Jeep Gladiator under the knife: Wrangler in pursuit

Versions of American models intended for Europe generally arrive slightly later than the versions for the American home market. For example, the Wrangler was introduced to the American public in April this year in a new form, and the European version only followed this week. Jeep has now also given the Gladiator a freshening in its home country. The variant intended for Europe will undoubtedly follow later, but that will probably be a problem for Dutch consumers. The Gladiator is not for sale in the Netherlands.

Just like with the Wrangler, Jeep is tinkering with the Gladiator’s grille. It retains its characteristic seven vertical slots, but the whole descends considerably less deeply than before. The slots have black grilles and a gray frame. Also an interesting change: the old whip antenna that previously protruded from the right front screen has been replaced by one incorporated into the windshield. The Gladiator gets new wheels and a larger, now 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The arrival of that larger display has a special consequence for the ventilation grilles. The two round outflow openings of the ventilation system that were previously located next to the smaller screen have had to be removed. Under the new larger screen we now see new horizontal outflow openings. Earth-shattering? No, but such changes are still interesting.

The 3.0 V6 diesel engine will soon no longer be available in the Gladiator and the Gladiator never received a 4xe plug-in hybrid drivetrain. What remains is the 3.6 V6, a six-cylinder that produces 289 hp and 353 Nm. Shifting is done with a manual gearbox, although an eight-speed automatic transmission is optionally available. We do not expect Jeep to bring the updated Gladiator to the Netherlands any time soon.