It’s America’s most exciting pickup truck: The 2021 Jeep Gladiator! No recent truck release has gotten people talking like the launch of the first Gladiator in 2019. A couple of years in and the Gladiator just keeps getting better. So, what is the Jeep Gladiator exactly, and what’s new for the 2021 model year? Here’s everything you need to know.
The First Jeep Pickup in Decades
It’s been a long time since Jeep had a pickup truck in its lineup. You have to go all the way back to 1992, the last year that the Jeep Comanche, also known as the MJ, was in production. The Comanche itself was a successor to the Jeep Gladiator, a full-size pickup produced from 1962 to 1988. The lengthy gap between the Comanche and today’s Gladiator means this truck was long overdue.
Jeep had been toying with truck lover’s emotions for over a decade before finally giving us the Gladiator. Several concept models, like the 2005 Gladiator concept, tantalized Jeep fans with images of a proper pickup truck bed combined with classic Jeep features like removable doors. But still, they made us wait. However, that wait has been well worth it.
Like a Wrangler JL
The Jeep Gladiator, also known as the JT, is built on the Wrangler JL platform. The Wrangler JL is the four-door Wrangler with a longer wheelbase. It works perfectly for a pickup truck. That means that much of the drivetrain and several other components match the Wrangler JL’s configuration perfectly.
For example, you can get the same engine options as the Wrangler, including the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine making 280 horsepower by default. A diesel option is also available, providing Best-in-Class torque good for 442 pound-feet, meaning you can haul just about anything you can think of. Either engine can be mated to the powerful 8-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual for those who refuse to give up control.
Unique Features
While it’s built on the Wrangler JL platform, the Gladiator is hardly a carbon copy of its Wrangler cousin. This pickup’s got a few unique features of its own that’s sure to impress. The most obvious feature is the truck bed, which can support a downright impressive 1,700-pound payload.
You don’t have to worry about your stuff coming loose if you get the Trail Rail system. You can cover the bed in a myriad of ways with a roll-up tonneau bed cover that allows you to decide just how much of the bed you need to keep exposed. There’s even an AC port back there so you can power lights or keep your food warm on a cold night.
Choose Your Trim
There’s a Jeep for everyone. The Sport and Sport S models are the Gladiator’s entry-level options. The Willys and Overland models include additional off-road features. For a unique look, check out the 80th Anniversary Edition and the Freedom trim. If true adventure is what you need, then look for a Mojave or Rubicon model near you.
Come down to All American Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Odessa Texas to give the Gladiator a test drive and see it for yourself.
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