The article was originally produced on March 31, 2020, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

If you like the concept of the Jeep but are in need of being able to load more bulky things, the Gladiator is now for you.

Jeep is one of the oldest off-road vehicles in existence. Initially an American military vehicle built during the Second World War but later a separate brand. You don’t know exactly where the name comes from, but one explanation is that it stands for GP, General Purpose, which in slang can be pronounced ”Jeep”. Among the early Jeep models built, Ford was involved in one called the Willys-Overland, later called the Willys Jeep and one of the most famous.

Gladiator classifies under the ”full-size” pickup category, which is completely new for the brand

The first civilian Jeep was manufactured back in 1945. Nowadays, it is the Fiat Chrysler Division that owns the Jeep brand. The history of Jeep can be made very long but is not the purpose of this article. Instead, we will focus on the brand new Gladiator model, which is quite different from traditional Jeep models. Gladiator is classified under the ”full-size” pickup category, which is completely new for the brand. The biggest competitors are Dodge Ram and especially Ford with its F-150, which is the world’s best-selling full-size pickup.

If you stand and look at the Jeep Gladiator from the front, you won’t be able to see much difference from the regular Jeep Wrangler. In terms of shape, it looks at first like you just put a flatbed on the back of a Wrangler, but it’s not really that simple. The cab is shorter and lacks cargo space, but the car is still a good deal longer than its sibling without a flatbed. The total length of the Gladiator measures a whopping 5,539 centimeters and the flatbed itself 1,531 cm. The load capacity of the Gladiator is a whopping 726 kilograms and you can tow things behind the car of up to 3,470 kg. Compared to the regular Wrangler, it is almost a ton more in towing weight.

Gladiator comes just like regular Wrangler in a number of different versions, Sport, Sport S and Overland. The hardest version is called Rubicon and has a little more of everything. You can choose between a hard top or an openable soft top that can be converted to make the Gladiator a cabriolet. In this design with the roof down, the Gladiator is without any further competition among the coolest summer cars you can find in this class!

The Jeep Gladiator thrives off-road, almost more than on normal roads where it can be experienced as a bit bumpy and noisy in comparison to other cars of the same character. But that’s the way it is, if you drive a Jeep, you’ve already found yourself in this fact. That it is so good in the terrain is mainly due to the lockable diffs and a tread depth of 76 centimeters. The fact that it is not so comfortable on normal roads has to do with the stiff rear axle but also the large wheels and the design, which rather brings to mind a box than a car.

To propel the Gladiator forward, you can choose either a 285 horsepower V6 gasoline engine or a 260 hp diesel V6. For the petrol engine, you can choose between a six-speed automatic transmission or The power goes via an eight-speed automatic or manual transmission. For the diesel, it is an eight-speed automatic that applies. You of course have access to high and low gear and everything is easily operated with robust controls. Not to exaggerate, the entire interior of the Gladiator is robust. So much so that you would think it was possible to rinse the inside of the car with a high-pressure washer.

To really take full advantage of a Gladiator, you probably shouldn’t live in the most central parts of town unless you have your own garage space. Because, as I said, the car takes up quite a lot of space. But if you live in such a way that you don’t have to worry about that and want a full-size pickup that will take you over rocks and stones and with an attitude few cars can match, then the Jeep Gladiator is definitely the car for you. 

Jeep Gladiator

Basic price	From SEK 699,000
Engine	3.6-liter V6, 285 hp gasoline. Torque 352 Nm
Transmission	Front engine, 8-speed dual, four-wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 in 7.2 sec
Top speed	156 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	1.24 l/mile
Weight	1,525 kg
Guarantees	Exclusive Cars New 3 years / 10,000 miles via Solid insurances, No free service
The Jeep Gladiator is sold through Exclusive Cars and it was they who also provided us with the car for the test drive.	www.exclusivecars.se