For the 2020 model year, Jeep is creating a completely new vehicle: the Gladiator pickup truck. Jeep hasn’t made a pickup truck since 1992, but before then they made trucks every year starting in 1947. As such, the 2020 Gladiator is a grand return to form, and it shows exactly what you get when you combine a pickup truck design and a company dedicated to off-road and four-wheel technology.
Back to Basics
Out of Jeep’s entire lineup, the Wrangler is the closest in design to the original Jeep that helped the United States win World War II. Maybe that’s why the 2020 Gladiator looks and acts like a modified Wrangler. Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator has a boxy, old-fashioned design and trademark features such as doors and a roof that are easy to remove. You also get the same solid-steel bumper the new Wrangler offers, and the top trim on both models is the Rubicon.
A Drivetrain Worth Buying
Another thing the 2020 Gladiator has in common with the Jeep Wrangler is a 4×4 drivetrain on every single model. No matter which trim you choose, you’re guaranteed to get four-wheel drive. You also get a set of 33-inch wheels with all-terrain tires that are good at gripping the trail, even when there’s no asphalt within 100 miles. Depending on the trim, you can also get advanced all-terrain features such as removable anti-roll bars for added wheel mobility and Tru-Lok locking differentials for the front and rear axles.
A Pickup Truck’s Utility
The Gladiator is much more than just a Wrangler with a cargo bed strapped to the back. The Gladiator adds 31 inches to its length and 19.4 inches to its wheelbase compared to the two-door Wrangler. On top of that, while the engine is the same V-6 available in some Wrangler trims, Jeep engineers have optimized the Gladiator for hauling and towing. That’s why this Jeep pickup can handle up to 1,600 pounds in the bed or tow 7,650 pounds, over twice the towing max of a Wrangler.
Plenty of Off-Road Extras
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator has more than just a drivetrain handy for off-road conditions. Depending on the trim, you can also get the TrailCam Off-Road Camera. This camera offers trail projections based on the direction of your front wheels, and that comes in handy when you can’t trust every inch of the trail in front of you. In fact, the camera even comes with a self-cleaning feature so mud won’t take it out of commission. Other off-road features include steel skid plates, heavy-duty forged tow hooks, and Fox brand shocks in the suspension.
Jeep is back in the midsize pickup market, thanks to the 2020 Gladiator, and you can be sure you’ve never seen a pickup quite like this before. With removable doors and a removable roof, you can drive it around like it’s a convertible, and with its excellent towing capacity you can bring along a decent camper trailer for the ride. So if you want a unique off-road pickup truck, look no farther than the 2020 Gladiator.
Image via Jeep.com
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