2019 Jeep Gladiator
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon in Billet Silver Metallic with Genuine Mud accents (a no-charge option)

Consumer Guide Automotive

‘What took you so long?”

That was one of the first questions raised during the preview for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, voiced by someone (OK … me) who used to own a Jeep Scrambler pickup — and has been anxiously awaiting the versatile vehicle’s second coming.

Scrambler
Built in limited numbers from 1981 through ’85, the Scrambler was a CJ7 with a removable half-top and a short pickup bed in back. Although Jeep also built a truck called the Gladiator in the ’60s, it was a conventional regular-cab, full-size pickup.

Although considered part of the growing compact-pickup segment, the new Jeep Gladiator — the first Jeep pickup in more than a quarter of a century — really has no direct competition.

That’s largely because every model is a convertible, making the Gladiator unique among pickups – of any size. It’s also available in versions that have what is likely unsurpassed off-road ability.

Based on Jeep’s 4-door Wrangler but with 19 inches added to the wheelbase and 30 to overall length, the Gladiator hardly looks like a “compact.” Indeed, at 218 inches stem to stern, it’s a good six inches longer than crew-cab/short-bed versions of the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, or Honda Ridgeline — though still seven inches shorter than a Chevrolet Colorado crew cab when fitted with its longer 6’2″ bed.

What that gets you, however, is a cabin large enough to accommodate four full-size adults – five in a pinch – along with a 5-foot cargo bed. It also gets you what Jeep says is class-leading hauling and towing capability of 1600 and 7650 lbs., respectively. Yet with up to 11 inches of available ground clearance and all sorts of traction aids, the Gladiator still offers surprising off-road capability, as demonstrated on a grueling course set up for just that purpose.

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2019 Jeep Gladiator
Thirty inches longer than a 4-door Wrangler, the Gladiator seems really big for a “compact” pickup — though that length is put to good use, as the bed is large enough to be functional.

When it goes on sale in May, the Gladiator will be offered in three trim levels … four if you count the limited run of loaded First Edition models that can be ordered on April 4 (“4×4 Day”). All come with a part-time 4WD system — no full-time system being available — and a 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. (A 3.0-liter turbodiesel is expected to arrive next year.) Also standard is a 6-speed manual transmission, with an 8-speed automatic being optional.

The base Sport starts at $35,040 including the $1495 destination charge. Although air conditioning is standard — along with a trailer hitch, rearview camera, and push-button start — power-operated accessories such as mirrors, windows, and locks are not … though they’re available as options. Other options include heated front seats and steering wheel, remote locks and starting, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, and high-tech safety features that include forward collision warning, blind-spot alert, rear obstacle detection, and adaptive cruise control.

Next up is the $41,890 Overland, which includes most of the convenience and infotainment features that are optional on the Sport, along with dual-zone automatic climate control, side steps, cabin air filter, and 115-volt AC (household) power outlet. The high-tech safety features are optional here as well, and it makes available such options as leather upholstery, keyless access, and a navigation system.

2019 Jeep Gladiator
At far left is a “regular” Gladiator. The off-road-oriented Rubicon (second from left) features 33-inch tires under raised front fenders that can accommodate 35-inch ones, and makes available a front-mounted camera (which includes a washer!) that can see what’s directly in front of the vehicle and display it on the dashboard screen.

Topping the regular lineup is the Rubicon, which starts at $45,040. It brings a host of off-road-oriented features such as greater ground clearance, electronically locking front and rear axles, electronic sway-bar disconnect, a lower-geared transfer case, 33-inch off-road tires with raised fender flares that can accommodate up to 35-inch tires, and a front skid plate, and makes available a front-mounted camera.

While Wranglers have gotten increasingly more civil with each generation since their debut for 1987 – when they replaced the venerable CJ Series – they started from a pretty low bar in that respect. But with their redesign last year, they’ve finally become livable as everyday transportation.

Surprisingly, this is an area in which the Gladiator goes its SUV sibling one better. Although both ride on “primitive” (but durable) solid axles front and rear, they’re suspended on coil springs rather than leaf springs, and on the Gladiator, those axles are spread 19 inches farther apart, which helps smooth the ride.

And the ride really is quite good, particularly on the highway, where the only demerit is that it seems to take a little more correction than usual to keep the Gladiator going straight. And despite its length … and height … and weight, it also handles corners surprisingly well. Add in a powertrain that provides more-than-adequate acceleration – with a good full-throttle jump off the line and quick kickdowns when hitting the gas from speed – and the Gladiator comes off as being perfectly suitable as everyday transportation.

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2019 Jeep Gladiator
The no-nonsense interior is nicely laid out and trimmed with rather neat materials, including an available body-color steel facing on the dash. (Hard to make out here, as the “body color” of this vehicle is silver.)

As the cab area is much like that of the Wrangler, we invite you to read that report for more details, as we’ll concentrate on differences here. But suffice it to say that room (as mentioned) is good for four adults, visibility is just OK, the control layout is quite convenient, and noise levels are acceptable, though – as might be expected – are better with the hard top than the soft top.

Speaking of the tops, those on the Gladiator make for a strong selling point. While Wranglers used to be famous for their ability to go topless, they were equally famous for making that process a tremendous chore. Not any more.

2019 Jeep Gladiator
You can really “open up” a Gladiator, and if all you want to do is open the space over your head, it’s an amazingly easy operation with the standard soft top: Just release two handles at the windshield header and flip the top back, which folds into a nice stack at the rear of a huge opening. While the bed is what separates the Gladiator from a Wrangler, the top is what separates it from other pickups … well, that and the fact you can also remove the doors and rear window and lower the windshield.

Standard on all models is a removable soft top. Also offered is a “Premium” soft top, which was probably what was fitted to the examples at the preview. In any event, those on vehicles at the event detached from the windshield with two latches and folded back, leaving a good-size hole in its wake – a task fairly easily accomplished by one person in a matter of seconds. The rear window can be removed and the rear corners popped off to create a true open-air experience, and if that’s not enough, the doors can be removed and even the windshield can be folded forward.

2019 Jeep Gladiator
Standard on all models is a soft top (left), while a hard top — in either black or body color — is optional. Hard tops include a sliding rear window, handy for carrying long items such as 8-foot 2x4s.

While the hard top makes for a more secure cabin and a slightly quieter ride, it’s not quite as easy to open up. Four roof panels can be removed individually, but they have to then be stored somewhere. You can also remove what are essentially the frame panels of the top, but that takes tools. Hard tops are offered in black and body color, and are optional on all models.

2019 Jeep Gladiator
Lots of neat storage spaces are built into the Gladiator. Between the console cupholders is a lateral slot to stow your cell phone (you can also place one next to the parking-brake handle), there’s a huge, wide bin under the rear seat cushions (at the back of the bin on the driver’s side is a small box where you can store the various fasteners removed to “free” the doors and windshield), and there’s a little bit of storage space — with a handy net — behind the rear seat backs.

In that vein is another neat feature of the Gladiator. All the tools needed to strip off the top pieces and doors are included in a kit, and the bolts can be placed in a little box – with each of the bolt holes labeled – that stores beneath a rear seat cushion. Also below the cushions is a huge, full-width bin that includes segmenting panels that can be moved around. Furthermore, there’s a bit of storage space behind the seat backs, which can be folded forward to form a flat work surface. Also stored behind the seat back on the passenger side is an available Bluetooth speaker that can be detached and used outside the vehicle.

Then there’s the whole point of the Gladiator: the bed.

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2019 Jeep Gladiator
As the 56-inch-wide bed is only 44 inches wide between the wheelwells, the tailgate can be held at an angle so that it can support a 4×8 sheet of plywood resting atop the wheelwells. The 5-foot bed also includes tie-down hooks, lights, and a 115-volt AC (household) outlet, and it can be optioned with a spray-in bed liner.

At 5 feet long, it’s on par with most rival crew cabs’ beds in terms of length. Likewise its 56-inch width and 44-inch span between the wheelwells. It also has four tie-down hooks, lights on the side, and an available 115-volt/400-watt household outlet (enough power for an air pump, but not most tools). Also, the damped tailgate can be held at an angle that allows it to support a 4×8 sheet of plywood resting atop the wheelwells.

After a good bit of time spent on one of the roughest trails I’ve ever experienced, I can say that the Gladiator will go places I never dreamed it could go, and certainly would never take my own vehicle. And it did it with seeming ease. Amazing.

Yet while Jeeps are known for their off-road ability — and have probably the highest percentage of owners who put that to good use — the Gladiator is equally well suited to everyday driving. In fact, it’s kind of the Swiss Army knife of vehicles: a 4×4 in the winter, a convertible in the summer, and a pickup truck all year round.

So seriously … what took them so long?

2019 Jeep Gladiator
It’s hard to imagine a more versatile vehicle than the Gladiator. It combines the traction advantages of 4WD with the open-air freedom of a convertible while offering the utility of a pickup truck — a truly unique collection of traits.

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2019 Jeep Gladiator

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