We have an abundance of Jeep lovers here at Landmark Dodge that were thrilled when it was officially announced the Gladiator was on its way: this was a model that had been closely engineered to be the most off-road capable Jeep truck ever, and it was evident at every inch. The Jeep line has made their models customizable in so many ways, as everything from the roof, sides, and windshields can be quickly adjusted as you encounter different kinds of terrain.
The engine options the Gladiator offers stirred its rabid fan base of canyon-crawling experts to look forward to their next mapped-out journey, beginning with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with engine stop-start and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel similarly equipped. This is one of the last models left that embrace a “final frontier” of sorts by offering a manual transmission and comes loaded with a versatile box, body-on-frame design, solid axles, and electronic lockers. The front and rear five-link suspension system is one of the Gladiator’s most useful traits for off-roading, as you will be able to add more necessary flexibility and immediately adapt to challenging angles.
Enthusiasts nationwide were on pins and needles with anticipation waiting for the Gladiator because it was the go-anywhere Jeep with the addition of a truck bed everyone had been yearning for. Combining traditional Jeep elements with modern technology options needed to please the discerning driver of today, it was vastly successful in many ways. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on deck for the latest in entertainment and navigation, and the safety features that accentuate the Gladiator’s appeal are adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning plus, blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection, and the very useful Parksense rear park assist.
New for this year’s model and excellent for stoking the patriotic spirit is the Freedom Special Edition, adding an original Oscar Mike badge on the rear tailgate, LED headlamps and fog lamps, body-color Fender flares, winch capable steel front and rear bumpers, steel rock rails, and a fitting American flag decal that runs along both sides of the vehicle. You can also opt for the new Capability Package on the High-Altitude trim, which will see you rapidly “unstuck” courtesy of the winch-capable front bumper, steel rock rails, and the high-tech spotter in the form of the front off-road camera.
The Willys trim is a throwback to the classic elements that made Jeep so widely appealing in the first place, and it comes standard with a 7-inch instrument cluster, remote start and garage door opener, and proximity keyless entry. You can also choose to enjoy even more of the awesome terrain you’re tackling with the Gladiator with the Sunrider Flip Top, which conveniently flips back for a true heightened experience in the wild. For the Jeep lover that will settle for nothing less than the Gladiator Mojave’s mojo: you’ll be conquering outright nasty obstacles with high-performance FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with reservoirs along with FOX front hydraulic jounce bumpers to up your handling game 100%!
