The Gladiator is a mid-size Jeep truck based on the Wrangler. Jeep advertises this truck’s 2023 MSRP as $38,775. With its destination fee, the midsize Gladiator is nearly a $40k truck. It is more expensive than many entry-level half-ton trucks, including the Ram 1500. And it might still be worth it.

How much do pickup trucks cost in 2023?

After 2022’s supply chain shortages, every pickup truck manufacturer raised its MSRPs for 2023. The $30k truck is no more. The cheapest regular cab is the Ford F-150 XL at $33k; some trucks start at $5k more.

On the one hand, pickup truck prices are shooting up. On the other hand, manufacturers are folding features into even their most stripped-down models. For example, the Ford F-150 XL was once a cruise-control-delete truck with crank-up windows. But for 2023, it has both cruise control and electric windows standard.

Other models, such as Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan, and Ram 1500, no longer offer the short two-door “regular” cab configuration. Longer cabs cost extra to build, so all three of these models now start at $37k or more.

How much is a 2023 Jeep truck?

The Jeep Gladiator’s 2023 MSRP is $38,775. That makes it the most expensive mid-size, and more expensive than most full-size half-ton trucks.

In fact, the only full-size half-ton with a higher starting price than the Jeep Gladiator is the Nissan Titan S which has an MSRP of $39,700–according to Edmunds.com. The Jeep Gladiator is one expensive truck.

You can see how the Jeep Gladiator stacks up to half-ton trucks in the table below:

	Configuration	Manufacturer’s Advertised MSRP	Edmunds’ Estimated Total
Ford F-150 XL	Regular cab (2-door)	$33,695	$36,380
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT	Regular cab (2-door)	$35,600	$37,395
GMC Sierra 1500 Pro	Regular cab (2-door)	$37,200	$38,195
Ram 1500 “Classic” (2022)	Regular Cab (2-door)	$30,235	$31,445
Ram 1500 Tradesman	Quad cab (small 4-door)	$37,090	$38,295
Toyota Tundra SR	Double cab (small 4-door)	$36, 965	$38,000
Jeep Gladiator	Unlimited cab	$38,775	$39,900
Nissan Titan S	King Cab (rear suicide doors)	$39,700	$41,495

The Jeep Gladiator may be worth every penny

You actually get a lot of truck for the Jeep Gladiator’s $38,775 starting price. All the full-size pickup trucks that advertise lower MSRPs come with entry-level engines. Sure, the Jeep Gladiator comes with the same 3.6-liter V6 that the entry-level Ram 1500 has. But Jeep engineered a special cooling system for the V6 that gives you a 7,650-pound towing capacity. The entry-level Gladiator powertrain also comes with a 1,700-pound payload capacity.

All the advertised entry-level half-ton pickup truck MSRPs are for a 2WD. Upgrading to 4WD will cost you extra. Every Jeep Gladiator comes with 4WD and solid axles ready for serious off-roading.

In addition, even the half-tons that only come with four doors have smaller configurations for their entry-level trucks. Take, for instance, the Ram 1500’s quad cab. This rear seat is really too small for adults in the second row. But when Jeep stretched its Wrangler chassis into the Gladiator, it made sure some of that room went to the second row of passengers. The Jeep Gladiator’s cab may be narrow, but at least it has room for adults to sit behind adults.

Speaking of the Wrangler, that SUV starts at $30k and change. If you want the second row of seats—even larger than the Wrangler Unlimited’s—and the bed, it makes sense that you should be investing a bit more.

You can see how all the 2023 half-ton pickup truck prices stack up to the Gladiator in the table below:

So what do you think: Is the Jeep Gladiator—more expensive than most full-size half-tons—a good deal or not?

Next, find out whether midsize pickups are cheaper than full-size trucks.