The 2021 Jeep Gladiator 4WD 3.6L gets 19 MPG combined, which isn’t great, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s a mid-size pickup truck made for serious off-road driving and open-air fun, so its fuel use shows that. Buyers who pick the Gladiator aren’t looking for the best MPG. They want a special mix of truck ability and Jeep features, along with the gas costs.

City and highway performance

The EPA says the Gladiator 4WD with the 3.6L V6 and 8-speed automatic gets 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. The city number matters more to Gladiator owners since they will likely drive in cities and stop-and-go traffic a lot. The 22 MPG highway number is okay, but it can drop fast as speed goes up. The Gladiator’s shape makes it less efficient at higher speeds. Also, adding things like a lift kit and bigger tires will lower these numbers.

Annual Fuel Cost

The EPA says the yearly fuel cost for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator 4WD 3.6L is $2,300. This is based on driving 15,000 miles a year and using average gas prices. Fuel costs will change based on how you drive, local gas prices, and the type of gas you use. This number helps to compare vehicles, and it shows the possible money impact of owning a vehicle that uses more gas.

Real-World Expectations

The EPA numbers are a starting place, but the Gladiator’s real-world MPG can change a lot. Things like how you drive, the land, tire pressure, and weight matter. Owners who often drive in four-wheel-drive, especially in low range, will see a drop in MPG. Also, people who often tow or carry heavy things should expect lower fuel efficiency. To get the EPA numbers, you need to drive carefully and not idle or speed up too much. The GLADIATOR MPG across all years can vary slightly based on model year, so checking is important.

How It Compares

The Gladiator’s gas mileage is among the lowest for mid-size trucks. The Toyota Tacoma 4×4 with its V6 gets about 18 MPG combined, and the Chevrolet Colorado 4×4 with the V6 gets about 19 MPG combined. The Ford Ranger 4×4, with its turbocharged four-cylinder, offers a bit better at 20 MPG combined. But, those trucks don’t offer the open-air and off-road abilities that the Gladiator has, which is why buyers are drawn to this truck. Buyers looking for the best fuel efficiency might consider the Honda Ridgeline, which gets 21 MPG combined in its AWD form when looking at all Jeep fuel economy data.

Tips to Maximize Efficiency

Keeping tires inflated is important for fuel economy in any vehicle. Check your Gladiator’s tire pressure often and inflate them to the recommended level on the sticker inside the driver’s side doorjamb. Tires with low air increase rolling resistance, which makes the engine work harder and use more fuel.

Try to idle as little as possible. Idling uses fuel without going anywhere. If you’re stopped for more than a minute or two, turn off the engine. This is especially important in the Gladiator, since its V6 engine uses a good amount of fuel when idling.

Drive smoothly and don’t speed up or brake hard. Accelerating gently and expecting traffic can help fuel economy a lot. The Gladiator is heavy, and its shape is not aerodynamic, making it react a lot to sudden speed changes, so a steady speed is helpful.

Take out extra weight from the vehicle. More weight makes the engine work harder, using more fuel. Remove things you don’t need and don’t carry heavy items when not needed.

Consider the route of a journey before hitting the road to spend less time in traffic. If you are already going on a long road trip, planning it and taking a route with the fewest stops will use less gas.