Ram’s parent company, Stellantis, is back in the midsize pickup market. Not with a Ram Dakota or D50, but with: the Wrangler-based Gladiator. The midsize 2023 Jeep Gladiator costs $38,775 ($40,570 with destination charges). It’s more expensive than the Ram 1500 half-ton ($37,410 / $39,305). Why this discrepancy? Because the Jeep Gladiator comes with many standard features that cost Ram buyers more. In fact, I’d argue the Jeep Gladiator Sport offers more value—and capability—than any V6-engined Ram.
The Jeep Gladiator costs more than the Ram 1500
Pickup truck makers have a history of advertising very low-end MSRPs, but for stripped-down models with little work-truck capability. Heck, you don’t get electric windows until 2023!
It might advertise an entry-level MSRP of $37k for the 1500. But that’s 2WD with the “Pentastar” V6 and without amenities like cloth seats and carpeting.
On the other hand, Jeep announces a $38,000 MSRP for its midsize Gladiator pickup truck. This truck comes with the same engine, but a manual transmission and a solid front Jeep axle. It is a full frame wrangler based.
Every jeep comes with four wheel drive. But adding this option to the Ram 1500 will cost you close to $2k.
In addition, every Jeep Gladiator has a full crew cabin designed for two rows of adults. Admittedly, the Gladiator is narrower than the Ram 1500. The Ram 1500 has two leather seats and a six-seater. The Gladiator fits best four adults, although it technically has five seat belts. But for comparison’s sake, upgrading the Ram 1500 from the small four-door “Quad Cab” to a crew cab would add another $3,700 to its price.
Finally, if you want a Ram 1500 with cloth seats and carpeting — comparable to the entry-level Jeep Gladiator — you’ll need to purchase the Convenience Package. This adds another $1,700 to your total.
See how the cost of the two trucks stack up in the table below:
| 2023 Ram 1500 “Dealer” | 2023 Jeep Gladiator “Sport” | |
| Base price | $39,305 | $40,570 |
| Four wheel drive price | $42,105 | $40,570 |
| Crew Cab and 5 Bed / Four Wheel Drive Price | $45,805 | $40,570 |
| Crew Cab / 4WD / Cloth Seats Price | $47,500 | $40,570 |
| Withdraw the parcel price | $49,760 | $44,465 |
The Jeep Gladiator can tow up to a V6 Ram 1500
Finally, let’s take a look at the towing capabilities. With the V6 engine, the Ram 1500 can tow capacity up to 6,180 pounds when equipped with heavy-duty options like the crew cab and. The Gladiator shares the same engine, but designed a towing package that improves cooling and increases its towing capacity to 7,700 pounds.
Upgrading the Gladiator’s towing capacity will cost you $4,000, requiring an automatic transmission and a rear axle ratio upgrade. But overall, the Jeep Gladiator can keep up with — or outpace — any Ram 1500 without the upgraded 5.7-liter Hemi V8.
The Jeep Gladiator costs more than most full-size pickup trucks
Like I said, most pickup truck manufacturers advertise low MSRPs thanks to the small cab, small entry-level engines, and stripped-down features. For this reason, the 1500 isn’t the only half-ton truck with an MSRP lower than the midsize Jeep Gladiator. You can see how the Jeep Gladiator compares to other trucks in this final table:
| settings | Manufacturer’s advertised MSRP | Edmonds estimated total | |
| Ford F-150 XL | Regular cab (two doors) | $33,695 | $36,380 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 watts | Regular cab (two doors) | $35,600 | $37,395 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 Pro | Regular cab (two doors) | $37,200 | $38,195 |
| Ram 1500 “Classic” (2022) | Regular cab (two doors) | $30,235 | $31,445 |
| Ram 1500 Tradesman | Quad Cab (Small 4-Door) | $37,410 | $38,295 |
| Toyota Tundra SR | double cab (small 4 doors) | $36, 965 | $38,000 |
| Jeep Gladiator | Unlimited cabins | $38,775 | $39,900 |
| Nissan Titan S | King Cab (Rear Suicide Doors) | $39,700 | $41,495 |
Next, see what makes it or watch how the Jeep Gladiator top stacks up to the Ram Rebel in the video below:
