Covert CDJR Bee Cave
Open-Air Midsize Truck
The only convertible pickup you can still buy, remove the doors, fold the windshield, and drop the roof, then tow up to 7,700 pounds home from the lake. Starting at $39,820, the 2026 Gladiator pairs Wrangler-grade off-road hardware with a 5-foot steel bed. Here is the lineup, the pricing, and which trim fits how you actually drive around Central Texas.
Every 2026 Gladiator runs the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic, with four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case standard on every trim. It is rated at 19 mpg combined (17 city, 22 highway), which is honest for a body-on-frame truck riding on solid front and rear Dana 44 axles. What sets it apart from a Ranger, Colorado, or Tacoma is simple: none of them let you take the doors and roof off, and none of them match its gas towing.
Properly equipped, a Sport S with the Max Tow Package pulls up to 7,700 pounds, enough for a loaded boat trailer down to the Lake Travis ramps or a UTV rig out to Hidden Falls Adventure Park near Marble Falls. A base Sport with the standard hitch is rated at 4,500 pounds, so the package matters if towing is why you are buying. The 5-foot steel bed handles the gear that does not ride inside, from kayaks after a morning on the San Marcos River to firewood for a place outside Fredericksburg.
The Lineup
Pricing below is starting MSRP and excludes the $1,995 destination charge. The ladder runs from the work-ready Sport to the fully-loaded desert and rock-crawl builds.
| Trim | Starting MSRP | Built For |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | $39,820 | Core 4×4 capability, work-ready |
| Sport S | $43,015 | Volume pick; the max-tow build |
| Willys | $45,750 | Cheapest factory rear locker |
| Sahara | $48,115 | Comfort and on-road refinement |
| Rubicon | $52,520 | Rock crawling; 4:1 gearing, lockers |
| Mojave | $53,215 | Desert Rated; Fox bypass shocks |
| Mojave X / Rubicon X | $61,210 | Loaded off-road flagships |
Special editions, Texas Trail, 85th Anniversary Edition, Willys ’41, and Shadow Ops, sit between these trims. See the full breakdown on the trims page.
The Verdict
Because every Gladiator shares one engine, the choice comes down to how you use it. A few honest matches for how people drive across Central Texas and the Hill Country:
A well-equipped Sport S with the Max Tow Package lands in the mid-$40,000s before incentives, estimate a monthly payment before you come in.
Why Covert
Central Texas is Gladiator country: dry pavement most days, limestone grades and gravel on the way to the trailhead, and a lake trip that turns a tow rating into a real spec rather than a brochure number. That mix is exactly what this truck is tuned for, weekend capability that does not punish you on the Monday commute. Our team keeps the new Gladiator lineup stocked across Sport, off-road, and premium trims, and complimentary shipping across Texas means the right configuration reaches you even if it is not on the lot the day you decide.
Covert CDJR Bee Cave is at 16501 Sweetwater Vlg Dr, Building 3, Austin, TX 78738. Call (512) 900-6192 to check availability or line up a test drive.
Questions
Properly equipped, a Sport or Sport S with the Max Tow Package is rated to tow up to 7,700 pounds, the highest gas towing in the midsize class. A base Sport with the standard hitch tows 4,500 pounds, and Rubicon and Mojave trims sit in between; confirm the rating on the door-jamb label. Always confirm the yellow door-jamb sticker on your specific truck.
The 2026 Gladiator starts at $39,820 for the Sport and tops out at $61,210 for the Mojave X and Rubicon X, all before the $1,995 destination charge. Many shoppers choose the Sport S at $43,015, which adds safety features and the max-tow path.
Every 2026 Gladiator uses a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 making 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic and standard four-wheel drive. It is rated at 19 mpg combined. The six-speed manual is no longer offered.
Yes. Every 2026 Gladiator has removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and a removable top, and this year an updated hinge system makes door removal quicker. It remains the only convertible pickup sold in the U.S.
Next Step
See the current lineup, get pre-approved in minutes, or book a test drive at Covert CDJR Bee Cave.
Explore the 2026 Gladiator
