The Jeep Gladiator is a product unlike anything else on the market. While you have several options for that authentic Jeep experience, no other vehicle can offer that experience housed in a midsize truck body.
We're a used Jeep dealer near Poughkeepsie that knows everything you need to know about the Gladiator. We've put together a guide of recent-model-year Gladiators to show how the nameplate has evolved over its past five years on the market—ever since it debuted with the JT generation. This should give you a better understanding of where to begin looking when shopping for a pre-owned Jeep pickup.
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator
The 2020 Gladiator hit the market in 2019, ushering in a new pickup truck experience from one of America's all-time automakers. Upon release, the pickup would become known as the Gladiator JT, with a naming scheme not unlike Jeep's other cars, like the Wrangler JL. The difference, however, is that the JL is the fourth-gen Wrangler, while the JT is the first round of Gladiators. If you're shopping for a pre-owned Gladiator, the 2020 model is the oldest. This means you're buying a truck with the design sensibilities of this tech-hungry decade.
Under the hood of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator is a 3.6L V6 engine paired with either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. The Gladiator operates with 4x4 capabilities, so fuel efficiency varies based on your transmission. For example, with the automatic, the 2020 Gladiator earns an EPA-estimated 17 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway, and 19 MPG combined, while the manual retains the 19 MPG combined but earns 16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. Both transmissions get a 418-mile total range with a full tank of gas.
Every 2020 Gladiator outputs 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Each also has maximum towing and payload capacities of 7,650 lbs and 1,700 lbs, respectively. For the adventurous types who take long treks to off-roading locales, the 2020 Gladiator is equipped with 33-inch off-road tires, front and rear electronic locking differentials, front and rear electric axle lockers, a limited-slip differential, electronic sway bar disconnect, and more. Combined with the standard 4x4 capabilities, the 2020 Gladiator is a textbook Jeep vehicle.
Separating the Gladiator from the other models in Jeep's lineup is its pickup bed. The 2020 Gladiator has a 5-foot-long bed with 35.5 cu.ft. of space. This is one area where the Gladiator hasn't changed, even today. As for tech features, the 2020 Gladiator came standard with a basic 5-inch screen. However, with an available 7- or 8-inch infotainment center, you'll get features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2021 Jeep Gladiator
With the foundation laid by the 2020 Gladiator, the 2021 model's task was simple: keep the fundamentals but build upon them. The result was a Gladiator that carried over the best parts of the 2020 variant but with a few added twists. One of the most apparent differences is the addition of a turbo-diesel 3.0L V6, which wasn't an option for the 2020 model.
The 2021 Gladiator still comes standard with the 3.6L V6 engine, but the turbo-diesel engine and its 8-speed automatic transmission bring a large increase in torque coupled with the best achievable fuel efficiency ratings. With the turbo-diesel, you get 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque (70% more torque than the base engine) and maximum towing and payload capacities of 6,500 and 1,350 lbs, respectively. As for fuel economy ratings, the turbo-diesel earns 22 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG combined.
Mechanically, the 2021 Gladiator has a few differences across its trims and special editions, including the Willys, Willys Sport, and the 80th Anniversary. The 80th Anniversary edition is primarily an aesthetic showpiece with exclusive flourishes like specialized badging, accents, finishes, etcetera, though it does come with the better 8.4-inch infotainment center. With the Willys, the Gladiator becomes even more fit for off-roading, with 32-inch mud tires, integrated rock rails, and a limited-slip rear differential.
With that year's Overland trim, you're treated to a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and new for 2021 was the TrailCam, which gives you clear visibility of the trail ahead displayed on your infotainment center screen.
The 2022 Jeep Gladiator
Many changes to the Gladiator for its 2022 model year weren't mechanical, with most being tech enhancements. Performance, cargo space, and many other facets match the 2021 model. One of the first changes made to the 2022 Gladiator is the removal of the 5-inch Uconnect 3 media center that came standard on the prior models.
Instead of the UConnect 3 center, the 7-inch Uconnect 4 infotainment center with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard. However, on trims like the Rubicon, Overland, and Mojave, the 8.4-inch Uconnect 4C infotainment center comes standard, which includes on-board navigation software and a premium 9-speaker audio system. Additional changes include a new type of cabin filter that works even better. Lastly, standard on the Mojave, Rubicon, and Overland is Remote Proximity Keyless Entry, which means that as long as you have the keyfob on you, it doesn't need to be out of your pocket to unlock your door.
The 2023 Jeep Gladiator
The 2023 Jeep Gladiator makes a few additions, although none of the changes affect the base-level experience. What is new, however, is a new color called High Velocity—a beautiful yellow body color that has been quite popular. Another addition is the this-year-only Freedom trim, which includes steel bumpers and rock rails and proudly displays an American flag decal across the body. The Capability Package that can be applied to the High Altitude trim includes the aforementioned steel rock rails and front bumper, as well as the front-facing off-road camera.
If you buy the Willys trim, the 2023 Gladiator becomes an even better experience; you get a 7-inch digital instrument cluster that adds a sleek way of displaying your speed, fuel capacity, and other valuable info, and the screen is bright and customizable to an extent. Also standard with the Willys is a high-tech keyfob that includes the Proximity Keyless Entry, garage door controls, and a remote start system. Living in Upstate New York, cold winter days are common; starting your car from the comfort of your warm home before you commute means you can warm up your car before you hurry outdoors to it.
The 2024 Jeep Gladiator
The 2024 Jeep Gladiator changes nearly everything aside from a couple of things. The base V6 engine's performance and the cargo bed have remained identical. The truck's exterior has received some visual flourishes, like more than half a dozen fresh wheel designs and a menacing seven-slot grille. One major change is the removal of the turbo-diesel engine option, leaving only the base V6. However, the standard infotainment touchscreen is now 12.3 inches and has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there is an increase in safety features.
Some of the new safety amenities include side-curtain airbags for both rows. If you purchase any trim except the Sport and Willys Sport, you'll get features like a forward collision warning that will warn you ahead of any possible collision. The same trims also receive advanced cruise control that uses the speed you've set as a base speed and increases and decreases it when deemed necessary, like coming to a full stop with the other cars on the road.
With the 2024 Gladiator, a couple of new trims were added—the Rubicon X and Mojave X. With these two trims, you get another new standard feature for the 2024 Gladiator: a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, which is also available for the front-row passenger. These seats are offered in genuine Nappa leather for those who prefer premium materials.
Picking Your Next Gladiator
Although there aren't more than a handful of Gladiator models to choose from, there's no doubt the Gladiator is the ultimate midsize truck. No matter how often you go off-roading, the Gladiator is a truck that serves New York drivers like yourself well, even for day-to-day transportation. The Gladiator is always evolving, but that doesn't mean any of the pre-owned models have aged poorly. Jeep vehicles are known for their quality and longevity, so if you buy a pre-owned model now, the chances that you'll get many years of continuous use out of your Jeep Gladiator are exponentially high, especially compared to many other pre-owned midsize trucks you can buy.