Revamped Jeep Gladiator bakkie: more features, same rugged charm

Jeep has given its trail-busting Gladiator bakkie a nip and tuck with refreshed styling and an upgraded interior with enhanced features.

Exterior

First introduced to South Africa in 2022, it receives a new blacked-out Jeep iconic seven-slot grille, a new colour-coded hard-top roof (soft tops are available as an accessory) with improved sound and weather insulation, the aerial is now integrated into the windscreen, and it gets new 17-inch alloy rims with large 32-inch all-terrain tyres.

The tailgate is damped and capable of stopping in three positions, and the load bed is lined with a special scratch-resistant layer.  A roll-up load bin cover is available in three options, including canvas, soft canvas in three parts, or a rigid cover in three parts.   

It’s still able to be disassembled with the supplied Torx bits that allow the doors to be removed and the windscreen lowered. A header bar connects the A-pillars and stays in place with the windscreen down, allowing the rearview mirror to remain in place.

Interior

The biggest change in the interior is a new dashboard with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with the fifth-generation Uconnect system, heated leather electric seats, Park Distance Control and an additional two airbags, taking the total to six.

Engine

Thankfully Jeep has retained the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine and not opted to use the four-cylinder turbo charged 2.0-litre mill of its Wrangler siblings.

It delivers 209kW and 353Nm of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.

Offroad prowess

It’s still one of the most capable off-road vehicles in the market thanks to the Rock-Trac 4x4 system featuring heavy-duty third-generation Dana 44 front and rear axles, Tru-Lok locking differentials, electronic sway-bar disconnect to improve articulation and a crawl ratio of 77.2:1. 

Further 4x4-focussed enhancements include skid plates. front and rear recovery hooks, rear steel heavy-duty off-road bumper and optional front steel winch-ready bumper with removable end caps.

It has an approach angle of 43.4 degrees, a breakover angle of 20.3 degrees, a departure angle of 26 degrees, a ground clearance of 282mm and 800mm wading depth.

Towing is rated at 3,470kg, and it has a 725kg payload capacity.

Safety

Safety features include Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic grid lines, Adaptive Cruise Control and electronic stability control (ESC) with electronic roll mitigation.

 It comes with a five-year/100,000km warranty and service plan, and roadside assistance during the first five years or 100,000km of ownership.

Pricing

R1,399,900.