Why The Jeep Gladiator Was Doomed To Fail From The Start

Today I talk about why the Jeep Gladiator isn't selling well especially compared to the Jeep Wrangler and other mid-sized pickup trucks!

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[Stevemax]

Gladiator doesn't sell b/c its expensive.

[Johnny_mak]

2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon owner here and absolutely love it. Mine came with a factory lift and all terrains. I put 35's and a tow package on it and have been able to make so much use of it. Camping, utility, family outings, it's my favorite vehicle I've owned and, imo, very nice to look at, haha.

[OneLowPony]

I really love my 2022 Jeep Gladiator Mojave. I use it for overlanding and have had zero issues. Almost 20K miles and have no complaints, only smiles!

[onebridge]

I’ve had my 2020 Gladiator Rubicon since November 2019 and it has been a fun truck to own. Bought it new and it’s been a good truck. Not for those that keep trying to compare them to a weekend garden truck or F150. It’s a lifestyle truck for those that wanted a convertible, but live in winter 8 months out of the year and wanted a truck. I don’t care about depreciation because I’m never selling it.

[danielbuchanan]

My last two trucks were a 2018 Z71 Colorado with the 3.6 and then a 2020 Trail Boss LT. I’ve been driving my 2022 Gladiator Willys since May 2022 and I love it! The road manners are decent and obviously off road is fun in this thing. The ability to avg 20mpg isn’t too shabby either. With my family of five we absolutely need the truck bed for any real adventure. My only actual complaint is the weak 921 lb cargo/occupancy rating. I absolutely agree the 5.7 would have been a genius move by Stellantis.

[jimhunter]

I personally own 2 of them, my wife has a Mojave and I have a rubicon, I’m not sure where you are but they can’t keep them on the lots, they are out selling the wranglers, we love ours they are a blast to drive, we are in Texas and we remove doors and roof and they stay that way for 10 months out of the year

[jonathanh]

I bought one recently, but opted for a used 2021 for a couple of reasons: 1. Many of the ‘22s on the lot are missing random features due to supply chain issues, 2. Many of the ‘23s are now not including random things (probably due to cost-cutting) but the price was not adjusted down accordingly, and 3. The price has gone up so much that it’s ridiculous now. I understand inflation and all that, but when I priced out everything I was looking for, the cost of a ‘23 would have been $67K, which is getting into ridiculous territory for a mid-sized truck even if it is a cool Jeep. Instead, the used ‘21 had about 13, 000 miles on it and had every single option I was looking for, including the safety packages.

[frankiegrx]

I love my 2022 gladiator rubicon eco-diesel. Had it for 7 months and I go wheeling quite often . Iv'e had to help out people in deep ruts and obstacles when I drove through right after them with no problems. I carry equipment for different things that I couldn't fit in wrangler. It's an all around vehicle and i still get 25mpg with my 35" tires and mopar lift and it's plenty of clearance for most trails. Plenty of diesel torque when going over big rocks as well. I might even go with 3.5" lift and 37s later. It's hard to match the off-road rock-crawling capabilities of front & rear axles, electronic sway bar disconnect, front & rear lockers with any other stock truck in the similar category. It's an awesome truck if you use it for what it was designed for. Definitely not for just driving on flat roads and speed bump crawling at the mall. If you're looking for one, just go for the rubicon or the mojave and never look back.

[FieldWorxoverlandadventures]

They would be selling a lot more gladiators in my personal opinion if from the factory came taller/lift kit, bigger tires, every time I see a gladiator that stock it just doesn’t look right but everyone I see that’s lifted and bigger tires they look incredible and I feel if Jeep could figure out a way to give it a little better look in that regard they would be selling, I think putting the diesel in the gladiator was a great idea, I’m hoping their sales turn around, in my area northern California it seems they are selling a lot of gladiators obviously not as much as the wrangler but at least at my local dealers I haven’t seen them sitting in lots.

[alexanderdeburdegala]

One thing that few people cover, is how amazing of a tow vehicle the Gladiator with the EcoDiesel for middle weight loads. Sub 8, 500 lbs it's better then any full size. It's a 1000 lbs lighter, so it accelerates better, and gets noticeably better fuel mileage when towing then any full-size could manage. It's far more maneuverable due to it's smaller size, that's also a huge benefit to for towing. The steering ratio being higher, designed to let you make tiny adjustments when offroading, also makes it a breeze to line up to the hitch, as well as need to squeeze through tough spots (like when idiots double parking on the street you are driving down) .I went down from a Full-size Truck on purpose to a Gladiator because I know I am not towing above 8, 000 and the full size trucks are a pain to park, a pain to maneuver around a parking lot etc. The Jeeps lower weight also means you get far better fuel mileage for the town and city when you're not towing. However, on the highway, well it's shaped like a brick, but towing on the highway it's still leaps and bounds better fuel mileage then any full-size truck. I recently got 17-18 MPG when towing a 23 ft open car trailer, with a 5, 000 lb EV on it.

Stellantis is trying to retire the EcoDiesel, so I am sure this is why these merits are ignored. As far as missing features, mine is a 2022, I ordered it and didn't have to compromise on anything.

[mjdgi]

Down here in Texas people love them it seems like everybody's trading in their regular Wrangler and getting the gladiator. Special here in North Texas

[mauricekw]

I love my 2022 Gladiator Overland, lifted and fully equipped. I'm beyond satisfied, taken this one to the grave. never selling!

[jamesr]

As a Ford fan thanks to my dad, I didn't get into the Jeep thing during the 70's & 80's as a kid. Probably because wanted to be a purist & to emulate my dad. Dad wasn't into them either even though he was around them during WWII. In 2008 or so I had a friend who had a 1994 Wrangler Sahara, it had a manual transmission & decided to drive it to work while I was babysitting her dogs. It rode rough, bounced all over the road, stiff as a board; rode like a hay wagon.... LOVED IT! That morning I realized why there was a following for these. It opened my eyes how fun these were. I recall Chrysler decided to bring back the round headlights on the 1996 which I think was a wise decision; Jeep's don't have square headlights.

My input on the Gladiator is it looks cool, something different & when they came out, I was finally seeing Jeeps were expanding their lineup. One thing though, what hurts the model is they didn't offer a two-door option & bring back the Scrambler. You get a Jeep pick-up with a bit longer bed. Not everyone wants a four-door pick-up they still like regular cab pick-ups. If I was in the market for a Wrangler, I would never buy a four-door I think it's sacrilegious to have a four-door Wrangler, Still don't know why there's an interest in them.

Also, what's hurting them is the cost. 64, 000+ for a Jeep pick-up?!?! Ridiculious! In general, ALL trucks from all brands are getting too expensive. Who today has the funds to put 20% down on a new vehicle & pay 700-1000+ a month payment. All manufacturers are pushing leases these days cause they look cheaper, yet you don't OWN it.

I agree they need to add a V8 option to these. Maybe they don't because of the CAFE standard BS. If they have too many vehicles with low MPG, they can get nailed with a gas guzzler tax on them.

[robertglisson]

Bought mine a few months ago (a Mojave X) and absolutely love it! I wanted the Gladiator BECAUSE it has a convertible capability AND it has enough of a truck bed for my needs. I traded in a Silverado 1500, and don't miss it at all. I never had any desire for a Wrangler, and don't require a souped up super truck. I did get the standard, which is great, and also a MOPAR Soft Top. Put the top back and the doors off and I don't have a pickup truck. I have my HUMMWV I loved in the Army. That type of experience across the desert or the beach cannot be had with a conventional midsize truck. I bought my Gladiator for a reason, and have zero regrets...

[uncommonsense]

Those 3L turbo diesels are awesome. Have one. So much power and 30mpg routinely. For offroading especially the fuel range is incredible, and carrying extra diesel is much more flexible as so many offroad overland camping setups have diesel fuel heaters and cooking gear. And diesel is safer to carry than gasoline..

[mkucsma]

In the East Tennessee market, The dealers were adding 5 thousand above msrp with no incentives When I bought my 2020 and the 2021s were just coming out. I drove one and wasn't impressed with the handling on regular roads, the road noise, and the hard feel it had on regular roads. It is meant for farm and rural in my opinion. I got a Honda Ridgeline instead and I will have to say its the nicest truck I have ever owned.

[sargepent]

This is a common problem for many brands, they over ordered when the market was HOT but delivery of stock was delayed due to chip shortage and ect. Now all this inventory is hitting the lots AFTER the rates have increased and people are spending less as the recession starts hitting hard. Many dealers might not survive this just like back in 2008

[felixrodriguez]

I love my Firecracker red 22 Willys but you did have some good points. Wrangler is a bit more practical especially if you don’t use the bed often, but when you need it you remember why you got a JT! Cheers to my fellow Jeepers and if you don’t have one get one!

[shanerogers]

Cost is still too high I don't think it is as much about reliability. I was cross shopping this with ram 1500 I got a larmie with a hemi for the same price as a mid teir gladiator

[AvengerAngel]

Here in the Midwest, the Gladiators are not a rare sighting, quite a few on the road and most dealerships have few if any (although for pick-ups, Chevy, Ford and Toyota dominate). The Toyota pick-ups, particularly the Tacoma, is still considered the "farm friendly" option for reliability, and the prices are $20K below the option-filled, convenience packages in other domestic pick-ups. But I do so like the Gladiators more than our 2014 Wrangler Sahara. The prices are still high here with rebates of about $3K on 2022 Mohave.