JEEP Gladiator Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Jeep refreshed the Gladiator lineup for the 2024 model year and improved not just the car's interior but also its off-road capabilities. In addition, it refined the look of this off-road-oriented pickup.

Jeep made the first generation of the Gladiator between 1962 and 1988 with regular updates and improvements and waited until 2019 to revive the nameplate. Meanwhile, it tried to fill the gap with the Comanche range, but that one lasted only a short time. As a result, between 1992 and 2019, there was no truck in the Jeep's stable. When the automaker finally decided to offer customers a go-anywhere, carry-anything vehicle, it built it on the same ladder chassis used by the Wrangler TJ, and that was an intelligent decision. But after four years on the market, the car needed an update. Customers wanted something more from their utility vehicles.

While the exterior design was not improved significantly, there were still some aesthetic updates to make it look fresh. The most significant update was on the seven-slat grille. It featured a new look with black textured slots, neutral gray metallic bezels, and body-color surroundings. In addition, the aerial antenna for the radio was deleted and integrated into the windshield. As a result, there was no more bending and breaking the mast-type metallic one while off-roading. The 2024 Gladiator was available in four trims: Sport, Willys, Mojave, and Rubicon, and sported nine different colors.

Inside, the most significant upgrade was for the infotainment system. Starting with the 2024 model year, the Gladiator used a 12.5" touchscreen fitted with the Uconnect 5 system. The new screen featured a new technology that allowed customers to see it better during sunny days with the roof retracted. It complemented the information from the 7" TFT instrument cluster with data from the navigation system or the onboard computer. Still, the car offered enough comfort for five passengers.

But Jeep knew that it had to work harder for the car's underpinnings. As a result, the drivetrain and the suspension went through a serious upgrade. The Gladiator was available with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission that sent power in all corners via a transfer case. Depending on the car's version, the low-range gear was available with either a 2.7:1 ratio or a 4:1 gearing. The latter was reserved for the Gladiator Rubicon. Moreover, Jeep offered advanced shock absorbers that Fox Racing designed for this model and featured external reservoirs to compensate for the efforts. Even though the car used the same solid axles as its non-facelifted sibling, the new suspension setup provided more on-road comfort for its passengers without compromising the off-road capabilities. In addition, the five-link control arms, the locking differentials, and the sway-bar disconnect system (standard from the Mojave X grade up) ensured customers that they'll hardly lose control of the vehicle while off-roading.

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator made a return of the off-road pick-up truck for Jeep. It was launched in November 2018 and started to make a name for its capabilities. The last time when Jeep used the Gladiator name was in 1972 when it discharged the J-Series Pickup. In 2018, the Jeep put that name on a pick-up based on the Jeep Wrangler JL.

Its look created some controversies. In a world dominated by fluid lines and with bodyworks created by wind-tunnels, the Gladiator had a boxy design. Its brutal straight lines and flat panels was a controversy.

It had 49 cm (19.2”) longer wheelbase than the Jeep JL Wrangler on which it is based and it is 79 cm (31.1”) long. In the end, was not just a Wrangler with a tray on the back. The longer wheelbase made more room for the rear passengers. But it took some features from the JL range, such as the removable doors and roof, plus the doors. The rear doors looked like they belonged to another car and the rear-lower cut is off-shape.

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator offered the proven 3.6-liter V-6 engine at launch and added a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine in 2020. The transmission was either a 6-speed manual as standard and an 8-speed automatic as an option. The transfer case had a 2.71:1 low-range gear ratio for the Sport and Overland trim levels and a 4.1:1 for the top trim Rubicon.