Used Jeep Gladiator

A Legacy of Refinement

The Jeep Gladiator was introduced to the world in time for the 2020 model year and really took the automotive world by storm. The looks are all Jeep but with the addition of the towing and payload capabilities of a pickup truck. However, the genesis of the Jeep Gladiator goes back to the era after the end of World War II. In 1947 Willys Overland, the forerunner of today's Jeep, decided to build on the success of its first vehicle by offering folks a Jeep Truck. This vehicle was basically a Jeep CJ-2 with the rear row of seats removed and replaced with a payload bed. Despite its fairly utilitarian appearance, the Willys Jeep Truck turned out to be quite popular and didn't leave production until the 1965 model year.

The second Jeep pickup was the slightly less successful Jeep Forward Control. This unique cab-forward design was offered in a variety of sizes and configurations but only found success in niche markets. Jeep built the Forward Control from 1956 until the 1965 model year, phasing it out at the same time as the Willys Jeep Truck.

For folks who wonder where Jeep got the Gladiator name from, it actually had nothing to do with an Oscar-winning movie starring Russell Crowe. The name dates back to Jeep's third entry into the pickup truck market - the 1963 Jeep Gladiator. This was a much more traditional pickup truck design and was built on the Jeep Wagoneer platform. However, the Gladiator name was dropped in 1972, and the truck was renamed to the more generic J-series. These were still being built up to 1987, making it the longest-lasting pickup truck in the Jeep lineup.

Arguably the least successful attempt at a pickup truck was the CJ-8 Scrambler. Introduced to the market in time for the 1981 model year, the Scrambler was based on the CJ-7 Jeep and looked rather similar to the current Gladiator. However, the Scrambler never really found a niche in the market, and only about 30,000 were built before the line was discontinued in 1985, making these rare Jeep trucks a real collector's item.

The last effort to build a Jeep truck before the current Gladiator was the 1986 Jeep Comanche. Based on the popular Jeep Cherokee SUV, the Comanche was a hybrid unibody design with a removable bed, giving it both utility and a car-like ride. It featured a six-foot payload bed and offered four-wheel drive for excellent overall traction. Nevertheless, the Comanche was discontinued in 1992 to keep Jeep from taking sales from the more popular Dodge Ram.

Gladiator Highlights

Used Jeep Gladiators are available in four trims: the Sport, Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon. There are also two special editions: the Mojave and the North Edition. The Gladiator Sport has heavy-duty Dana 22 front and rear axles, as well as removable top and doors, making the open-air experience standard and easy. The Sport and Sport S ride on 17-inch wheels, while the Overland trim adds 18-inch granite crystal wheels and side steps. The top Rubicon trim also has 17-inch wheels, but they are wrapped with massive 33-inch all-terrain tires and includes locking front and rear differentials plus an electronic front sway bar disconnect. The Rubicon also has an Off-Road+ button that automatically adjusts the Gladiator's systems to give you optimal off-road performance.

The two special editions add some very special features indeed. The North Edition comes in a gorgeous snow-white exterior, and its winter theme carried over into the interior with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, with all-weather floor mats. The Gladiator Mojave has FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with external reservoirs for greater stability during desert running. Like the Rubicon, the Mojave rides on 17-inch wheels fitted with 33-inch tires with fender flares that provide greater clearance. This special edition also has a locking rear differential as well as the Off-Road+ button featured on the Rubicon trim. The interior of the Mojave features a performance steering wheel and bolstered front seats to keep you in control at high speeds.

Every used Jeep Gladiator features either the Uconnect 3 or Uconnect 4 infotainment system. The lower trims feature a 5-inch touchscreen, while the higher trims offer 7-inch and 8.4-inch touchscreens. Opting for the larger screens not only provides more display space, but it also integrates features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Gladiator Rubicon, North Edition, and Mojave take things to the next step with the Uconnect 4C NAV with an 8-4-inch touchscreen. This has all the features of the Uconnect 4 with an additional integrated navigation system safely controlled by voice command.

2021 Gladiator Updates

The 2021 Gladiator hit dealerships with a new diesel powertrain option, sending a thrill down the spines of buyers looking for lots of torque and low-range power. The addition of a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 headlined the launch, along with a special 80th Anniversary Edition Gladiator, in keeping with similar special edition models introduced across the entire Jeep lineup.

Jeep also tweaked its four-wheel drive system to offer full-time four-wheel drive via Selec-Trac or Rock-Trac, depending on the trim you select. Due to overwhelming popularity, the innovative TrailCam front-mounted camera also appears as an option on the 2021 Gladiator Overland instead of only being available on the Rubicon.

Jeep is famous for designing trims to optimize performance in very specific off-roading conditions. That's no truer than with the Gladiator Mojave. This is the first Jeep in the entire lineup to wear the new Desert Rated badge. The Mojave trim features FOX shocks and jounce bumpers designed for high-speed desert running, as well as a rear locking differential and 33-inch tires.

All Jeep Gladiators share the same iconic Jeep styling cues, including the famous seven-slot grille and round headlights that let you know it's a Jeep. Speaking of headlights, Jeep made LED headlights standard across the entire Gladiator lineup for 2021. The Gladiator also features removable doors and exposed hinges, as well as the famous fold-down windshield.

With ten exterior colors making up the 2021 Gladiator's palette, buyers have plenty of choices, including a bright Firecracker Red and a classic Black. There are orange, silver, and bright blue options too, which means finding a used Gladiator in the color you want is going to be easy.

The 2021 Gladiator wasn't offered with an alternative powertrain, such as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, but the standard Pentastar V6 and optional EcoDiesel should be enough to cover just about any use case. Plus, it's nice to know that Gladiator trucks are incredibly fuel-efficient, offering up to 28 mpg of highway fuel economy with the diesel engine.