Less Money, More Refined, Still Super Capable – GWC Mag

When the Jeep Gladiator debuted in 2020, it answered the call buyers wanted: a production Jeep pickup based on the ever-popular and iconic Wrangler. Jeep insisted it wasn’t simply a Wrangler with a pickup bed — it was a mid-sized truck. For 2024, Jeep changed its philosophy. The Gladiator now is a Wrangler with a pickup bed, and there have been several improvements, and even a price reduction.

This change in philosophy makes sense. Wrangler is an icon, and Jeep wants to associate Gladiator with that. “(Gladiator) operates and acts much more like a Wrangler than its competition in the mid-sized segment,” said Bill Peffer, senior vice president and head of the Jeep brand North America. Plus, the truck remains the only vehicle of its type with an open-air top, ala Wrangler.

For 2024 Jeep has opted to embrace the Gladiator’s Wranglerness and isn’t messing with success, rather it seeks to improve upon what makes this Jeep a Jeep.

In short: Jeep Gladiator competes in the hotly contested mid-sized truck segment. It’s unapologetically a Jeep with its Wrangler-like style and removable top and doors. For 2024, it gets a new grille, a host of wheel options, all-inclusive Mojave and Rubicon X trim levels, and a new infotainment system with a bigger screen. Refreshing vehicles like Gladiator or Wrangler too much can alienate buyers, so Jeep’s upgrades are minor for 2024, but they all aim to keep the rig fresh and take a step toward further refinement.

2024 Jeep Gladiator Review

Still Mid-Sized, Super Capable, but Revised

With solid axles, available locking differentials, and a host of other off-road amenities, the Gladiator is the most capable truck in the mid-sized pickup segment when the pavement ends. While solid axles and a removable top won’t offer the epitome of refinement, it’s all part of the Jeep’s personality. If you don’t want a Wrangler with a bed, this isn’t the truck for you.

For 2024, the Gladiator gets a revised seven-slot grille design, a windshield-integrated antenna (no more hitting tree branches), as well as a more refined interior. First- and second-row side curtain airbags are now standard and located on the sport bar (e.g., roll bar). There is also standard forward collision warning (Sport S models and above) and standard advanced cruise control. Oh, and it now costs less.

More Trim Levels, More Options, Fewer Dollars to Start

Gladiator now starts at $37,895 for a Sport model, $1,725 less than last year’s model. So while Jeep is giving buyers more features, it’s reduced the price. 

“This new Gladiator delivers a more refined and technologically advanced interior with available 12-way power seats and improved safety with standard side-curtain airbags for a starting U.S. MSRP less than $38,000 with more content and a lower starting MSRP than the truck it replaces,” said Peffer.

For 2024, there are seven trim levels, including the new Mojave X and Rubicon X. The X models tick every box available including steel bumpers and Nappa leather-trimmed 12-way power adjustable seats good up to 31.5 inches of water fording. Overall, there are seven new wheel designs allowing owners to have rolling stock that matches the look they’re after. Of note: Willys trims now get a standard locking rear diff. 

A Bigger, Better Infotainment System

One of the most notable Gladiator improvements is the new 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, which replaces the small 7-inch Uconnect version. The latest screen is big, bright, and easy to use.

There are a wide array of menus, all relatively intuitive and easily navigable with good UX. Jeep Adventure Guides featuring Trails Offroad are also new, and deliver maps of trails all over the USA. A full subscription unlocks more than 3,000 Trails Offroad guides and maps, which I and other journalists used while on Moab’s 7 Mile Rim trail.

Tackling Moab Trails

We drove 2024 Gladiator Mojaves through portions of Moab’s 7 Mile Rim to trail-test the truck’s capability, comforts, and conveniences.

My Gladiator was a Mojave X, which included heated 12-way power leather seats, a heated steering wheel, a full-time transfer case, integrated off-road cameras, and steel front and rear bumpers. Mojave models include FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with reservoirs and hydraulic bump stops, a 1-inch front lift, a Tru-Lock locking rear differential, and Dana 44 axles with 33-inch all-terrain tires.

We were told the new Gladiator’s suspension was also revised for a better overall ride.

Walking Up Wipeout Hill

Our group wasted no time getting to Wipeout Hill, an obstacle more suited to the Gladiator Rubicon with its twin locking axles, swaybar disconnect, and rock-crawler personality. I’d been on this obstacle in a Gladiator in years prior, but going down, not up it.

Esteemed off-roader and trail guide, Nina Barlow, was my spotter, and I followed her suggested line up the multitiered rocky incline, with the rear diff locked, and the tires aired down to about 23 psi. The Mojave walked right up the stair-stepped trail without hesitation.

Jeeping legend and industry cohort, Rick Péwé, greeted me at the top. “Nice throttle usage there. Ever done this before?” he joked. He knew this wasn’t my first rodeo, but even those with limited off-road experience successfully navigated Gladiators up Wipeout Hill, a testament to a capable vehicle and good spotters.

Rainbow Hill & ‘Off Road Pages’

Before I took my Gladiator Mojave over Rainbow Hill, an off-camber section of slick rock, I switched the infotainment to Off Road Pages, and selected Pitch and Roll, showing me just how much I was leaning. Off Road Pages also has Vehicle Dynamics showing driveline’s status.

The Accessory Gauges tab brings up coolant temp, oil temp, oil pressure, transmission temp, and battery voltage. Lastly, there’s a tab for your forward-facing camera.

I also tried out Selec-Speed Control, which is essentially off-road cruise control. Press the button, and you don’t have to touch the accelerator — the vehicle keeps slowly crawling along. You can adjust speed by moving the shifter into manual mode and selecting the up/down on the shifter. It’s a neat feature, but I prefer to modulate my own throttle. Maybe I’m a control freak.

Using the Mojave in Its Element

After tackling the technical off-road sections, I took the Mojave Gladiator into its element: higher-speed sandy desert segments. Gladiator Mojaves are equipped with FOX front hydro jounce bump stops, which act as a second shock absorber. They prevent the front axle from bottoming out providing a smoother, more controlled ride over rough terrain, especially at speed.

In many vehicles with solid front axles, this type of hurried driving over rough topography (especially whoops or washboard) can upset a chassis. It can cause the vehicle to buck or “porpoise” and potentially lead to damage. But the Mojave’s FOX suspension impressively soaked up this kind of terrain, even at speed.

You could hear the bump stops absorb the impacts. They functioned admirably keeping the chassis flat and controlled. It’s not to the level of a Ford Raptor R or some sort of race-built trophy truck, but it’s much better than the other Gladiator models, and was a blast to drive in these sections.

I also tried Off-Road+ mode which takes the rig to another performance level. Throttle, shift points, and traction control are optimized for off-road driving making this rig even more exciting to pilot enthusiastically.

Gladiator’s Mojave’s ability to tackle slow, technical sections as well as faster desert tracks makes it a versatile performance pickup.

One Engine, Two Transmissions

All Gladiators get one engine: a 3.6L V-6 making 285 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, a carryover from previous years. It’s paired to either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

Gone is the 3.0L turbo diesel powerplant, and neither the 2.0L turbo engine nor the 4xe PHEV powerplant are available on the 2024 Gladiator.

Gladiators can tow up to 7,700 pounds and have a payload capacity of up to 1,725 pounds. Fuel economy is unchanged from 2023; at 17 city, 22 highway, and 19 combined for the automatic; manual models are 16/21/18.

2024 Gladiator: Changed Just Enough, Still Appealing

In 2023, Jeep sold 55,188 Gladiators, which was a 29% decline from 2022, perhaps because the prices were higher than consumers wanted. But with the increased features, further refinement, and lower entry price, the Gladiator should continue to appeal to those who want a Jeep but also want a pickup.

But keep in mind, this is a Wrangler with a bed, and it’s most certainly a Jeep. Some will find that exceptionally appealing. Others may want a more traditional pickup. But one thing’s for certain — the latest Gladiator continues Jeep’s tradition and heritage of capability and gobs of personality.