Let’s get the obvious out of the way: If you are looking for a truck strictly to do “truck things,” you may want to look elsewhere. A Ford F-150 or a Chevy Colorado will happily “out-truck” the Jeep Gladiator when it comes to towing and payload capacities, plus provide quiet highway cruising.
But the moment the pavement ends and the trail begins, the moment you find perfect weather and want the doors-off, open-air driving experience, no other pickup can quite compare. The 2026 Jeep Gladiator Willys is a stubborn, charming, niche vehicle, essentially a Jeep Wrangler with a truck bed. It carries on a design language that has been remarkably consistent since the 1940s, especially in this Willys trim and aptly named color.
New 2026 Jeep Gladiator Prices
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Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$41,295 |
$38,600 |
|||
$44,490 |
$41,400 |
|||
$47,225 |
$44,400 |
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$47,295 |
$45,000 |
|||
$48,285 |
$45,000 |
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$49,590 |
$46,900 |
|||
$49,835 |
$46,700 |
|||
$53,995 |
$50,300 |
|||
$54,690 |
$51,600 |
|||
$58,990 |
$55,000 |
|||
$61,990 |
$57,300 |
|||
$62,685 |
$58,200 |
The Willys Legacy and the Color of ‘41
Let’s talk about the name. Most of us have spent our whole lives pronouncing it “WILL-eez.” But historically, it’s actually pronounced “WILL-iss,” named after John North Willys, the automotive pioneer responsible for the wildly successful World War II military vehicle that birthed the Jeep legend in 1941.
That history leads perfectly into this Gladiator’s exterior color, appropriately named ‘41. It’s built to mirror the original tactical Olive Drab green used on those army vehicles. It’s flat and earthy, giving this modern Gladiator a decidedly vintage military vibe.
Jeep’s Willys trim elevates that retro feel while borrowing off-road hardware from the Rubicon. Up front, you get a blacked-out grille and accent treatments. Along the sides of the hood, you’ll find iconic, stencil-style decals colored in dark blue. Fun historical fact: During World War II, markings were painted in a similar dark blue to hide them from enemy aircraft, as black-and-white cameras of the era couldn’t distinguish between navy blue and olive drab.
Out back, the retro “4WHEEL DRIVE” stencil on the tailgate throws it all the way back to the vintage “Civilian Jeeps” (or CJ). The entirety of this Jeep pays fan-service to retro enthusiasts, much to my liking.
Trail-Ready Rubicon DNA
Willys goes beyond being an appearance package. It rides on retro-inspired 17-inch wheels, color-matched to the ‘41 paint. They look like old-school steelies, but they are actually modern aluminum construction and wrapped in aggressive 33-inch mud-terrain tires.
Jeep threw in heavy-duty Dana 44 axles, rock rails straight off the Rubicon, an upgraded suspension with higher ground clearance, a rear locker, and an Off-Road+ drive mode to round out the capability matrix.
The approach and departure angles are inherently excellent, being a Jeep, but the breakover angle does take a beating, given its massive 137-inch wheelbase. Which is longer than a Suburban, if anyone’s counting.
V6 Simplicity in a Turbo World
Under the hood sits the tried-and-true 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Yes, they’ve been using this engine for over 15 years, which is an absolute eternity in the automotive world, but given that the vehicle design elements date back over 80 years, it’s somewhat forgiven. Pumping out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, it provides linear, predictable power, albeit not loads of it. But in a modern era dominated by high-strung turbochargers and complex hybrids, this simplified powertrain is a welcome detour. Mated to a smooth 8-speed automatic (though a 6-speed manual is available for the purists), it still feels surprisingly peppy, acting like a mountain goat even at 6,000 feet of elevation.
On the road, the Gladiator drives exactly like a Wrangler, with vague hints of steering feel and a fair amount of bouncing around. Once you are met with a tight turn, you’re immediately reminded of the wheelbase. The Gladiator is nearly 19 inches longer than a 4-door Wrangler, which makes U-turns an exercise in patience. A unique upside is that the stretched wheelbase improves high-speed ride comfort over its SUV sibling. And like all other Jeep Wrangler variants, the road and wind noise are ever-present.
Interior Form, Function, and …Flannel?
On the inside, the cabin perfectly blends rugged functionality with retro flair. The new-for-2026 Heritage Tan cloth seats and the Olive Drab fabric-wrapped dashboard are incredibly tasteful. It feels like vintage flannel fused with modern hiking gear.
In a world honed by touchscreen menus, the Gladiator’s dash is a refreshing sea of tactile, physical buttons. You get factory auxiliary switches ready for lights and accessories. The tech works well, with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remaining easily visible on the large screen even in broad daylight with the roof off. The Alpine audio system is wildly bass-heavy out of the box, but dialing the low frequencies down and the treble nudged upward makes it a fantastic system even at high open-air volumes.
It’s not entirely perfect. There were some minor software glitches, and the interior features could use a little more flexibility. For instance, the heated steering wheel only has one setting, and ventilated seats would be a nice touch. Furthermore, Jeep insists on keeping the volume and track selection buttons hidden on the back of the steering wheel rather than on the front, as the rest of the industry does. You get used to it, but it remains a quirk.
A Pricey but Peerless Experience
At $58,160 as tested for this model, this is a healthy chunk of change. And we’d love to see Stellantis drop in some of their newer powertrains down the line.
But for now, the Gladiator Willys remains a fully unique offering. There simply isn’t another vehicle on the market that gives you a truck bed, Rubicon-lite off-road capability, and the ability to strip off the roof and doors for a completely open-air drive. It’s an honest, capable rig that perfectly honors its 1941 heritage.
Oh, and our tester came with a rubber duck on the dashboard. Jeep certainly knows its audience.
