2024 Jeep Gladiator Review and Test Drive
When you want a midsize crew-cab pickup truck like no other, the 2024 Gladiator stands apart from the crowd.
Christian Wardlaw
Westerly winds sweep across the high desert north of Los Angeles as my Jeep Gladiator Mojave test truck blasts along the dirt roads and two-track trails for which Jeep tunes it.
The driving is fun and easy, and the Mojave's exclusive Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks, hydraulic jounce bumpers, 33-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires, and full-time four-wheel drive keep the Gladiator under control. When washouts appear ahead, the Mojave's stout brakes haul it down from speed, while the 11.6 inches of ground clearance helps it navigate them without requiring a shift into 4-Hi.
I'd planned to head off-road out near Mojave, California, a dusty little town serving the Mojave Air and Space Port, where decommissioned airliners mark the spot where old Boeing 747s go to die. But time ran short, so the sadly poppy-free landscape near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve was my second choice.
Christian Wardlaw
Jeep has updated the 2024 Gladiator, revising the grille, redesigning the wheels, improving the interior, enhancing safety, and installing a new infotainment system. In my book, that's good enough to justify spending a week to evaluate it, even if I have no intention of testing the new side-impact airbags stuffed into the trim wrapped around the interior roll bars.
The 2024 Jeep Gladiator comes in Sport, Sport S, Willys, Mojave, Mojave X, Rubicon, and Rubicon X trim levels. Prices range from the high $30,000s to the mid-$60,000s, including the destination charge to ship the truck from the Toledo, Ohio, factory that builds it to your local dealership.
I'm a fan of the Jeep Wrangler, so naturally, I like the similar Jeep Gladiator. Get the Sport S with the Max Tow package, and the Gladiator can tow up to 7,700 pounds and carry as much as 1,725 pounds of payload in its 5-foot cargo bed. But my favorite things about Jeep's midsize crew-cab pickup truck are its styling, removable roof and doors, and off-roading capability — especially in Rubicon trim. Plus, there's nothing else like the Gladiator, making it a singularly unique driving experience.
Christian Wardlaw
What's New for the 2024 Jeep Gladiator?
Jeep has made numerous small but impactful improvements to the 2024 Gladiator. Starting with lineup updates, the Freedom, Overland, and High Altitude versions are gone, while the Mojave X and Rubicon X — referred to as the X models — are new. Regionally available Beach and Texas Trail variants are also available for 2024, and Jeep is likely to announce more special-edition models as the year progresses.
Styling updates include a new black seven-slot grille design, and each Gladiator features redesigned wheels. Jeep also ditches the mast antenna for one integrated into the windshield. The standard soft top is now made of premium fabric, while the X models have steel front and rear bumpers. Sting Gray and Punk'n paint colors are gone, replaced by Tuscadero pink and Anvil. There's also a new Black NightHawk package with predictably blacked-out trim and wheels.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Gladiator has updated and upgraded interior materials. There are more soft-touch surfaces, including attractive fabric decorating the dashboard in some trim levels, and contrast stitching adds a touch of sophistication.
Get one of the X models, and the Gladiator comes with 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats wrapped in green or black Rubicon premium leather upholstery. Those two trims also have a heated steering wheel and an Alpine premium sound system.
Christian Wardlaw
The revised dashboard houses a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and new USB-C ports that charge devices faster. Added safety features are also on the menu, and all 2024 Gladiators get side-impact airbags for the front and rear seats and structural modifications to improve side-impact occupant protection. Adaptive cruise control and a forward-collision warning system are standard, and the X models add a standard blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors.
The EcoDiesel turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 has been discontinued. All 2024 Gladiators have a gasoline-fed 3.6-liter V6. However, the Willys model gains a Tru-Lok locking rear differential and an Off-Road+ driving mode, while the X models feature a standard full-time 4WD transfer case.
Christian Wardlaw
Driving the 2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave X
Jeep sent me a 2024 Gladiator Mojave X to review. It had an automatic transmission, the new Anvil paint color, optional wheels, a Sunrider top, a spray-in bedliner, and all-weather floor mats, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $70,750, including the $1,895 destination charge and an additional $945 for the Sunrider top.
Driving the 2024 Gladiator is just like driving previous versions of the truck. The 3.6-liter V6 making 260 horsepower supplies just enough power that you won't complain, and at highway speeds, there is plenty of wind noise even when the truck is buttoned up. On-center steering felt nonexistent, the all-terrain tires relinquished grip on the pavement relatively early, and the fuel economy was terrible, in my opinion. My test truck returned 16.7 mpg on my 176.9-mile round trip to the desert, falling short of the 17/22/19 mpg ratings in city/highway/combined driving.
Still, I love driving the Gladiator as much as the Wrangler. There isn't another truck like it, and while the Mojave proved its mettle near the desert for which Jeep named it, the Gladiator is also a terrific urban and suburban warrior despite its wide turning radius.
Christian Wardlaw
You need not worry about curbing a wheel or crunching an air dam into a parking block. The Gladiator shrugs off bumps and potholes, and the Mojave's exclusive suspension offers a surprisingly comfortable ride. Outward visibility is outstanding, helping with maneuverability.
Another thing I like about driving the Gladiator is that it always feels like you're going faster than you are. It encourages a more relaxed pace, especially on winding scenic roads. For a truck with a roof and doors you can remove, that's a feature and not a bug. After all, when driving a Gladiator, you should enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Speaking of bugs, resist the urge to fold the windshield down and drive at any speed higher than what's legal in residential areas. Otherwise, based on the mess that accumulated on the Gladiator's impact-resistant Gorilla Glass windshield, you'll get bugs in your teeth.
Christian Wardlaw
Interior Upgrades Civilize the 2024 Gladiator
The Mojave X's interior is undeniably deluxe for a Gladiator, and the 12-way power-adjustable front seats literally bring driver and front-passenger comfort to new heights. My better half still kept the right front seat low to the floor because she struggled to climb aboard the Gladiator. Also, while the Mojave X model's grayish-green leather is a departure from the norm, it seems a poor match with several of the truck's paint colors. Saddle tan, anyone?
Sun lovers will want the optional Sunrider fabric panel over the front seats. It replaces the two individual rigid roof panels, which require storage unless you remove them at home and put them in the garage. That's easy in a Wrangler, thanks to its cargo hold, but not in a Gladiator — especially if you have people riding in the back seat. When open, the Sunrider panel adds to the racket inside the truck, but if that's open, so should the side and rear cab windows, making it a nonissue.
The new Uconnect 5 infotainment system substantially improves upon the previous technology. The voice recognition system still isn't conversational, but the larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, fast input response, simple user interface, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are welcome. It also offers Jeep Adventure Guides with detailed maps of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails, and if you subscribe to the embedded Trails Offroad service, you can access more than 3,000 of them across the U.S.
Christian Wardlaw
A Competitive Midsize Truck With an Unmatched Driving Experience
The Gladiator is competitive regarding truck chores such as towing and hauling, depending on the trim level and equipment. Ultimately, when comparing the Jeep to other midsize pickups, you'll want to conduct careful research for an apples-to-apples comparison. Likewise, if you're trying to decide if a Gladiator is right for you, you'll want to compare bed sizes, features, and amenities.
What makes the Gladiator compelling is not its utility or power. And with rivals such as the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma offering their own capable overlanding and off-roading models, the Gladiator Mojave and Rubicon aren't the only midsize trucks that can travel well away from civilization.
Instead, the 2024 Jeep Gladiator is appealing because it lets the outside in like no other pickup truck you can buy while delivering a truly unique driving experience. Get a Gladiator for those reasons, and the rest is the icing on the cake.
When building this test vehicle on the Jeep website, the Sunrider top requires you to select a cargo bed tonneau cover. The test truck did not have a tonneau cover, so the price quoted in this review includes only the Sunrider upgrade.
Jeep provided the vehicle for this 2024 Gladiator review.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Christian WardlawChris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
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