Jeep Gladiator 2024: better engineered for everyday use and as agile off-road as ever
Moab, UT - This small Utah town is home to the Easter Jeep Safari, a gathering that attracts thousands of off-road enthusiasts every year. In fact, the town itself is a tribute to any vehicle capable of overcoming an obstacle. 4x4 rental companies are omnipresent in this larger-than-life location.
The scenery is breathtaking, with all those cliffs and red rock, but what keeps the American manufacturer coming back every year is the variety of terrain available. There are so many courses to choose from, and the weather conditions change from day to day. Last year, a mini-snowstorm thwarted the manufacturer's plans at this very spot.
Alongside the festivities and the unveiling of these concepts, Jeep also had a test drive of a production model scheduled for this day away from the beaten track. The Jeep Gladiator 2024 was that vehicle, receiving the same upgrades as the Wrangler 2024. The new model is easily recognizable, with an enlarged front grille and other details such as new wheel designs, a radio antenna integrated into the windshield and the Anvil color scheme for the Jeep's timeless bodywork.
And the interior is no exception, with a 12.3-inch diagonal central screen. The latter is undoubtedly the most prominent improvement, but we should also mention that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless systems are installed as standard on all Gladiators. As for the first-row seats, they finally get power adjustments.
The safety aspect has also been upgraded with new curtain airbags in both rows, plus intelligent cruise control and forward collision warning, both of which are integrated into the Gladiator 2024 from the Sport S model upwards.
On the track
So it was at the wheel of a Mojave livery that we took to the road... or rather, the tens of kilometers of trail - laid out for the occasion - the latter being considered difficult according to the Trails Offroad application, available free with the Gladiator (62 pre-registered trails) or via subscription for the complete list of over 3,000 trails listed in the United States.
At this time of year, the whole region is invaded by off-road vehicles of all kinds. In short, we came across a number of them during our one-day trip. In this case, it was very important to listen to the advice of the driver in the lead vehicle.
The Jeep Gladiator Mojave isn't the best-equipped for very demanding routes - that task falls to the Rubicon instead - but with plenty of loose sand and several valleys allowing slightly higher crossing speeds, the Mojave version proved better suited to this type of terrain. In fact, the Rubicon's discomfort quickly relegated these versions - all of which were driven by Jeep people - to the rear of our convoy. Meanwhile, the Gladiator Mojave had no trouble maintaining a pace between 30 and 40 km/h, sometimes more when the trail allowed it. Here, Fox shocks with internal bypass and reservoirs make all the difference. Of all the Gladiator's liveries, the Mojave is unquestionably the coziest.
However, it's not just the shocks that make driving easier for those behind the wheel. No, Fox's hydraulically-compressed front travel stops (or bumper stops in English) also absorb the vehicle's movements quite well when it plunges back into the road. In fact, you can feel them at work whenever the Gladiator is heckled by bumps.
Equipped with Dana 44 axles with 4.10 axle ratio, the Tru-Lok rear axle lock and the Command-Trac temporary transfer case with 2.72:1 lower gear ratio, the Gladiator Mojave can also count on the services of 33-inch Falken WildPeak A/T off-road tires to get it over major obstacles.
During the ascent of Wipeout Hill - as the locals call it - the tires adhered particularly well to the rocky surface. There were two bumps to overcome, and we have to admit that, despite the wise advice of our guide for the day, some of the vehicles in the convoy touched the ground. On board the hydro-blue Jeep Gladiator Mojave, however, everything went according to plan.
Of course, to get to the top, we had to put the vehicle in its 4Lo mode, lock the rear differential and select the Offroad+ option in the red section of the dashboard. The rest was up to the running gear, which never flinched.
Our Mojave got stuck for a few seconds as this sandy climb gave my colleague for the day a hard time. The poor guy realized he was still in two-wheel drive. By putting the vehicle back into 4Hi mode (using the small arm to the left of the gearbox lever) and deactivating traction control, the Gladiator was able to continue on its way.
A necessary upgrade
This adventure behind the wheel of a Jeep Gladiator Mojave 2024 once again illustrated the legendary capabilities of this more utilitarian side of the Wrangler. Whatever the livery chosen (Willys, Mojave or Rubicon), the Gladiator has the tools to return home after a day off the beaten track.
Let's just say that this off-road ease comes as no surprise, as the brand's reputation in this area precedes it. On the road, the Gladiator Mojave is more comfortable than the Rubicon or Willys variants, while the enhanced digital experience (thanks to that new 12.3-inch screen) is not to be sniffed at, taking care to stabilize the vehicle before setting out to explore the multiple applications of the UConnect 5 infotainment system.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, meanwhile, is perfectly suited to this pickup truck chassis, the block that remains the only option under the hood in 2024. It remains to be seen when the 4xe powertrain will be added to the Gladiator range because with the cancellation of the turbodiesel V6 last year and the 6.4-liter V8 in the Wrangler 392, there will be only three possible choices in 2025: the turbocharged 4-cylinder, the plug-in hybrid or the indestructible V6 used in all the Stellantis Group's North American products. And it would be very surprising if the Gladiator were to get the 4-cylinder, as Jeep has never wanted to bolt it under the hood of its truck.
