3 Reasons the Jeep Gladiator is an Unusual Pickup Truck
Mid-size pickup trucks have it rough. Although right-sized for many folks, they have a tough time resonating with customers who prefer larger full-size trucks that are often discounted, negating any sort of price advantage the small trucks might have.
To truly excel in the mid-size truck segment, it seems a brand needs to do something different. Honda has carved out a niche with the more car-like Ridgeline and Toyota has a near cult following for the Tacoma.
More recently, Jeep has been looking to make a name for the brand with the Wrangler-based Gladiator pick-up. Unlike other mid-size American trucks, the Gladiator is more singular in its purpose, at home in the dirt rather than on the pavement. But there are a few other characteristics that set it apart from the mid-size truck crowd.
It Can Go Topless (and Doorless)
Being Wrangler based, it’s no surprise the Gladiator shares its sibling’s ability to shed its roof. Available with either a soft or hard top, both come fully-off, giving passengers that fun-in-the sun feeling Jeep is famous for. Of course, all four doors can also be removed and the front windshield can even by folded down.
It’s Possible to Row Your Own Gears
The manual transmission may be on its death bed, but Jeep still offers a six-speed manual for the Gladiator. There’s even better news, as it’s available in more than just the base trim. This gives consumers the choice of one of the very few manual options in the mid-size truck segment.
It’s Will Soon be a Plug-In
Although there are hybrid options in the mid-size pickup truck segment, there are no plug-in hybrid choices, at least not yet. Next year, it has been announced that Jeep will offer the Wrangler’s 4xe powertrain in the Gladiator. This will address two of the truck’s bigger weaknesses at the same time: lack of power and poor fuel consumption. We eagerly look forward to the Gladiator 4xe to hit the market.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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