hood and fender flares, the 2021 Gladiator armors itself for the toughest terrain.

Mojave

While the Rubicon has earned its stripes for the legendary Trail Rated badge, the Mojave recently joined the ranks of Trail Rated trims for desert running excitement; a badge Jeep is calling “Desert Rated.” Though the Mojave comes standard with similar equipment to the Rubicon, such as a locking rear differential and Fox shocks, the Mojave has its own specialized features made for running over sand. Features not found as standard anywhere else in the lineup include the hydraulic one-inch lift, a reinforced frame, and a custom hood scoop for keeping the engine cool in the heat.

Where other vehicles might struggle in arid, hot climates, the Mojave thrives. Running over sand means having to conquer hard ribs of sun-dried surfaces that blend into steep, slippery dunes, and the Mojave suspension and cast-iron steering knuckles are built just for such terrain. Crawling is not necessary for the Mojave; in fact, desert speed is just what the Mojave is built to deliver. In case you want to bring along bikes, ATVs, or other equipment for desert adventures, the Gladiator Mojave is rated for towing up to 6,000 pounds.

High Altitude

Jeep aptly named its most lush trim, the zenith of all 2021 Gladiator models with the most standard features of all other trims. The High Altitude trim comes with 20-inch gloss black wheels, body-color exterior features, and the Freedom Top hardtop for a clean, upscale style. Inside, the High Altitude offers the luxury of quilted Nappa leather seats stitched with contrasting caramel, soft-touch surfaces, and a premium Alpine sound system. Technology features like the Jeep Uconnect system loaded into the 8.4-inch touchscreen, wireless device connectivity, and WiFi are standard for this top-tier model.

Safety features like Blind Spot Monitoring and ParkSense Rear Park Assist come standard for the High Altitude for 2021, with the option to add driver-assist features like Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Stop capability and Rear Cross Path Detection. When you want a capable truck that can also provide comfort while you take on nature’s less-traveled spaces, the High Altitude trim is the best of both worlds.

Building Your 2021 Jeep Gladiator

When you choose to build the trim level of your choice into the Gladiator you most want to drive; the options are virtually endless to allow for customizing. Though the Sport trim does offer the perfect foundation for building on features you want, every 2021 Gladiator trim can add features to make it suited to the types of terrain you plan to enjoy. Because the Gladiator is a truck, the bed can be optioned with a spray-in liner, kept dry and clean with a tonneau cover, or fitted with a Trail Rail cargo management tie-down system. Standard LED lighting and a three-position tailgate are found on every 2021 Gladiator. Whether you load your equipment directly into the bed or choose to tow it, the Gladiator gives you options, and the adventures are out there waiting!