LOS ANGELES — After a year or more of rumors, speculation and innuendo, the Jeep pickup — dubbed the Gladiator — broke cover at the LA Auto Show as a 2020 model, … and it's everything we expected and more.
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator arrives in U.S. dealer showrooms in the second quarter of 2019. The EcoDiesel won't be on sale until 2020. Expect pricing information closer to the launch of the vehicle.
Let's hit the important numbers first. The Jeep Gladiator has up to 30 inches of water-fording ability, 7,650 pounds of towing and 1,600 pounds of payload capacity, 33-inch tires with space for 35s on the axles and underneath the bed for a spare, an approach angle of 43.6 degrees, breakover angle of 20.3 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees. It also has 11.1 inches of ground clearance.
The first photos released by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles show the Gladiator mounted on Falken Wildpeak tires, size LT285/70R17.
As for engines, it's about what we expected. Base Gladiators will get the company's 3.6-liter V6 making 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. In 2020 a 3.0-liter turbocharged Gladiator diesel will also be offered delivering 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque.
A six-speed manual is standard; an eight-speed automatic is optional. The Rubicon trim with the eight-speed is good for an impressive 77.2:1 crawl ratio. Engine stop/start and push-button start are both standard.
Sport and Overland Gladiators will come with Jeep's Command-Trac 4x4 system featuring a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low range, Dana 44 front and rear axles with a 3.73 rear axle ratio. Harder-edged Gladiator Rubicons get the Rock-Trac system with the same Dana axles, a 4LO ratio of 4:1, a 4.10 front and rear axle ratio and Tru-Loc locking differentials.
Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator Rubicon also comes with an electronic antiroll bar disconnect. All Gladiators get skid plates; the Rubicon's are a little tougher. The Gladiator uses a five-link coil front suspension setup, one lateral control arm and four longitudinal. The five-link rear features two upper and lower forged steel control arms to arrest longitudinal movement and a track bar for lateral control.
