2020 Jeep Gladiator – Costa Mesa, CA

• Overview

  

  Trucks these days seem to all have similar features, and it takes an expert to tell the difference. You want a truck that stands out. That turns heads and is fully customizable. You want a pickup that lets you be the boss. You want a Jeep Gladiator. Based on the classic Jeep Wrangler design, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator is part Wrangler, part pickup. This allows you to customize just about every aspect of the truck to your liking.

  Want to take the doors off? Sure thing. Want extra storage built into the back seat? There's an option for that. Want to tow more than any other truck in the class? Yes, you can do that with the Gladiator as well. If you want a cookie-cutter pickup that fits into the norm, go with one of the other brands. But if you want a truck that has Jeep pumping through its oil and was built for everything the world (and you) can throw at it, you need a Gladiator.

  The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is priced to start around $33,545 MSRP and is served up in four trim levels: the Sport, Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon. To place the price range into context, the Rubicon is priced to start at $43,545 MSRP but (as one expects with any Jeep) there are plenty of options for value-added accessories and upgrades that can drive the price tag up.

  285

  Horsepower (HP)

  260

  Torque (lb-ft)

  7,650

  Towing Capacity (LBS)

  Starting at

  $33,545

• Performance

  

  Engine Specs

  If your life is all about getting outside, enjoying the road less traveled, and living in the moment, this Jeep Gladiator is perfect for you. The heart of this Gladiator pickup is the engine.

  The base model of the 2020 edition is the Sport. It uses a 3.6L V6 that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It features Engine Stop-Start technology that helps maximize the fuel efficiency of the engine. Plus, with several add-ons and towing packages installed onto the pickup and you'll max the towing capacity out to 7,650 lbs. That is the most of any compact pickup currently on the road.

  Currently, the 3.6L V6 is the only engine option available on the 2020 Gladiator. A 3.0L turbodiesel is expected to be announced in the coming months (the European release does include a 260 horsepower V6 diesel, so that offering will be right around the corner), but until further notice, the current option is the 3.6L V6.

  It's A Jeep Thing

  Beyond the standard pickup comparisons you would make with the engine specs and towing numbers, Jeep comes packed with several features you're not going to find on any other pickup.

  First, the Jeep Gladiator is officially Trail Rated. It is the first pickup ever to receive this classification. In order for a vehicle to receive this badge, it needs to handle several tough terrains and withstand the harshest conditions thrown at it. No other truck has ever come out on top. At least until now. The pickup features Dana 44 axles, skid plates that protect the underside, tow hooks, available locking front and rear differentials, available electronic disconnecting sway bars, and more. If you have any plans on taking your pickup off-roading, you owe it to yourself to do it in a Jeep. Otherwise, you might get stuck and need to call someone with a Jeep Gladiator to help pull you out.

  The Jeep Gladiator comes with high air intake and water sealing (with the Trail Rated add-ons). This way, you can drive through up to 30 inches of water without worrying about flooding or damaging the underside of your pickup. Additionally, the Rubicon trim package offers up to 11.1-inches of ground clearance between the ground and the undercarriage. This way, you can much easier clear debris without worrying about damaging your vehicle. Of course, with the skid plates on the underside of your Rubicon, you'll have this second layer of protection.

  If you plan on taking your Gladiator off-road, there are several Advanced Capability features available with the Off-Road+ add-on. This feature allows you to adjust the throttle, traction control, and transmission shift points with the push of a button. So whether you're driving over rocks or over sand, you can alter how your pickup handles the world around you.

• Exterior Design

  

  Open-Air Ride

  How many pickups have the option to go topless? Some pickups have a sunroof feature, but with the Jeep Gladiator, you can have a fully removable roof. Plus, with the lightweight aluminum doors, you can quickly and easily remove the doors as well.

  Afraid it might rain but still want to let the sun in? There is a Zipperless Sunrider soft top, which lets the sun in but will still block out the rain, should it come during your drive. If you want to feel the wind, you can push down the front windshield. This is a feature you absolutely will not find on any other truck out there.

  Wheel Options

  The pickup comes with several wheel options. The standard choice on the Sport package is 17-inch black steel wheels. If you decide to go with the Sport S, the pickup will feature 17-inch Tech Silver aluminum wheels. The Overland features slightly larger 18-inch granite crystal aluminum wheels with polished edges, while the Rubicon comes standard with 17-inch granite crystal aluminum wheels with polished edges. The standard wheels on the Rubicon are smaller than the Overland because the Rubicon comes with larger, more aggressive tires (thanks to the elevated lift offered with the Rubicon trim). And, because there is so much clearance, if you wanted to spring for larger wheels on your Gladiator, there is plenty of room to do exactly that.

• Safety and Technology

  

  Safety Features

  When it comes to safety, Jeep makes sure you are well taken care of while also giving you several features you're not going to find on just any other pickup. It starts with driver, front side and passenger airbags (on the base model). It also features 4-wheel ABS and disc brakes, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, rollover protection, front tow hooks, and it offers optional daytime running lights.

  On the top-tier trim package, which is the Rubicon, the pickup comes with the same airbags and brakes, the same safety features, in addition to standard daytime running lights. You can also include optional blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert.

  Entertainment

  The Jeep Gladiator is built rugged, which means the entertainment inside your pickup will be protected. You won't need to worry about items bouncing around or anything like that. On the base Sport, the pickup comes with a 5-inch touchscreen display and standard 8-speaker system. It also has an AUC jack, USB media hub, plus Uconnect 3 built into the touchscreen so you can easily pair your mobile device.

  Premium Features

  On the Rubicon, the central display is upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen. The screen does have a durable protector around it, so unless you're directly throwing rocks at the screen (don't do that), it won't take on damage when going off-road when the ride becomes bumpy. It has the same 8-speaker system, although there is the option to upgrade to an Alpine Premium Audio System. Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto are both standard within the Uconnect 4 system. It comes with an AUX jack, dual USB ports for charging, an integrated central stack radio, a 7-inch color display cluster behind the wheel, which you can reconfigure to better suit the information you want while driving, plus HD and satellite radio are options. If you want, you can also sprint for a Uconnect 4C NAV navigation. This is an option if you decide to upgrade the central 7-inch display to an 8.4-inch design.

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