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Jeep fans rejoice, because salvation is here; the savior has arrived; the great prophecy has at last come true. That's right: a factory-built Wrangler pickup truck is really, finally, actually joining the Jeep lineup. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is a new truck designed to do everything a regular Wrangler can do, from scampering over boulders to cruising without a roof or doors. It's the ultimate expression of Jeep's utilitarian image.
What's New for 2020
The Gladiator is all-new for 2020.
Choosing Your Jeep Gladiator
Don’t let anyone tell you that the Gladiator is just a Wrangler with a bed. Behind that familiar seven-slot front end lies a host of updates, changes, and improvements intended to turn a capable off-roader into a capable pickup truck.
The most striking difference is length. Compared to the four-door Wrangler, the Gladiator rides on a wheelbase that's a full 19 inches longer; between the bumpers there's 31 additional inches. Despite being detrimental for off-roading purposes, the extra length allows for a 5-foot bed with a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds. The redesigned underpinnings help give the Gladiator a maximum towing capacity of 7,650 pounds, which is more than double that of the Wrangler.
Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator comes standard with four-wheel drive and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 making 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but an eight-speed automatic is a $2,000 option. Fuel economy checks in at 16 miles per gallon city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 combined with the manual, or 17/22/19 mpg (city/highway/combined) with the automatic.
Later in the year, a 3.0-liter diesel V6 will join the options sheet. Jeep says this engine should make 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. It'll mate exclusively to the eight-speed automatic, which has been beefed up to handle the additional twisting power.
All Gladiators come as four-door models with the 5-foot bed. A soft top comes standard, though all trims but the base Sport offer a body-color hardtop as an option. In proper Jeep fashion, both roof designs can be completely removed, the doors can be left at home, and the windshield folds down just as it does in the Wrangler.
A number of packages are available across most trim levels. The Cargo Management Group with Trail Rail System ($895) eases cargo concerns with four bed-mounted anchoring points and three box rails, a 115-volt power outlet in the bed, and a lockable storage compartment under the rear seat. Residents of parts of the country that get snow will appreciate the Cold Weather Group ($695), which bundles heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and remote start. Meanwhile, smokers can get an ashtray and lighter for $30.
Those looking to haul will want to consider the two towing packages on offer. The Trailer Tow Group ($250) includes a class IV hitch, a heavy-duty alternator, and a heavy-duty cooling system. For a bit more pulling power, the Max Tow Package ($995) includes all the former as well as wide-track Dana 44 axles front and rear with 4.10 axle ratios, body-color fender flares, and different tires.
Despite a styling motif that hearkens back to the Eisenhower years, the Gladiator offers modern active-safety features on all trim levels. The available equipment is split into two packages: the Active Safety Group ($995) and the Advanced Safety Group ($795). The former includes audible rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, and LED taillights; the latter comes with adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning. Notably absent from the Gladiator is automatic emergency braking, which isn't available on any of the four trims.
Sport
The base Gladiator is known as the Sport and costs $35,040 to start (all prices include a $1,495 destination charge). This money doesn’t buy much in the way of creature comforts: air conditioning, push-button start, manually-adjusted cloth seats, and a lone 12-volt power outlet are about the extent of it – even power windows and locks are reserved for higher trims. An eight-speaker audio system is standard and can be controlled through the 5-inch touchscreen; the system includes aux, an SD card, and USB hookups.
Available packages include the already mentioned Trailer Tow Package, Max Tow Package, and Smoker's group. Buyers can also opt for the Auxiliary Switch Group ($295) that adds a 240-amp alternator, four programmable auxiliary switches, and a 700-amp maintenance free battery.
Standalone features include a Trac-Lok anti-spin rear differential ($595), an engine block heater ($95), the three-piece hard top ($1,195), deep tinted windows ($495), a spray-in bedliner ($495), a tonneau cover ($495), one year of satellite radio ($295), and slush mats ($150).
Sport S
The $38,240 Sport S is the next in the Gladiator trim order. Additional standard features include power windows and locks, an alarm, a power tailgate lock, deep-tinted rear windows, illuminated vanity mirrors, power-adjustable heated mirrors, keyless entry, and 17-inch silver aluminum wheels.
Here, the Trailer Tow Package, Max Tow Package, Cold Weather Group, Active Safety Group, Advanced Safety Group, Auxiliary Switch Group, and Smoker's Group are all available. The 7-Inch Radio Group ($995) bundles a 7-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 4, a one-year satellite radio subscription, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a 7-inch driver display, an integrated center stack radio, USB host flip, and air conditioning with automatic temperature control. The Convenience Group ($395) includes a garage-door opener and, for cars equipped with an automatic, remote start.
The biggest addition to the list of extras is a $2,295 Dual Top Group that gives buyers both the soft top as well as the hardtop, while the soft top becomes available on its own for $595 as does a hardtop headliner for $555. Side steps are now available for $695, a wireless Bluetooth speaker is $295, and a nine-speaker Alpine audio system becomes available for $1,295 if you opt for the bigger touchscreen.
Overland
Things begin to get ritzy with the $41,890 Overland. Standard features include 18-inch wheels, side-steps, body-color fender flares, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED ambient footwell lighting, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a universal garage door opener, an additional 115-volt power outlet, two additional USB ports, and the 7-inch touchscreen with upgraded Uconnect.
Two additional packages appear on the options sheet at the Overland level. The Premium LED Lighting Group ($995) upgrades all exterior lighting to LED. The 8.4-Inch Radio and Premium Audio Group ($1,595) adds an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 4, the Alpine audio system, navigation, one year of satellite radio, satellite traffic and travel services, HD radio, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an SOS emergency call button.
A new body-color three-piece hard top is available for $2,295, as is remote proximity keyless entry for $495. The Overland is also the first trim where leather upholstery becomes available as a $1,495 option. Remote start is available for $495 with the automatic transmission selected.
Rubicon
The $45,040 Rubicon tops the Gladiator hierarchy, and the hardware here is just as impressive as that included on the Wrangler Rubicon. Standard equipment includes an extra helping of skid plates and rock rails, high-clearance fender flares, wide-track Dana 44 axles front and rear, a two-speed transfer case with more aggressive ratios, electronically-locking differentials with 4.10 axle ratios, electronic sway-bar disconnect, 33-inch all-terrain tires, a steel rear bumper, and two tow hooks in both the front and rear. Other non-functional upgrades include premium cloth seats and additional LED ambient lighting for the center console.
No new packages are available, but two notable standalone options are. Exclusive to the Rubicon are a winch-capable steel front bumper ($695) and a forward-facing TrailCam mounted in the grille ($595), giving drivers the ability to view the terrain directly ahead of the tires on the trail.
There’s no questioning the virility of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator in any guise. But which trim makes the most sense from a financially practical standpoint? We’d argue the Overland. The $3,650 premium over the Sport S brings a boatload additional features, including the 7-inch touchscreen that’s a $2,085 upgrade on the lower-spec rig. Just add one of the tow packages and you’ll have a highly capable hauler that’s ready for work and play.
