The Jeep Wrangler is one of those models that's synonymous with the brand name. When someone says that they drive a Jeep, they don't need to specify. If they meant that they drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee, they'd have said Jeep Grand Cherokee. A Jeep is a Wrangler, and a Wrangler is the most usable, functional, capable, and versatile model in the lineup, right?Well, the Wrangler does offer a lot of advantages when it comes to off-roading. For instance, the Wrangler has a tidy 118.4-inch wheelbase, at the longest, while the Jeep Gladiator stretches a more cumbersome 137.3 inches from axle to axle. But if you're looking for a model that actually fills the all-terrain boots of the "Army Trucks" from which all Jeeps descend, you might be better off looking into a Jeep Gladiator. Here's why. The Gladiator Has A Lot In Common With The Wrangler Stellantis North AmericaIf these specs look familiar, it's because they're identical to those of a brand-new Jeep Wrangler with a V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission.The Wrangler is still offered with a six-speed manual while the Gladiator has been automatic-only since the 2025 model year. If that's a deal-breaker for you, hey, we get it, but the Gladiator was available with the same stick-shift as the Wrangler from 2020 to 2024, when it was the last solid front-axle truck with a manual, so this is only an issue if you insist on buying the latest model. The Jeep Gladiator Is An Honest-To-Goodness Pickup Truck Jeep What we really like about the Gladiator is that it's an actual pickup. The bed isn't for show, it's not just a Wrangler that looks the part of a midsize truck. Check the specs to see what we mean.The best-equipped Jeep Wrangler taps out at 5,000 lbs. when it comes to towing, and it stores 31.7 cubic feet of cargo in the back, which isn't bad, but it can be a bit of an awkward fit compared to the Gladiator's luxurious five-foot bed. If you go diagonal, anyone but a professional basketball player should be able to throw a sleeping bag in the back and take a nap, so you should have no trouble hauling camping gear, dirtbikes, or whatever else you care to bring with you on your adventure. Can The Gladiator Match The Wrangler At Its Own Game? Stellantis Having a mid-size pickup truck to bring with you into the great outdoors is definitely helpful. You can tow your fishing boat, or a small travel trailer, or you can bring a week's worth of supplies. But let's say you travel light, and you don't actually need the functionality of a pickup truck. Meanwhile, the Wrangler's biggest advantage over the Gladiator is its relatively short wheelbase. In a two-door model, the Wrangler's wheelbase stretches just 96.8 inches, which makes for a very agile, maneuverable 4x4 in rough terrain.Beyond that, you're getting very much the same experience in a Gladiator that you'd be getting in a Wrangler. The doors pop right off! If you're attracted to the Wrangler for the open-air adventure vehicle experience, you can do that with a Gladiator, too. It even follows the same boxy design philosophy, looking a lot like an extra-long Wrangler. The Gladiator offers generous ground clearance. The tallest Wrangler, stock, would be the Rubicon, standing 11.1 inches above the ground. The Gladiator Mojave starts you off at 11.6 inches. You can add the Xtreme 35-inch tire package onto the Wrangler for 12.6 inches of ground clearance, but you could add those same tires onto the Gladiator if you wanted to. Both vehicles share similar (but not identical) suspension. Both are built for off-roading, and the front suspension is largely interchangeable, but the Gladiator's rear suspension uses heavy-duty shocks and coil springs with two upper and lower forged control arms to help it load cargo, having more in common with a Ram pickup than with a Wrangler. The Gladiator's interior is rugged and utilitarian, with a big, grip-able drive mode shifter, a simple, intuitive layout, and a pronounced lack of flash. Wranglers and Gladiators both suck on paved roads, given their rigid suspension and off-road proclivities. You'll know you're driving a Jeep when your butt goes numb halfway to the grocery store. Hey, if you want a versatile daily driver that can handle city streets and trails alike, that's what the Jeep Cherokee is for. We're not going to tell you that a Gladiator can do everything a Wrangler can do. A two-door Rubicon's compact dimensions make for an off-roader that's hard for even an amateur adventurer to get stuck between a pair of pine trees, while the Gladiator's bulky mid-size body can feel a bit awkward in tight spots.But then, the Wrangler can't haul or tow like a Gladiator can, which limits its capabilities as a go-anywhere-do-anything off-roader. Simply put, the Gladiator is one of the best mid-size trucks when it comes to truck work, and it's the easy choice if your idea of an adventure involves a jet-ski or a horse trailer. You'll Get The Most Value Out Of A 2021 Jeep Gladiator Jeep A 2026 Jeep Wrangler starts at an MSRP of $35,595 for a two-door Sport model. A Gladiator Sport starts at $39,495. That might seem like a big price bump, but we would argue that the Gladiator delivers on the value proposition, easily offering an extra $3,900 of potential.Even so, you might be happier with the purchase if you go with a used model. In particular, we recommend a 2021 Jeep Gladiator.We like the 2021 model for a couple of reasons. First, going with a 2024 model or earlier, you have the option of driving a Jeep pickup with a six-speed manual. More importantly, the 2021 Gladiator sits at the sweet-spot between affordability and dependability. Dodge Those First-Year Problems Jeep When we last checked on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator via our price trends tool, we found entry-level Sports selling at an average of 77% of their original MSRP, with many selling for much cheaper. This is within the ballpark of 2020 models, which are selling for around 75% of their original pricing.So, why a 2021 Gladiator, and not a 2020 model? Well, the 2020 Gladiator was the debut model, meaning that it came with its share of first-year problems. CarComplaints lists 38 complaints for the 2020 model, and just 13 for the 2021 model, with 2020 Gladiator owners facing steering wheel drift at highway speeds, cylinder misfires in the engine, coolant leaks, and faulty dash lights.According to RepairPal, the most expensive common issues in a 2021 model Gladiator include the following. AC evaporator replacement $967 - $1,344 Fuel tank replacement $533 - $635 Coolant change $506 - $580 Door mirror replacement $389 - $423 Brake pad replacement $358 - $415 If you'd rather buy new, the 2026 Gladiator is very easy to recommend, but, if cost is a concern, there are plenty of slightly-used models out there that can be had for less than the cost of a new Wrangler, making the pickup just as accessible as its little sibling, no matter your budget.