New Jeep Gladiator arrives with Wrangler off-road ability

The new Jeep Gladiator is about to arrive, bringing together the Wrangler’s renowned off-road ability - the model from which it is derived - with the practicality expected of a pick-up. As with the Wrangler, its doors can be removed and the windscreen can even be folded down.

The European-spec Gladiator will be offered with just one engine: a 3.0-litre V6 Multijet producing 264 hp and 600 Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It is considerably more powerful than the Wrangler’s 200 hp 2.2 CRD four-cylinder diesel.

That extra performance is intended to meet the Gladiator’s greater carrying demands. It is exclusively available as a double-cab model, with a 152 cm-long steel load bed. A range of optional extras is available for this area, including several cover types - roll-up, three-fold, soft and hard - plus the “Spray-In Bedliner” protective coating.

Also available is the “Pack Cargo Trail Rail”, comprising a lockable storage compartment beneath the rear seat and a tailgate rail. This improves the new pick-up’s practicality by providing extra ways to store, organise and secure items in the load bed.

Built to climb

Given its Wrangler origins, the Gladiator was always expected to offer formidable off-road capability. It features the Command-Trac 4×4 system, with a two-speed transfer case and a 2.72:1 low-range ratio, as well as third-generation Dana 44 axles with a 3.73 rear-axle ratio.

Its off-road equipment is further enhanced by a limited-slip rear differential, generous approach, departure and breakover angles of 41°, 25° and 18.4° respectively, and all-terrain tyres. Every Jeep Gladiator version carries the “Trail-Rated” badge.

Range

Three versions will be sold in our market: Sport, Overland and Launch Edition. The latter is the special launch model and will be restricted to only five examples in Portugal. As expected, it stands out through its more comprehensive equipment list.

As standard, the Launch Edition includes a new front-facing camera - optional on the other versions - 18-inch alloy wheels, which are optional on the Sport and also standard on the Overland, an exclusive badge, a hardtop, body-coloured wheel-arch protectors, a sprayed load-bed liner, the “Pack Cargo Trail Rail” and a load-bed cover.

Inside, its waterproof cabin includes black leather seats, an Alpine Premium sound system with a subwoofer and portable wireless speaker, plus UConnect with the largest available 8.4-inch display. The Launch Edition also comes with several driving assistance systems as standard that are optional on the remaining versions, from adaptive cruise control with Stop function to blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning and rear cross-traffic detection.

All versions are additionally fitted as standard with full LED front and rear lights, a reversing camera, front and rear parking assistance, UConnect with either a 7.0-inch display or an 8.4-inch display with navigation, and UConnect Services. The latter can be accessed in several ways, including through the My UConnect app, but are only offered alongside the 8.4-inch screen.

For buyers wishing to personalise their Jeep Gladiator, Mopar offers more than 200 accessories. These include covers, roof-bar systems and off-road equipment such as tubular side steps, interior protection, alloy wheels and more.

How much does it cost?

Now available to order, with the first deliveries due next February, the new Jeep Gladiator will be priced from €70,000.