The Gladiator is Jeep’s midsize, Wrangler-based pickup truck. The automaker advertises the pickup’s starting price at $38,775, making it more expensive than every American full-size truck. But here’s the kicker: the American-made Gladiator has so many features that it may be a better deal than most entry-level half-ton trucks.

How much does a full-size pickup truck cost?

Pickup truck MSRPs all increased for the 2023 model year. The Ford F-150 now starts at $34k. But if you want a crew cab with 4WD and a V8 from any manufacturer, you can expect to shell out almost $50k.

Full-size pickup truck manufacturers clung to the $30k price point for years. As recently as early 2022, you could choose from several full-size American pickup options for under $30k. With recent price increases due to the supply chain crisis, all the Detroit Three’s full-size truck MSRPs have jumped to the mid $30k range.

Despite price increases, the cheapest pickup trucks from the Detroit Three are all still two-door “regular cab” pickups with low-output engines, 2WD, and few creature comforts. They are targeted at fleet vehicle operators or very budget-conscious drivers.

How much does the Jeep Gladiator cost?

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator currently has an advertised MSRP of $38,775 plus a destination charge of $1,795. This makes it one of the more expensive pickups on the market, including its midsize and full-size competitors. But the entry-level Gladiator includes features that are costly options on other trucks.

The cheapest Jeep Gladiator trim is the Sport. It has a four-door cab, 4WD, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine. This same “Pentastar” V6 is the entry-level engine on vehicles ranging from the Dodge Challenger to the Ram 1500. But for the Gladiator, Jeep has engineered a heavy-duty engine cooling system ($895) that increases its trailering capacity far beyond the Wrangler. Configured with heavy-duty engine cooling and the correct axle ratio, the midsize Jeep Gladiator can tow 7,650 pounds.

While the Jeep Gladiator is more expensive than many entry-level full-size pickup trucks, it stands head-and-shoulder above them in features and capabilities. See how the midsize Gladiator’s 2023 MSRP stacks up to full-size trucks in the table below:

Is the Jeep Gladiator made in the USA?

Jeep assembles its Gladiator pickup in Toledo, Ohio. Sixty-eight percent of the midsize truck’s components are made in the U.S.A. or Canada. As a result, it is ranked as more “American-made” than many vehicles.

According to the 2022 Cars.com ranking, the Jeep Gladiator is more “American-made” than many pickup trucks. It comes in ahead of the Ram 1500, Ram 1500 Classic, hybrid Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, Nissan Frontier, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and many of the Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras on the road.

Ranking “American-made” is complex. For example, GM builds some of its Silverado/Sierra trucks in the U.S. and others in Mexico. A Silverado/Sierra assembled in a U.S. factory is more “American-made” than the Gladiator because it uses more parts from the U.S. or Canada. But not every full-size GM truck qualifies.

The non-hybrid F-150, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tundra are more “American-made” than the Jeep Gladiator. By the same ranking, the most “American-made” pickup truck is the Honda Ridgeline. The compact, unibody Honda truck hails from Lincoln, Alabama.

The 2022 Jeep Cherokee made the top 20 “American-made” vehicle list, earning spot number seven. The Gladiator landed at number 40. The Grand Cherokee came in at 41, while the Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited tied for 44.

Next, see why the Jeep Gladiator may be a smart investment or see the Jeep Gladiator reviewed in the video below: