The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon might be the ultimate adventure ready vehicle, with its perfect blend of ruggedness and touches of luxury. The 2026 model introduces some well received improvements, with a fresh look inside, and some new colours.
Not much else has changed with the Gladiator, but that’s not all bad. As they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and Jeep has fully embraced that with this year’s offering. After all, there’s still a 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 under the bonnet.
It pushes out a respectable 209kW and 347Nm, giving you plenty of grunt to tackle almost any trail, while also having enough power to push past traffic on the highway, if desired. The 8-speed transmission offers great performance too.
That means the Gladiator is well balanced for both road trips and when you want to get off the beaten path. It’s four-wheel drive setup includes the brand’s Rock-Trac active on-demand system, paired with a low range transfer case.
Alongside that is a a front electronic sway bar disconnect and front and rear diff lockers. Throw in some 32-inch all-terrain tyres that can handle just about anything you throw at them and you’ll have very little to complain about in terms of capability.
The only downside is that they can get a little noisy on the highway. To call it a ute though is a bit of a disservice to what the Gladiator actually is, because it’s not a ute in the traditional workhorse sense. Instead it’s a ute-styled beast.
Aside from the fact that it’s essentially built as a pure off-roader, it’s completely convertible, allowing multiple panels to be removed at will, including the roof and doors. That makes it something more lego-esque, and puts it in a class of its own.
It empowers anyone to tackle any obstacle they encounter and having put this to the test, we can wholeheartedly attest to its capability. It’s not all about the trails either, it can actually be a “ute”, should you so desire.
The Gladiator backs up its adventurous capabilities with some proper practicality. With maximum braked towing capacity of 2,721kg, paired with a trailer sway control system to keep everything settled when you’ve got a load on behind you.
The tray itself comes with a durable protective coating and measures 1,531mm long, so there’s plenty of room back there for camping gear, work tools, or whatever the weekend throws at you.
On the inside, where most of us will be spending our time, the Rubicon comes kitted out with power adjustable, heated seats up front. These are trimmed with Nappa leather. A heated steering wheel makes colder winter starts a little easier.
The back provides enough space for most road trips, however we found that long periods of time in the second row are far less enjoyable. The seats are simply not comfortable. There’s plenty of functionality though.
You’ll find easily accessible storage bins under the seats and a hidden, always charged rugged Bluetooth speaker behind the rear backrest. Back up front, Jeep has elevated the Gladiator’s cabin with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display.
It brings the Uconnect 5 system with it, and is a significant improvement over the older setup. We had no issues navigating the menus or changing settings, and everything felt smooth and responsive.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature, while the sound system provides crisp audio. USB-C and USB-A ports can be found in both rows. Driving the Gladiator is quite the refreshing experience, especially on those longer drives.
We didn’t get a single annoying beep from the safety tech, and there were no chimes going off, telling us to pay more attention. Nothing tugs at the wheel to keep you in your lane. It’s a nice change in an overprotective world.
This lack of annoyances doesn’t shy away from the safety features that Jeep have packed in, however. You still get rear cross path detection, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop and forward collision warning with active braking.
There’s also ParkSense rear park assist and side curtain airbags. For me that’s the sweet spot. You’ve got everything watching your back when it counts, without the car holding your hand the second you settle into a rhythm.
The 2026 model brings some new additions to the fun colours too, including Goldilocks, which is joined by Mojito, Reign, and Joose. They sit alongside Bright White, Black, Granite Crystal, Anvil, Hydro Blue, and the military inspired ’41 (as tested).
In our eyes, the 2026 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon sits in a unique spot, being genuinely unique, with its traditional rugged design and advanced off road capability. The $90,000 drive away price tag might be a big ask for some though.
You can find out more on the Jeep Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Jeep Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
