I always wondered if you can get better MPG and acceleration by removing the top and the doors off a Jeep Gladiator pickup truck. It’s time to find out! Jen and I get to work on this real-world review.
Here we have a 2026 Gladiator Willys 1941 Edition. It’s powered by a trusty 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that is rated at 285 horsepower. This one is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This pickup is not known for its speed or efficiency. The EPA rates this truck at 17 MPG city, 22 MPG highway, and 19 MPG combined.
On the flip side, the Jeep is know for convertible fun. This one is equipped with the latest door hinges that are supposed to make it easier to get the doors off and on. The Gladiator hardtop sections are also fairly easy to remove.
We run a 30-mile city/highway mixed loop. We weigh the Gladiator at a truck stop before and after. We measure the 0-60 mph times and get the results.
Removing the hardtop and four doors resulted in a 260 pounds weight savings. The Gladiator went from 5,100 lbs to 4,840 lbs of curb weight. This weight reduction resulted in 0.19 second quicker 0-60 MPH and 1.9 MPG efficiency improvement! Yes!
Please join us in the video below.
