When drivers here at Landmark Dodge of Morrow start in on “trail talk”, they are always insistent upon praising the Jeep line! The 2024 Gladiator hit lots nationwide with the promise of excellent off-road capability. It managed this with no issue, but still faced the challenge of appealing to the masses with its very unique exterior style. The Gladiator Mojave gets curtain airbags this year, along with a new dashboard and screen makeover.
The Gladiator Mojave comes standard with equipment that would make any crawl-happy driver excited! The 3.6-liter V6, 4-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission are all part of the base-level goodness. There’s even the option for a 6-speed manual, which makes anyone who is fond of an expert-grade ascent excited. The capable V6 cranks out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, and fuel economy resides at 17 city/22 highway/ 19 combined. The Mojave trim is prepared for the challenges and ruts of the wild with 11.6 inches of ground clearance.
The challenges that lie far beyond concrete must contend with the Gladiator’s 44.7 degrees approach, 20.9 degrees break-over, and 25.5 degrees departure angles. One of the Mojave trim’s coolest add-ons is the Alpine stereo, kicking the jams up an aggressive notch. There are also numerous infotainment upgrades, heated seats and steering wheel, body-colored fenders, and a body-colored hardtop. The auto bloggers digging up the scoops at the Shaw Local News Network got their hands on a test model and were eager to disclose their opinions about this exploration-ready machine.
Theirs included the Black Freedom 3-piece hardtop, a spray-in bedliner and the very handy trailer brake controller. The Mojave Fox shocks’ enhanced flexibility and larger rear track bar render it worthy of faring well in terrain that any other Jeep can conquer. Tray Mountain Road in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest offers over 15 miles of off-road terrain. It’s also an amazing place to take a capable vehicle such as this and enjoy some precious solitude during quieter times of the day! The Gladiator's very cool hood scoop sits at center stage, and its interior had to properly balance form and functionality.
There needed to be the option to remove the windows, roof, and doors while keeping the same iconic dash treatment unique to the Jeep brand. The climate and audio functions are blended together very well, with the main gauge cluster boasting high-tech digital and very traditional analog displays. The brand-new 12.3-inch center screen offers valuable data about the vitals, and the short bed is about as long as can be without appearing completely out of place. The maximum towing capacity is 7,700-lbs and the 1,725 lb payload capacity is a notable flex for this segment.
The Car and Driver review staff eagerly billed this “a party of a pickup”, while praising its towing capacity and removable roof. The Toyota Tacoma is the only other pickup that offers the manual transmission, and the Gladiator arrives at the national forest or sand dune mecca with outstanding versatility. Their ultimate build would begin with the Sport S trim, and then add the all-terrain tires and anti-spin rear differential for improved traction.
Side steps are another nice addition that makes climbing in and out much easier, and the 3-piece hard top makes for a quick means of opening the roof. The Cargo Management Pack adds the tailgate-ready 400-watt power inverter, under-seat storage bin, and bed-mounted 115-V outlet.
