BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — On the subject of driving one thing cool, a 2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X is close to the highest of the record. It has all the Jeep vibes, however in truck kind, which has professionals and cons. I loved a late summer season weekend within the 2024 Gladiator Mojave X, and these are my ideas.
It is a legit truck
When Jeep revealed the Gladiator on the 2018 L.A. Auto Present, it was some of the anticipated debuts the automobile trade has seen in years. There was palpable buzz. Proper up till it was revealed, most anticipated Jeep to name its reborn truck the Scrambler. Almost six years on, Gladiator was clearly the proper alternative. On the time, most thought the truck can be a Wrangler with a mattress, however Jeep took nice steps to make a professional midsize truck that’s among the many greatest within the phase with loads of towing, hauling and storage capabilities.
There’s professionals and cons to that
From a format perspective, the truck has benefits and drawbacks over the Wrangler. If you happen to want an SUV, properly, clearly, the Wrangler is healthier. It’s shorter, which implies it matches higher in off-road conditions and your storage. Then again, the Gladiator is longer with an extended wheelbase, which implies it drives a little bit higher and negates the Wrangler’s “I really feel like I’m going to tip over feeling” that’s current in too many day by day experiences.
The driving dynamics are sufficient to make me assume I’d go along with a Gladiator as a day by day commuter toy, which the Wrangler is used for all too typically. I’d go for the roll-up tonneau cowl, which additionally permits the Jeep truck to operate with crossover functionality. There’s one thing to be mentioned for the Mojave X’s Fox shocks and 1-inch raise equipment, which make this desert runner even cushier on highway, too.
The ever present Pentastar troopers on
The Pentastar V6 is ubiquitous in Stellantis merchandise, and it’s the default ICE choice for the Wrangler and Gladiator. It troopers on in Jeep’s off-roaders, offering a conventional driving expertise with anticipated dynamics. It was beneath the hood of this Gladiator Mojave X, and I typically appreciated it. Teamed with the eight-speed computerized, it’s predictable if a bit laborious. The Pentastar is the one which feels essentially the most like a Jeep engine within the lineage of the long-running 4.0-liter inline six, which had American Motors’ origins.
The Gladiator will get a 4xe model in 2025. I’d strongly contemplate the 4xe with a house charger, if I had been available in the market.
Tough gas economic system, straightforward roof elimination
The gas economic system is tough, to the tune of 17 mpg metropolis / 22 freeway, rating close to the underside of the phase, although the Gladiator does provide a variety of as much as 418 miles. The massive all-terrain tires and numb steering make for a pontoon-like dynamic. The visibility, because of the trip top, is definitely fairly good.
Take the roof panels off, and it is a cathartic open-air expertise. It’s additionally tremendous straightforward. Simply pull a few levers and raise off. Really easy, actually, my son pulled one off completely on his personal and deposited it in the lounge to my shock.
What’s subsequent for the Gladiator?
Gross sales are down 24% by means of the primary half of the yr, falling farther than the Wrangler (17%) and the Jeep model total (19%). The 2024 refresh ought to assist, providing tech and design upgrades and two new trims. The Gladiator ranks close to the underside of the Jeep gross sales charts, (10,489 items) forward of solely the Jeep Grand Wagoneer luxurious SUV and much behind the Wrangler (38,896) and Grand Cherokee (52,296).
To me, that speaks to the Gladiator’s coolness and area of interest standing, that are attributes. However, with quantity that low, the Jeep truck does appear weak. Plus, it’s fairly costly. Conversely, it’s genetically just like the Wrangler and so they’re in-built the identical Toledo, Ohio, facility, so there’s a enterprise case for protecting it round because the Wrangler’s sidekick. That’s not a nasty spot. When cross-shopping midsize vans, it is totally different from the rest within the phase. That is an awesome spot.