JEEP’S up to date 2024 Wrangler-based Gladiator ute brings delicate revisions together with extra security, off-roading and luxurious/tech package throughout the vary however other than its funky new headlights, maintains the model’s quintessential look and in any other case resembles the present mannequin externally.
In keeping with Jeep, the 2024 Gladiator – due Down Underneath a while subsequent 12 months – is the world’s most off-road succesful mid-size truck.
It’s a daring declare and one which many different 4×4 ute producers would possibly dispute.
Nonetheless, the SUV specialist insists that is essentially the most succesful and refined Gladiator but that, along with enhanced off-road functionality, options an replace to Jeep’s seven-slot grille design, the choice of power-adjustable seats, normal side-curtain airbags and normal 12.3-inch Uconnect touchscreen multimedia unit.
These options complement a windscreen-integrated stealth antenna – one much less factor to get snagged when driving bush tracks – and 7 new wheel designs together with inside revisions to accommodate the larger touchscreen.
Ripping the roof off a Gladiator offers entry to what Jeep describes as its model’s open-air freedom within the truck phase due to the folding windscreen, three roof decisions and three door decisions, together with elective half doorways and detachable doorways, a few of which is not going to be out there in Australian spec.
Jeep has added to the attract of the brand new Gladiator by upping its max towing capability to the trade normal 3500kg and “best-in-class” payload now 800kg, the latter an enchancment on beforehand however nonetheless less than snuff with one-tonne dual-cabs on the Australian market.
Revisions to the Gladiator’s inside give attention to extra know-how and facilities, together with elective 12-way power-adjustable entrance seats and all-new instrument panel that includes Jeep’s Uconnect 5 system with an ordinary 12.3-inch touchscreen, normal wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and improved voice management.
Security is bolstered with first- and second-row side-curtain airbags, ahead collision warning (Sport S and above) and superior cruise management.
Jeep has added two new fashions to the Gladiator line-up: Mojave X and Rubicon X, which are geared up with built-in off-road cameras, metal bumpers and Nappa leather-trimmed 12-way power-adjustable entrance seats.
Although not out there in Australia, the US Gladiator comes with a helpful manufacturing facility utility of Jeep Journey Guides that includes Trails Offroad, delivering complete off-road path guides for the 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails loaded into the sat-nav system, with an upgradable subscription that unlocks full catalogue of three,000-plus Trails Offroad path guides.
US-spec 2024 Gladiators will likely be out there in Sport, Willys, Mojave and Rubicon fashions, all with what Jeep describes as legendary go-anywhere 4×4 functionality.
Including weight to the declare is the mannequin’s normal rear locking differential and Off-Street+ on the Willys mannequin. Its capacity to beat the intense off-road trails is augmented by 4 superior 4×4 techniques.
They’re Command-Trac part-time switch case with 2.72:1 low-range ratio, Selec-Trac full-time switch case with 2.72:1 low vary ratio, Rock-Trac part-time switch case with 4:1 low vary ratio and Rock-Trac full-time switch case with 4:1 low vary ratio.
For actually robust off highway situations, the Rubicon mannequin now has an 84:1 crawl ratio as normal with water fording of as much as 800mm coupled with “uncompromising” method, departure and break-over angles and floor clearance that respectively measure 44.7º, 20.9º, 26º and practically 300mm.
Each Gladiator mannequin is Path Rated or Desert Rated and badged accordingly reflecting a spec’ record that features Dana 44 heavy-duty entrance and rear axles, two-speed switch case, traction management, tow hooks (two entrance, as much as two rear), four-wheel disc brakes, three skid plates and a minimal tyre dimension of 32 inches.
Underbody parts are protected by three skid plates in metal with some fashions scoring rugged metal rock rails.
The 2024 Gladiator retains a confirmed body-on-frame chassis design that includes a finely engineered five-link coil suspension system with the entrance utilising two higher and two decrease high-strength metal management arms for longitudinal management and a cross-car observe bar for lateral axle management.
Its entrance and rear full-width high-strength metal observe bars are positioned to regulate lateral motion of the axle with minimal angle change throughout suspension journey.
The shocks are tuned for optimum stability between on-road dealing with and legendary off-road functionality, delivering ideally suited experience consolation, body-roll management and dynamic dealing with.
Mild weight, high-strength aluminium is used for closures, together with the doorways, door hinges, bonnet, fender (mudguard) flares, windshield body and tailgate that assist scale back weight and enhance gasoline economic system.
The mannequin has a metal load mattress that makes use of 4 metal cross-members to bolster the ground whereas the aluminium tailgate is damped for protected and safe motion. Utility and flexibility are maximized with robust built-in tie-downs, under-rail mattress lighting and an elective lined exterior energy supply.
The 2024 Gladiator’s 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine is carried over and is sweet for 212kW and 353Nm of torque and options idle-stop.
Jeep says it’s engineered to supply a broad torque band with a give attention to low-end torque, important for off-roading, hauling heavy masses or towing a trailer. For off-road fans who love a handbook transmission, a six-speed handbook transmission is normal and an eight-speed automated transmission is elective (in US spec).
With the six-speed handbook transmission, Gladiator boasts a crawl ratio of as much as 84:1. With the elective eight-speed automated transmission, that reduces to as much as 77:1.
Senior vp and head of Jeep model North America, Jim Morrison mentioned, “The brand new 2024 Jeep Gladiator epitomizes the facility of the Jeep neighborhood and the way it continues to push for higher functionality, superior know-how and extra refinement.”
“The brand new Gladiator makes the most effective even higher, with a extra superior and comfy inside with an ordinary 12.3-inch touchscreen and out there energy seats examined for water fording, extra security and know-how, together with normal side-curtain airbags, and a recent exterior with a brand new seven-slot grille, seven new wheel designs and a windshield-integrated trail-ready antenna.
“Mix all of that with its folding windshield, three roof decisions, two completely different door choices or taking the doorways off altogether, and Gladiator is the one truck within the enterprise that may rejoice this type of open-air freedom and nonetheless do actual truck stuff.”
