Covert CDJR Bee Cave
Trim Levels Compared
The 2026 Gladiator lineup runs from the $39,820 Sport work truck to the fully-loaded off-road flagships in the low $60,000s, with every trim sharing one 285-hp V6 and factory 4×4. This guide breaks down each trim, what it adds over the one below it, and which build fits how you drive between Round Rock and the Hill Country.
Every 2026 Jeep Gladiator is a four-door crew cab with a 5-foot steel bed, powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (285 horsepower, 260 lb-ft) through an 8-speed automatic, with four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case standard. Because the powertrain never changes, choosing a trim is really about off-road hardware, comfort, and how much you tow. The lineup is built on three platforms: Sport-based trims (Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara), the rock-crawling Rubicon, and the desert-running Mojave, with premium “X” versions of each.
Covert CDJR Bee Cave stocks the Gladiator lineup across value, off-road, and premium builds. Below is every trim in depth, a side-by-side matrix, the head-to-head comparisons buyers ask about most, and a step-up guide showing exactly what each price jump buys. For the towing deep dive, see the towing guide; for the full picture, start at the Gladiator research hub.
At a Glance
Starting MSRPs below exclude the $1,995 destination charge. The X trims sit at the top of the range; see the note in each section on live pricing.
| Trim | Starting MSRP | In One Line |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | $39,820 | Bare-bones 4×4 work truck |
| 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 crawler; 4:1 gearing, lockers |
| Mojave | $53,215 | Desert Rated; Fox bypass shocks |
| Rubicon X | low $60,000s | Loaded Rubicon; one decision |
| Mojave X | low $60,000s | Loaded Mojave; one decision |
Special editions (Texas Trail, 85th Anniversary Edition, Willys ’41, Shadow Ops) layer onto these trims and are covered at the end.
Trim by Trim
MSRP excludes the $1,995 destination charge. The Sport is the entry point and the truest work-truck of the lineup. Standard equipment includes 17-inch steel wheels on 32-inch all-season tires, solid front and rear axles, part-time four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case, underbody skid plates, tow hooks, a three-position tailgate, and a Class II hitch receiver. Inside you get a removable soft top, cloth seats, a 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker stereo. This year even the base Sport adds power windows and locks. Drivetrain is 4×4 only, in the single crew-cab, 5-foot-bed body. Available packages let you add popular content a la carte, including a hardtop, cold-weather items, and the Trailer Tow group. Who it is for: buyers who want the lowest entry price and plan to add capability or comfort a la carte, or a straightforward jobsite truck around Taylor and Lockhart.
MSRP excludes destination. The Sport S is the volume seller and, with the Max Tow Package, the cheapest Gladiator that reaches the full 7,700-pound tow rating. Over the Sport it adds forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking (safety features the base truck lacks), plus wider option availability and, new for 2026, optional aggressive all-terrain tires. It remains 4×4-only in the crew-cab, 5-foot-bed body. Key add-ons include the Max Tow Package for the full tow rating, the Trailer Tow and Aux Switch group, and a hardtop or dual-top group. Who it is for: the shopper who wants one truck that daily-drives cleanly on a New Braunfels commute yet tows a boat or UTV trailer on weekends when equipped correctly.
MSRP excludes destination. Built off the Sport S, the Willys is the cheapest Gladiator with a factory electronic-locking rear differential, which makes it a real off-road tool rather than an appearance package. Standard hardware includes 32-inch mud-terrain tires, rock rails, LED lighting, a Class IV hitch receiver, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, programmable auxiliary switches, proximity entry, and Willys decals. Drivetrain is 4×4 with the two-speed transfer case, and the truck keeps the single crew-cab, 5-foot-bed body. Available upgrades include steel bumpers, a winch-capable front bumper, and the Cargo Group with the Trail Rail system. Who it is for: the enthusiast who wants genuine trail hardware, like a rear locker and mud tires for the ruts near Willow City Loop, without stepping up to Rubicon money.
MSRP excludes destination. New for 2026, the Sahara is the comfort-and-tech daily driver. It builds on the Sport S and adds a body-color hardtop and fender flares, leather-trimmed seats, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, and 18-inch wheels on all-season tires. It keeps Gladiator capability but tunes the experience toward the pavement. It stays 4×4 in the crew-cab body, and adds available items like an Alpine premium audio system and advanced safety content. Who it is for: buyers whose Gladiator mostly commutes and wants the softest ride and nicest cabin in the lineup for the drive home to Round Rock.
MSRP excludes destination. The Rubicon is the rock-crawling specialist. It comes with 33-inch all-terrain tires, the Rock-Trac 4:1 low-range transfer case, front and rear electronic locking differentials, an electronic front sway-bar disconnect for extra articulation, about 10 inches of ground clearance, and a front skid plate. It comes with a Class IV hitch and trailer-tow wiring standard, and available upgrades include a steel front bumper with a winch mount and the premium Alpine audio. Who it is for: the driver who runs technical, low-speed trails and wants factory hardware that can crawl out of most situations, from Kerrville-area limestone ledges to a hunting-lease two-track.
MSRP excludes destination. The Mojave is the only Desert Rated Gladiator, built for high-speed dirt rather than rock crawling. It uses Fox internal-bypass shocks, a reinforced frame, desert-tuned suspension, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and about 11.6 inches of ground clearance, the most in the lineup. It sits a step above the Rubicon in price but is a lateral move in mission, not a capability upgrade. Like the Rubicon it ships with a Class IV hitch and trailer-tow wiring, and it can be optioned with a steel front bumper, premium audio, and the Cargo Group. Who it is for: the buyer who runs wide-open sand, ranch roads, and fast desert two-tracks and wants suspension that stays composed at speed.
MSRP excludes destination; exact X-trim pricing shifts, so confirm current MSRP on the trim you want. The X versions are the fully-loaded editions of each off-road platform: they bundle the convenience, technology, and safety content that is optional or unavailable lower down, plus a standard hardtop and leather, into a single build. Mechanically they match the Rubicon and Mojave they are based on. Who it is for: the buyer who wants the maximum off-road hardware plus every comfort and tech feature in one decision, rather than working a long option sheet.
Side by Side
Every trim runs the same 3.6L V6, 8-speed automatic, and 4×4 crew-cab body, so the table focuses on where the trims actually differ. Max tow shown is the properly-equipped rating.
| Trim | MSRP | Tires | Off-Road Hardware | Max Tow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | $39,820 | 32″ all-season | Skid plates, Class II hitch | 4,500 lb |
| Sport S | $43,015 | 32″ all-season | Max Tow Package available | 7,700 lb |
| Willys | $45,750 | 32″ mud-terrain | Rear locker, rock rails, Class IV | Under 7,700 lb |
| Sahara | $48,115 | 18″ all-season | On-road tuned; hardtop, leather | Under 7,700 lb |
| Rubicon | $52,520 | 33″ all-terrain | Rock-Trac 4:1, front+rear lockers | Under 7,700 lb |
| Mojave | $53,215 | 33″ all-terrain | Fox bypass shocks, 11.6″ clear. | Under 7,700 lb |
| Rubicon X / Mojave X | low $60,000s | 33″ all-terrain | Base hardware + loaded content | Under 7,700 lb |
Per-trim tow ratings vary with axle and hitch; the towing guide has the full breakdown by configuration.
Head to Head
This is the most common Gladiator decision. For $3,195 more, the Sport S adds the safety tech the base Sport skips (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking), power features, wider option availability, and the eligibility to add the Max Tow Package that unlocks the full 7,700-pound rating. Unless you are building a stripped work truck, the Sport S is the more sensible starting point.
Both are off-road tools, but at different levels. The Willys gets you a factory rear locker, mud tires, and rock rails for about $6,770 less than the Rubicon. The Rubicon adds front and rear lockers, the 4:1 Rock-Trac case, and a sway-bar disconnect, hardware that matters on genuinely technical rock. If you run moderate trails and mud, the Willys is the value play; if you rock-crawl seriously, the Rubicon earns its price.
These two cost within $695 of each other but are built for opposite terrain. The Rubicon is the low-speed rock crawler (4:1 gearing, dual lockers, sway-bar disconnect). The Mojave is the Desert Rated high-speed runner (Fox internal-bypass shocks, reinforced frame, the most ground clearance in the lineup at about 11.6 inches). Pick based on where you drive, not on price, because neither is simply “more truck” than the other.
Mechanically the Rubicon X matches the Rubicon. The roughly $8,000 jump buys a standard hardtop, leather, and the safety, tech, and convenience content bundled together rather than added piece by piece. If you were going to option a Rubicon heavily anyway, the X can pencil out; if you want the capability and can live without the loaded cabin, the standard Rubicon saves real money.
The Verdict
Sweet spot, Sport S ($43,015). It is the cheapest path to the full 7,700-pound tow rating, adds the safety tech the base Sport lacks, and leaves the most room to option exactly what you want. For most local buyers it covers daily driving and weekend towing without overpaying.
Best off-road value, Willys ($45,750). The only sub-$46,000 Gladiator with a factory rear locker and mud tires. Real trail hardware without Rubicon pricing.
Easiest to overpay on, the X trims (low $60,000s). You are paying roughly $8,000 over a Rubicon or Mojave mostly for comfort, tech, and a hardtop, not additional capability. Worth it only if you wanted a loaded cabin anyway.
| Step Up | Price Delta | What You Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Sport to Sport S | +$3,195 | Safety tech, power features, option access, max-tow eligibility |
| Sport S to Willys | +$2,735 | Rear locker, mud tires, rock rails, Class IV hitch, LED, aux switches |
| Willys to Sahara | +$2,365 | Comfort, not capability: leather, heated seats, hardtop, 18″ all-season (a lateral move to on-road) |
| Sahara to Rubicon | +$4,405 | Serious off-road: Rock-Trac 4:1, dual lockers, sway-bar disconnect, 33″ tires |
| Rubicon to Mojave | +$695 | Lateral move: desert setup (Fox shocks, most ground clearance) instead of rock gear |
| Rubicon/Mojave to X | +~$8,000 | Loaded comfort, tech, and safety plus standard hardtop (same mechanicals) |
Match Your Use
Sport S with the Max Tow Package, or the Texas Trail edition, which folds in tow-ready hardware. Both reach the full 7,700-pound rating without off-road tires that wear fast on the highway to Kerrville.
Willys. Factory rear locker, mud tires, and rock rails for thousands less than the Rubicon.
Rubicon. The 4:1 Rock-Trac case, dual lockers, and sway-bar disconnect are the tools for slow, difficult terrain.
Mojave. The Desert Rated Fox suspension and extra ground clearance are tuned for speed over rough ground, not crawling.
Sahara for the softest ride and nicest cabin, or a loaded Rubicon X or Mojave X if you want off-road hardware and full comfort in one build.
Special Editions
These layer onto existing trims and add appearance or heritage content without changing core capability. The Texas Trail is effectively a Sport S with tow-ready and appearance upgrades baked in. The 85th Anniversary Edition is new for 2026, built for a single model year with commemorative badging and content. The Willys ’41 is a heritage buzz model on the Willys, with olive-drab wheels, retro graphics, a tan interior, steel bumpers, a Mopar triple-hoop grille guard, and mud-terrain tires. The Shadow Ops is a Rubicon-based stealth edition with a blackout treatment, a factory winch, and heavy-duty steel bumpers. Ask about current availability and pricing on any edition, since these come and go through the model year.
Shop Local
Covert CDJR Bee Cave keeps the Gladiator lineup stocked across Sport, off-road, and premium trims, and complimentary shipping across Texas means the exact configuration you want reaches you even if it is not on the lot the day you decide. Compare trims in person, then estimate a payment with the payment calculator or value your trade before you come in.
We are at 16501 Sweetwater Vlg Dr, Building 3, Austin, TX 78738. Call (512) 900-6192 to check trim availability.
Questions
The Sport is the base trim at $39,820, excluding the $1,995 destination charge. It is the work-truck starting point; most shoppers move up to the Sport S at $43,015 for the added safety tech and towing path.
Yes. Every 2026 Gladiator uses the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft, paired with an 8-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. There is no diesel and no V8, and the six-speed manual is no longer offered. Trims differ in off-road hardware and comfort, not powertrain.
A Sport or Sport S with the Max Tow Package is the towing pick, rated to the full 7,700 pounds properly equipped. The Rubicon and Mojave tow strongly too but are tuned for off-road rather than maximum towing.
The Willys at $45,750. It is the least expensive Gladiator with a factory electronic-locking rear differential, plus mud-terrain tires and rock rails, making it a genuine off-road trim rather than an appearance package.
The Rubicon is set up for low-speed rock crawling with a 4:1 transfer case, front and rear lockers, and a sway-bar disconnect. The Mojave is Desert Rated for high-speed dirt, with Fox internal-bypass shocks, a reinforced frame, and the most ground clearance in the lineup. They cost within about $695 of each other and serve opposite terrain.
They add roughly $8,000 over the base Rubicon and Mojave for a standard hardtop, leather, and bundled tech and safety, with the same mechanicals. They make sense if you would have optioned a loaded cabin anyway; otherwise the standard versions save money without losing capability.
Yes. If the trim or configuration you want is not on the lot, Covert CDJR Bee Cave can locate or factory-order it, and complimentary Texas shipping brings it to you. Call to start a build.
Explore the 2026 Gladiator
