This week I am behind the wheel of the 2026 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X 4x4, a midsize pickup that combines serious trail equipment with something no conventional pickup can duplicate: the ability to remove its roof and doors and fold its windshield forward. If your idea of enjoying the outdoors involves bringing the outdoors right into the cab, this Jeep has your name written all over it. My review truck adds leather seating, a body-color hardtop, navigation, premium audio, and a Warn winch to the Rubicon’s substantial off-road hardware.
The important change for 2026 is the new quick-release door system, which eliminates the need for tools when removing the doors. The removable roof and folding windshield are established Gladiator features, but the revised doors make getting ready for an open-air trail outing easier.
EXTERIOR
The official paint name is ’41, an olive green that gives this Gladiator a military-inspired appearance without needing camouflage or a recruiting poster. The upright seven-slot grille, round headlights, exposed door hinges, squared-off cab, and separate pickup bed leave no doubt about its Jeep heritage. Matching paint on the hardtop and high-clearance fender flares gives this particular truck a more finished appearance, while the red Rubicon lettering and red front tow hooks provide some contrast.
My tester’s optional steel power dome hood adds a raised center section and dual vents. Up front, the steel bumper carries the optional Warn electric winch and Mopar triple hoop grille guard, giving the nose a purposeful appearance. Black-and-machined wheels wear substantial all-terrain tires, while steel rock rails protect both the cab and bed. Those rails are there to take contact with trail obstacles; buyers should not mistake them for conventional running boards.
The proportions are unmistakably those of a four-door Jeep with a useful pickup box behind it, rather than a regular pickup dressed up with a few off-road decals.
THE OPEN AIR TRANSFORMATION
The Gladiator’s big party trick is that you can choose how far to open it up. Leave everything installed and it is an enclosed crew-cab pickup. Remove the two front roof panels and the front-seat occupants get open sky overhead while the rear roof section stays in place. Remove the remaining hardtop section and both rows are exposed. The doors can be removed separately, so taking the roof off does not automatically require taking the doors off. Folding the windshield is another, more involved step reserved for specific off-road situations.
This truck has the body-color Freedom Top three-piece hardtop included with the Rubicon X package. The two smaller panels over the front seats release with hand-operated locks and header latches. Jeep’s owner’s manual specifies removing the left panel first, followed by the right; installation reverses that order. The panels can go into their protective storage bag. This is the convenient configuration for someone who wants some sunshine without removing the entire roof, and it requires no tools for the front panels.
Removing the larger rear hardtop section is a planned operation. Jeep describes removing the Torx fasteners securing it to the cab, disconnecting its electrical harness, and lifting the assembly clear. The manual calls for four adults, one at each corner, to handle the hardtop. It should be placed on a soft surface with its edges protected. You also need somewhere to keep it, and the seals and mating surfaces should be clean when it goes back on. It is removable, but it is not a power convertible top that disappears at a traffic light.
The 2026 doors are easier because the quick-release design replaces the old tool-dependent process. You still lower the window, disconnect the electrical connector, release the check-arm pin, and lift the door off its hinges. The front-door instructions call for two people to remove and reinstall each door, so tool-free does not mean weight-free. The rear doors also have wiring connectors and check-arm releases. Prepare a protected storage area before starting; Jeep specifically says not to carry detached doors loose inside the vehicle.
There are practical consequences to removing the front doors. The exterior mirrors leave with them, and the blind-spot monitoring system is unavailable with the front doors removed. Jeep also specifies that door removal is for off-road operation and warns against driving on public roads with the doors removed because occupants lose the protection the doors provide. That is the manufacturer’s operating guidance, rather than a statement that every state’s vehicle laws are identical.
Then there is the folding windshield, which hinges forward toward the hood rather than disappearing into the dashboard. With this hardtop, the front Freedom Panels must come off first. Jeep’s instructions then call for removing the wiper arms using a 15-millimeter socket, removing four interior windshield fasteners with a T40 Torx driver, and carefully lowering the windshield onto its supports. It must be secured with appropriate tie-down straps. Because this truck has adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning, Jeep also calls for a protective cover for the exposed sensor assembly
Jeep recommends limiting speed to 10 mph with the windshield folded, prefers low-range operation, and calls for eye protection and seat belts. The windshield must be raised and properly secured before returning to on-road driving. This is a slow-speed trail feature, not an invitation to take the freeway with bugs collecting in your teeth. All removal and reinstallation procedures should follow the owner’s manual, including securing every latch, connector, and fastener. The appeal is the variety of configurations, but planning for weather and storing the removed pieces are part of ownership and most people will not want to go through all it takes to remove everything.
PERFORMANCE
Under the hood is Jeep’s naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with variable valve timing and engine stop/start, producing 285-horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It connects to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Rubicon’s Rock-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive system has a 4:1 low-range ratio, with heavy-duty wide Dana 44 axles front and rear and a 4.10 axle ratio. Its part-time system gives the driver control over selecting two-wheel drive, four-wheel-drive high range, or four-wheel-drive low range to suit conditions.
The Rubicon equipment has a specific purpose. Tru-Lok front and rear locking differentials can keep both wheels on a selected axle turning together when traction is difficult. The electronically disconnecting front stabilizer bar allows greater suspension articulation at appropriate off-road speeds, helping the tires maintain contact over uneven ground. Skid plates protect the fuel tank, transmission, transfer case, and front bumper area. Its 33-inch LT285/70R17C all-terrain tires provide the footprint and sidewall appropriate to its trail mission.
Off-Road Plus changes its behavior according to the transfer-case setting. In four-wheel-drive high range, its engine, transmission, and traction-control calibration emphasizes sand driving and maintaining wheel speed. In low range, the calibration emphasizes rock crawling, more gradual accelerator response, and control at low speeds. Selec-Speed Control manages low-speed progress using engine and brake intervention, letting the driver concentrate on steering through difficult terrain. These are functional systems, rather than a collection of screen graphics intended to make a grocery run feel adventurous.
The forward-facing TrailCam is another useful piece of the X package. It provides a view ahead when the hood or an obstacle makes the immediate trail hard to see. The Warn winch adds recovery equipment to the steel front bumper, but proper rigging, suitable anchors, and the winch manufacturer’s instructions are essential. A winch is useful equipment, not a substitute for deciding whether a trail is appropriate in the first place.
INTERIOR
The cabin keeps the Gladiator’s upright dashboard and straightforward layout, but the Rubicon X equipment moves it well beyond a bare-bones trail truck. Black Nappa leather front seats have eight-way power adjustment and four-way power lumbar adjustment for both occupants. The front seats and steering wheel are heated. A premium console armrest, leather-wrapped shifter and parking-brake handle, and Mopar hardtop headliner add comfort without changing the basic Jeep character.
The centerpiece is a wide 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen, upgraded here to the navigation version. Its displays include an app menu, weather information, camera views, and Off-Road Pages with pitch and roll information. Physical controls below the screen handle familiar tasks such as temperature and audio adjustments, while dedicated switches operate the trail equipment. Conventional gauges flank the driver information display, preserving a layout that does not require putting every vehicle function on a touchscreen.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration supplement the built-in navigation, and the truck has USB and USB-C connections. The Alpine premium audio system and removable wireless speaker are included in the X package, giving you a way to take music outside the cab at a campsite. The rear bench accommodates three passengers and folds in sections to help with interior cargo. This truck also has the optional lockable rear underseat storage bin, a useful place for smaller items when you want more security than an open pickup bed provides.
STANDARD FEATURES
The Gladiator Rubicon comes with full metal doors with quick-release hinges, an integrated window antenna, and Uconnect 5 with a 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard equipment. The optional X package upgrades the standard infotainment system to Uconnect 5 Nav. The truck’s removable doors and folding windshield are part of its basic design; its body-color hardtop, premium upholstery, navigation, and upgraded audio are accounted for in the options below.
OPTIONS
The ’41 exterior paint is $595. Customer Preferred Package 24Y is $7,995 and includes the Rubicon X package, Rubicon hood-top decal, power-adjustable Nappa leather seats, eight-way power adjustment and four-way power lumbar adjustment for both front seats, GPS navigation, body-color Rubicon highline flares, HD Radio, connected travel and traffic services, Uconnect 5 Nav with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, integrated voice command, Alpine premium audio, and a body-color Freedom Top three-piece hardtop.
That same $7,995 package also includes ParkSense rear park assist, blind-spot and cross-path detection, a wireless speaker, forward-facing TrailCam, Mopar hardtop headliner, automatic high-beam headlamp control, a winch-capable steel front bumper, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an automatically dimming rearview mirror, a full-length floor console with premium armrest, leather-wrapped parking-brake handle and shift knob, and a universal garage-door opener.
The Cargo Group with Trail Rail System is $2,095 and lists trail rails, a roll-up tonneau cover, a truck-bed 115-volt AC outlet, and a lockable rear underseat storage bin. The steel power dome hood, including the dual-vented hood, is $695. The Mopar multifunction accessory rail is $275; Mopar all-weather slush mats are $170; the Mopar triple hoop grille guard is $645; the Warn electric front winch is $1,995; and the Mopar spray-in bedliner is $555. Destination is an additional $1,995.
SAFETY FEATURES
Standard safety equipment shown on the sticker includes Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning Plus, advanced brake assist, advanced multistage front airbags, supplemental side airbags, supplemental front seat-mounted side airbags, Corning Gorilla Glass for the windshield, a ParkView rear backup camera, adaptive cruise control with Stop, electronic trailer sway control, and selectable tire-fill alert. The Rubicon X package adds rear parking assistance, blind-spot and cross-path detection, and automatic high-beam control. Removing vehicle components changes the protection and functionality available, so the owner’s manual’s guidance matters as much as the equipment list.
RIDE AND DRIVE
There are compromises that come with this much trail capability and a body designed to come apart. The ride that can become harsh on uneven pavement, steering that lacks precision, and substantial wind noise. Those observations are useful context for shoppers whose driving will mostly involve highways and city streets. The equipment that makes a Rubicon attractive on a difficult trail does not automatically make it the most relaxed commuter pickup.
For me, the buying decision starts with how much you value what makes this truck different. A conventional midsize pickup can carry your supplies, but it cannot offer this combination of an open cabin, removable doors, a folding windshield, and Rubicon trail hardware. If you will use those features, the Gladiator deserves serious consideration. If your priority is quiet, effortless everyday transportation, spend time on your normal roads during the test drive before deciding that the appearance alone is enough.
VERDICT
The Gladiator Rubicon X is an unusually adaptable pickup, with the ability to keep you enclosed and comfortable or open the cabin for an off-road outing. Its locking differentials, low-range gearing, disconnecting stabilizer bar, protective hardware, camera, and optional winch give the rugged appearance substance. The X package supplies comfort and convenience, but this is still a Jeep built around a particular kind of adventure.
EPA fuel economy on this truck’s window sticker is 17 mpg city, 22 highway, and 19 combined. The base Rubicon price is $52,520, and this truck totals $69,535 with all listed options and destination. That is a substantial investment in a midsize pickup, so its distinctive capabilities should be things you actually want to use. If they are, the Gladiator lets you change the character of the truck by changing how much of the truck you leave attached.
2026 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X Review
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What I Liked Most: The range of open-air configurations, the attractive exterior, and the Rubicon’s purposeful trail equipment.
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What I would change: I understand the off-road capability, but would like it a little quieter inside when on pavement.
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MSRP: Base Rubicon price $52,520; total MSRP $69,535 including transportation.
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Fuel Economy: 17 city/22 highway/19 combined mpg.
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Spare Tire: Full-size spare.
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Dimensions: 218 inches long/73.8 inches wide/74.1 inches high.
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Curb Weight: 5,031 pounds/GVWR: 6,250 pounds.
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Fuel Capacity: 22-gallon fuel tank with the filler on the driver’s side
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Official Color: ’41.
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Odometer when tested: 1,200 miles
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2026 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon X in a few words: A capable trail pickup with an unusually versatile open-air personality.
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Warranty: Three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and roadside assistance.
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Final Assembly Location: Toledo, Ohio.
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Website: www.Jeep.com
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