Wrangler or Gladiator: Which Rubicon Should I Get?

If you’re going to Jeep, Jeep all the way. Look, Jeep makes a lot of great vehicles. Everyone loves the Grand Cherokee, and the Renegade is lots of fun too. But the truly iconic Jeeps are the Wrangler and the Gladiator. They just have that classic Jeep look. There are no double-takes or second guesses required; you know a classic Jeep when you see one. However, even these icons can be taken to another level with the Rubicon trim, which embraces Jeep’s true personality as a hardcore off-road company. Sold, right? Doesn’t take much convincing. But, before you go out there seeking a Jeep Rubicon for sale, you must address the key question––which Rubicon is right for you: the Wrangler or Gladiator? Oof. Now there’s a tough one. How could you possibly choose between these two vehicles?

What Is the Rubicon?

What the heck is the Rubicon, anyway? In essence, the Rubicon is a Jeep that is designed for even fiercer off-roading, as if a Jeep could get any fiercer when it comes to off-roading. The Rubicon trim is offered on the Wrangler and the Gladiator, the brand’s two premiere off-road vehicles. In order to cultivate greater off-roading capability, the Rubicon includes more rugged features designed to take the hits that often come with the trails.

With more rugged off-roading features come bolder architecture and a wider stance. You can tell just by looking at it that the Rubicon is designed to go off-road. It doesn’t look like the kind of Jeep you’d see on domestic streets; it looks like the kind you’d see doing what Jeeps were intended to do. With larger tires, the Rubicon has the foundation to traverse the road (or lack thereof) less traveled. With front and rear locking differentials, an ultra-low crawl ratio, and an electronic swaybar disconnect, the Rubicon is not a trim that merely changes a few fashion features; it transforms the entirety of the vehicle into something truly special.

However, the Rubicon does come with some fashion features of its own as well. You’ll enjoy a luxurious yet still highly-athletic driving environment, as well as convenience features such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel. If you’re going off-roading, you should do it right. The Rubicon provides the perfect environment in which to do it right.

SUVs vs Trucks

Now that we’ve learned a little more about the Rubicon itself, we return to the question of which Rubicon you should choose. At its essence, the question boils down to something much simpler: do you want an SUV or a truck? A truck is designed for work, while an SUV is typically designed more for domestic life. Of course, the Wrangler is a special exception. It may be an SUV, and it may even be found in many suburban driveways, but its heart is on the trails, not in the suburbs.

The two vehicles are very similar in many ways. The Gladiator had previously been a popular nameplate in the Jeep lineup, leading the pickup truck scene through the 1980s. But times were changing, and the name retired…for a bit. The Gladiator eventually made its big comeback for the 2020 model year. However, it wasn’t the Gladiator everyone once knew; it was a new and improved Gladiator. Think the Wrangler, but it’s a pickup truck. You get all of the off-roading goodness of the proven Wrangler, but you get the added benefit of a pickup bed and high towing capacity.

Now, extend that to the Rubicon trim. Of course, the Rubicon trim is more focused on play than work. But if you need to balance out the play with some work, the Gladiator Rubicon might be the best model for you. You can use your Gladiator for work purposes when you need, then go and rip around on the trails once you’re done. It provides the best of both worlds. However, the Gladiator is not a replacement for the Wrangler. The Wrangler still holds a very important place in the lineup.

The Wrangler Rules the Trails

First, many people may not need the work capability of a pickup truck. If you don’t need it, why have it? Of course, there’s a fashion component gained from the pickup truck aesthetic, as well as the fact that having a pickup bed gives you a reason to find excuses to use it. But if off-roading is where your interests lie, and you don’t need the pickup capabilities, then Wrangler Rubicon is probably the better option. Why?

Well, a pickup truck is still a pickup truck. Of course, the Gladiator is no ordinary pickup truck, and the Rubicon is no ordinary Gladiator. But even the Rubicon cannot change the fact that the Gladiator is a pickup truck. Because of this, its architecture is inherently less flexible than something more compact like the Wrangler. Having the length of the pickup bed can make it more difficult to clear obstacles or maneuver on narrow off-road trails. The Wrangler, on the other hand, is built for off-roading.

The Wrangler’s compact SUV structure gives it the perfect combination of girth and flexibility to handle adventurous off-roading trips. Without the pickup bed, the Wrangler can move quickly and nimbly according to the circumstances, especially if you choose a two-door model with its shorter wheelbase. This, of course, makes it an easier drive for you because there’s not the added concern of clearing obstacles with a much larger vehicle.

Additionally, because the Wrangler is a more compact vehicle, it comes at a significantly lower price point. The Wrangler Rubicon allows you all of the off-roading adventures with heightened flexibility and less money spent. This is not to say that the Gladiator is not worth the money. Not at all. It simply serves a slightly different purpose, as it is a different type of vehicle than the Wrangler. Both vehicles––the Wrangler and the Gladiator––are made for adventure, but it depends on how you want that adventure to manifest itself.

The Rubicon trim turns both models into hardcore off-roading machines. But because of the difference in architecture, the two Rubicons will offer different off-roading experiences. Additionally, both Rubicons will offer different at-home experiences. As much as you may love the idea, you probably won’t be spending all of your time on the trails, so you need to consider how you want to use the vehicle at home.

The Rubicon Rubric

Like all vehicle purchases, the Rubicon does not have a rubric laying out the right choice for you. Instead, the decision has to be based on your needs, passions, and preferences. The Gladiator Rubicon provides an exciting balance of work capability and hardcore off-roading capability. The Wrangler Rubicon leans more heavily into off-roading while providing a more practical application for suburban life. There’s no wrong choice, but you have to examine your lifestyle, assess how you intend to use the vehicle, and make a balanced decision based on that criteria. Of course, the best way to find out your preferences and needs is to visit Orange Coast CJDRF and take the Gladiator and Wrangler for a test drive. A few minutes behind the wheel of a Rubicon will let you know which option is right for you.