Based on the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep's long-awaited Gladiator is a five-passenger, four-door crew cab Jeep with a five-foot long pickup box. This required the wheelbase to be extended 19.4 inches to 137.3 inches and the overall length by 31 inches to 218 inches. Not only does this provide more rear legroom, but also improves ride quality. The Gladiator is available in four trim levels – Sport, Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon. A soft top is standard with a three-piece hardtop optional. Body and roof panels can be easily removed, but these have to be stowed before you leave home.
The Gladiator is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 that makes 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with an eight-speed automatic optional. An engine stop/start system helps save fuel. EPA estimates fuel economy at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the manual transmission and 17 city/22 highway mpg for the automatic. With the Max Towing package, the Gladiator can tow up to 7650 pounds and carry a 1600 pounds payload. A 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel producing 260 horsepower and a mighty 442 lb-ft torque is another option for those seeking even higher fuel efficiency and greater power.
The Gladiator’s Rubicon variant comes with 4:1 Rock-Trac heavy-duty 4WD, while other trims feature Command-Trac 4WD. An anti-spin rear differential, skid plates, rock-crawling axle ratios, and all-terrain tires are available for serious off-roading. The Gladiator can ford up to 30 inches of water.
Available driver assist features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, advanced brake assist, cross-path detection, rear park assist, and blind-spot monitor. The Rubicon model has a front-facing camera that’s great while blazing trails or crawling over rocks. A rear back-up camera is standard on all trims.
Every Gladiator has a standard touchscreen. A 5-inch display is standard on the Sport and Sport S while the Overland and Rubicon get a standard 7-inch display. An 8.4-inch display is optional on the Rubicon. The larger touchscreen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Front-seat passengers get two USB ports, a USB-C port, and a 115-volt AC outlet.
The base Jeep Gladiator Sport offers a $33,545 price of entry. The Sports S is priced at $36,745, the Overland $40,395, and the top-of-the-line Rubicon $43,545.
