Jeep Gladiator

As expected, the entire cabin of the Jeep Gladiator has been shared completely with that of the Jeep Wrangler, which is a good mix of retro and modern design elements. The all-black cabin of the Jeep Gladiator gets some color-coded bits, which makes the overall layout look quite funky and youthful.

The round theme for the multi-functional steering wheel as well pod-like instrument console looks quite nice, with the latter getting a super-comprehensive 7-inch colored MID screen in between. The entire flat panel running in the middle is finished in the exterior paint shade, and in the middle of it sits a large squared touchscreen infotainment system surrounded by the black plastic panel.

The round AC vents flanking the infotainment system as well as at the corners of the dashboard gets chrome surrounds. The lower part of the center console has a comprehensive cluster of buttons, with the upper housing getting buttons for dual-zone climate control and the lower one for a range of off-road drive functions.

The Jeep Gladiator takes a big leaf from the design books of the Jeep Wrangler, and has went one step forward by making it look more focused with its pickup design. The Jeep Wrangler has already got an iconic neo-retro design, and with the added deck at the back, the Jeep Gladiator looks even more butch.

The front profile of the Jeep Gladiator has got the exact same front fascia as that of the Jeep Wrangler, with the pickup getting the traditional seven slat grille and round LED headlamps at the upper corners of the front grille. This entire fascia is enclosed in a rounded trapezoidal panel, which makes way for a well contoured and upright front bonnet above it, which also gets sleek air vents on the sides. The front bumper is finished in an all-black treatment and also houses small fog lamps enclosed within small cases incorporated in the bumper.

The side profile of the Jeep Gladiator also resembles to that of the Jeep Wrangler till the C-pillar, beyond which the former gets a flat deck which can be covered. The trapezoidal wheel arches are present over the beefy looking tires and large alloy wheels, and the angular doors with squared design for the windows give it an old school appeal. The front wheel arches also incorporate daytime running LEDs and turn indicators, at their front ends.

At the back, the Jeep Gladiator doesn’t get a spare wheel mounted at its back, like the Wrangler. Instead, it gets a simple design for the deck lid, with boxy and vertical laid tail lamps with LED inserts.

The Jeep Gladiator is blessed with a very capable and rugged suspension setup, which is assisted by heavy-duty shock absorbers, selec-speed control, selec-trac full-time four-wheel-drive system, wide front axle, and a limited-slip differential. All these systems and components work together to make the Jeep Gladiator an extremely capable workhorse to tackle the rough stuff and terrains with absolute ease.

The only engine and gearbox combination employed for the Jeep Gladiator is a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine, which is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine breathes out a maximum power output of 287 PS, while the peak torque output is rated at 352 Nm.

The Jeep Gladiator gets a slew of safety features, which are expected from a premium lifestyle pickup truck. The list of these safety features has front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, reverse parking sensors with camera, automatic headlamps, traction control, electronic roll mitigation, electronic stability control, and tire pressure monitoring system.

The Jeep Gladiator, with its added deck at the back and slight design changes, appeals to be a more versatile and go-anywhere package over the Jeep Wrangler, given that the former has got all the bells and whistles and capable mechanicals of the latter.