- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr
Glorious name for the off-road fighter
The Jeep Gladiator is a mid-size pickup manufactured by the Jeep division of Stellantis North America (formerly FCA USA). The model was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018 and went on sale in Spring 2019. Based on the same platform as the JL Wrangler, the Gladiator is Jeep’s first pickup truck since the discontinued production of the Comanche in 1992. In 2021, the second generation pickup can be purchased in Israel. Although this generation is considered the second, in essence, it is the first. But we will talk about this below.
Background
In 1992, production of the Comanche pickup was phased out, and after a long pause, Jeep, now part of Stellantis, decided to develop a mid-size pickup. Based on the same platform as the Wrangler, the 2019/2020 Jeep Gladiator aims to restore historical justice and satisfy the love of the American people, and not only, for light trucks known as pickups. The name was found easily: from 1962 to 1988, a pickup with that name was already produced. The vehicle appeared in the famous film Tremors, 1989, where it faithfully served the main characters, seasonal workers forced to fight giant predatory worms. The image of a faithful four-wheeled friend was slightly polished, resulting in the creation of a modern car with the same name. The goal of the developers was a stylish outdoor pickup with a full double cab, and they succeeded. The new Jeep Gladiator became the brand’s first five-seater pickup. It should be noted that the manufacturer worked on the Gladiator for a long time: the first concept car debuted back at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show.
Distinctive features
The new pickup differs from the original SUV not only by a cargo platform instead of a trunk, it is also significantly longer. The wheelbase has grown by half a meter and is 3,501 mm long, and the rear overhang is also longer. The cargo platform is 1.5 m long and made of steel, while the tailgate is made of aluminum. Doors, hinges, windshield frame and hood are also made of lightweight aircraft metal. Interestingly, all four doors of the vehicle can be unscrewed and removed in your garage, and the windshield, if desired, leans back onto the hood. In addition, both a soft top and removable hard roof panels are provided for the pickup.
The goal of the developers was a stylish outdoor pickup with a full double cab, and they succeeded!
The new Jeep Gladiator is truly strong and really capable of overcoming off-road terrain, hauling trailers and carrying loads. This is not a flimsy, helpless SUV incapable to handle the mud. The Gladiator is a stern representative of an endangered tribe, built on a spar frame made of high-strength steel and possessing outstanding off-road capabilities. Thus, the ground clearance is 282 mm, while the ford depth is 760 mm. The vehicle features dependent suspensions at the front and at the rear, comprising indestructible continuous Dana axles on springs with anti-roll bars. The carrying capacity of the pickup is 607-726 kg (depending on the configuration), and the towed trailer can weigh up to 3,470 kg. Therefore, for more efficient engine cooling in difficult conditions, the Gladiator has slightly increased family slots in front of the radiator.
The engine is also powerful. This is a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-shaped 6-cylinder unit (289 hp), which is installed with a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. The pickup is equipped with disc brakes (the front ones are ventilated). Rack and pinion steering is complemented by an electrohydraulic booster.
The list of basic equipment includes full LED optics, Uconnect media system with 7-inch touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, as well as ABS, EBD and others. Automatic braking, blind spot monitoring system and adaptive cruise control are available for an additional charge, as well as the function of automatic switching from high beam to low beam.
