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New Jeep Gladiator: Super-configurable off-road midsize truck

Jeep Gladiator, the super-popular Jeep and pickup mashup ranked No. 1 for new vehicle quality among midsize trucks by J.D. Power, gets a more advanced and comfortable interior for 2024 along with available power seats tested for water fording, more safety and technology, including standard side-curtain airbags, and a fresh exterior with a new seven-slot grille, seven new wheel designs, and a windshield-integrated trail-ready antenna. Gladiator will be available in Sport, Willys, Mojave, and Rubicon models, with Mojave X and Rubicon X brand new trims.

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator delivers 4x4 capability that no other midsize truck can match, including unsurpassed towing, best-in-class 4x4 payload and, new for 2024, standard rear locking differential and Off-Road+ on the Willys model. Its ability to conquer the extreme off-road trails from Moab to the Rubicon Trail or the most extreme dessert terrain is built on legendary Jeep 4x4 systems, including: four advanced 4x4 systems, best-in-class 84:1 crawl ratio standard on Rubicon, water fording of up to 31.5 in., approach angle of 44.7 deg and ground clearance of 11.6 in., and unsurpassed 4x4 max towing (up to 7,700 lb) and best-in-class payload (up to 1,725 lb).

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator builds on a sculptural design aesthetic that is immediately recognizable as a Jeep 4x4 with its traditional Jeep design cues. Gladiator's iconic seven-slot grille wears an updated look with black textured slots, neutral gray metallic bezels, and body-color surround (gloss black slots and bezels on Willys). Slimmer both visually and literally, the new grille's black textured vertical slots also improve cooling.

A new trail-ready stealth antenna integrated into the front windshield replaces the previous steel mast antenna, streamlining Gladiator's appearance and eliminating brush or tree limb snags on the trail. New for 2024, Jeep Gladiator features seven new standard and optional wheel designs, with tire sizes ranging from 32 to 33 in.

Multiple open-air freedom options, including a new standard premium soft-top, two available hardtops (black and body color), Sunrider for Hardtop and dual-door group with half doors, mean there are dozens of different door, top, and windshield combinations, so Gladiator customers can customize their off-road adventure to their specific needs. Gladiator is available in nine standout exterior colors, including: Anvil (new), Firecracker Red, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, High Velocity, Hydro Blue, Sarge, Bright White, and black.

The Jeep Gladiator's standard 3.6-L Pentastar V-6 engine delivers 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and features engine stop-start (ESS) as standard equipment. It is engineered to provide a broad torque band with a focus on low-end torque, essential for off-roading, hauling heavy loads, or towing a trailer. For off-road enthusiasts who love a manual transmission, a six-speed manual transmission is standard and an eight-speed automatic transmission is optional.

With the standard six-speed manual transmission, Gladiator boasts an impressive best-in-class crawl ratio up to 84:1. With the optional eight-speed automatic transmission, Gladiator offers a crawl ratio up to 77:1.

Using a body-on-frame design and featuring a finely engineered five-link suspension system, the new 2024 Gladiator delivers unrivaled capability, refined on-road dynamics, and advanced safety features. The use of lightweight, high-strength aluminum closures, including the doors, door hinges, hood, fender flares, windshield frame, and tailgate, help reduce weight and boost fuel economy.

A steel bed uses four steel cross-members to reinforce the load floor, while the aluminum tailgate is damped for safe and secure action. Utility and versatility are maximized with strong integrated tie-downs, under-rail bed lighting, and an optional covered external power source.

For 2024, Gladiator continues to use the proven five-link coil suspension setup. Gladiator's front suspension features two upper and two lower high-strength steel control arms for longitudinal control and a cross-car track bar for lateral axle control. The five-link rear suspension features a similar layout to the front suspension, with two upper and two lower high-strength steel control arms for longitudinal axle control and a track bar for lateral axle control.

The front and rear full-width high-strength steel track bars are positioned to control lateral movement of the axle with minimal angle change during suspension travel. The shocks are tuned for optimum balance between on-road handling and challenging off-road capability, delivering ideal ride comfort, body-roll control, and dynamic handling.

2024 Jeep Gladiator offers more than 85 available active and passive safety and security features. Newly standard on all models for 2024 are first- and second-row side curtain airbags, which complement standard driver and passenger front airbags and front seat-mounted driver and passenger side airbags. For the 2024 model year, Gladiator also features second-row outboard seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, as well as structural improvements for side-impact performance.

Forward collision warning and advanced cruise control with stop now come standard on Sport S and above. Blind-spot and cross-path detection and ParkSense rear park-assist system come standard on Mojave X and Rubicon X, and are available on Sport S, Willys, Mojave, and Rubicon. A ParkView rear back-up camera with dynamic grid lines, traction control, and electronic stability control (ESC) with electronic roll mitigation are standard on all models.

Gladiator Mojave X and Gladiator Rubicon X add even more off-road features standard, including full-time transfer case, integrated off-road camera, and front and rear steel bumpers.

The new 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon sports a Rock-Trac 4x4 system that features heavy-duty third-gen Dana 44 front and rear axles with a "4LO" ratio of 4:1. A 4.10 front and rear axle ratio is standard as are Tru-Lok front- and rear-locking differentials. Gladiator Rubicon offers improved articulation with help from an electronic front sway-bar disconnect for additional wheel travel when the terrain calls for it. The Rock-Trac systems delivers full-time torque management, enabling optimal grip in low-traction conditions via the 33-in. all-terrain tires mounted on 17-in. aluminum wheels.

To protect critical vehicle components while on the trail, including the fuel tank, transfer case, and automatic transmission oil pan, all Gladiators use three skid plates, with Mojave and Rubicon models benefitting from rugged steel rock rails for the cab to curtail potential body damage inflicted while out on the trail. Rubicon and Mojave X models also boast steel rock rails for the bed corners.

The Desert Rated Gladiator Mojave has been developed against a series of strenuous tests in five categories: ride control and stability, traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, and desert prowess. To earn its Desert Rated badge, the Gladiator Mojave features specially tuned high-performance FOX 2.5-in. internal bypass shocks to optimize handling, ride comfort, and bottom-out resistance on high-speed sand runs. The FOX shocks contain internal passages that allow fluid to bypass the piston through regulated ports as it moves through the suspension travel. The result is a predictable ride over normal off-road driving conditions, with the ability to ramp up damping force in extreme use.

Front and rear external shock reservoirs keep shock fluid cool, preventing shock fade during long runs through the hot desert at high speed. Military-grade suspension fluid maintains performance at extreme temperatures and is the same fluid used in off-road racing shocks.

FOX front hydraulic jounce bumpers act as a secondary pair of shocks, providing additional damping force as the suspension reaches maximum compression, to soften impacts and prevent bottoming out in off-road situations at speed. They combine race-proven technology with cutting-edge features to deliver increased damping performance and bottom-out control in the last few inches of suspension travel.

An Off-Road+ button allows drivers to take Gladiator Mojave to the next level of tractive capabilities. With a push of a button, drivers can adjust throttle, transmission shift points, and traction control for peak performance on higher speed passes on sand terrain, as well as during low-speed rock crawling. The Off-Road+ drive mode on Mojave also allows drivers to lock the rear axle at high speeds while in 4HI.

The new Jeep Gladiator's refined interior is loaded with premium features and technology along with Jeep 4x4 functionality and versatility. With a new-for-2024 12.3-in. touchscreen at its core, the heritage-inspired center stack features a clean, sculpted form that complements the horizontal dashboard design. A wrapped instrument panel features new soft-touch surfaces, in fabric or polyurethane, with contrast accent stitching. New AMPS bracket provisions are now featured on top of the dash for mounting accessory electronics.

The 12.3-in. touchscreen is the most advanced and largest display ever offered on Gladiator. It houses the fifth-gen, award-winning Uconnect 5 system and sits prominently atop the center stack, right above the new slim rectangular inboard air vent. Standard on all models is improved hands-free voice recognition, which uses new seven-microphone array technology.

The new Gladiator is well equipped to keep vehicle occupants connected while on the go. Functionality is enhanced for front-row passengers with standard dual USB Type C ports that allow devices to charge up to four times faster. The Gladiator delivers a total of up to seven USB Type A and Type C ports for both rows.

The Jeep brand is also the first automotive brand to feature built-in off-road adventure trail guides with the introduction of Jeep Adventure Guides featuring Trails Offroad, a leader in off-road trail guides and maps.

Many more upgrades. Pricing should start around $40,0000. Vehicles will start to arrive in U.S. Jeep dealerships at the end of this year. Learn more at jeep.com/2024/gladiator.html.

Source: Jeep/Stellantis

Published September 2023

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