Is The $40k Jeep Gladiator A Half-Price Hero Or Too Cheap For Its Own Good?

Is The $40k Jeep Gladiator A Half-Price Hero Or Too Cheap For Its Own Good?

Jeep recently announced the pricing for the 2024 Jeep Gladiator, and the big news is the base model starts at less than $40,000. With a base MSRP of $37,895, Gladiator Sport’s price increases to just $39,790, including the destination charge. The top-spec Mojave X and Rubicon X retail for $65,485. That’s a saving of $25,695 if you opt for the entry-spec truck. Or, to put it differently, the top dogs are an entire mid-spec Toyota Corolla more expensive.

With that in mind, we decided to take a closer look at the Gladiator Sport to see if it’s a worthwhile option or a bargain-bin specification better suited to rental agencies who hate their customers.

The 2024 Gladiator Sport is already off to a great start, thanks to a decent set of upgrades, which we’ll get to later.

To keep the costs low, the Sport comes standard with a set of 17-inch steel wheels. The design is pleasant, but we think it would have looked even better if Jeep leaned into the model’s utilitarian vibe and equipped it with traditional steelies. Still, the black steel wheels contrast nicely with all the available exterior hues and the black canvas roof.

Speaking of exterior colors, Bright White is the only no-cost option. Thankfully, Jeep doesn’t charge much for an interesting exterior color, and there are many. Black, Granite, Sting-Gray, Silver Zynith, Hydro Blue, Firecracker Red, High Velocity, and Sarge Green cost $595 extra.

We want to keep this Jeep as cheap as possible, but the available colors add so much character to the car. We’ll let you decide for yourself, but check out the difference between Bright White and some more exciting colors in the image block below.

The Black Sunrider Soft Top is a bit clunky, but it does a decent enough job keeping the cabin insulated in hot and cold weather, so it doesn’t bother us too much.

The 2023 Gladiator was equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen interface running Uconnect 4. All 2024 models, including the Sport, gain a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Uconnect 5. Jeep made some substantial upgrades to its latest Uconnect system, including the obligatory Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The feature we like the most is the Jeep Connect Off Road Pages+ Package, which comes with a two-year trial.

We hate to state the obvious, but the 12.3-inch screen is a significant improvement over the postage stamp you used to get in base Gladiator models.

On the safety side, Jeep made some structural body improvements and added first- and second-row side curtain airbags. The outboard seatbelts in the rear now come standard with load limiters and pre-tensioners.

At this level, you’ll only get cloth seats, but at least they’re durable. You can choose between Black and Heritage Tan.

The only engine option is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that comes standard with Stop/Start technology. This well-known engine produces an adequate 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It’s not as advanced as some of the newer turbocharged four-pot engines out there, but it gets the job done. However, the base Gladiator is thirsty. According to the EPA, it will consume 19 mpg on the combined cycle. Thankfully, the gas tank is quite big, so you get a decent range of 418 miles between refills.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and upgrading to the eight-speed automatic costs an additional $2,500. To sweeten the deal, Jeep also adds adaptive cruise control, Selec-Speed control for declines or inclines when off-roading, and a transmission skid plate if you choose the self-shifting option.

At this level, you’re getting Jeep’s most basic Command-Trac part-time 4×4 system. It’s a perfectly fine system for off-roading, but you can’t engage 4WD on tarmac, even if it’s wet. You can’t use a part-time system’s 4H setting on a grippy surface, as the wheels are locked in a 50:50 split. If you do it, you’ll end up with axle binding problems, which is a known issue when it comes to Jeeps. Jeep’s Quadra-Trac (there are three versions to choose from) is a more advanced permanent four-wheel drive systems that allow you to drive on tarmac without harming the differentials. Unfortunately, Quadra-Trac is not an option for the Gladiator.

Another oversight is the lack of a manual or electronically locking rear differential. The best Jeep can do is to add the Trac-Lok Anti-Spin Rear Differential, which is a fancy way of saying it has a limited-slip differential that can’t lock up to 100%. This can only be added by option for the $1,995 Max Tow Package.

There are only three packages you can add to the Sport. The Smoker’s Package adds a cigar lighter and a removable ashtray, costing $30.

The other packages are pretty helpful and not that expensive. The Trailer Tow and Auxiliary Switch Package includes a 240-amp alternator, heavy-duty engine cooling, a Class IV hitch, a feature on the infotainment screen that allows you to zoom into the hitch, and four programmable auxiliary switches. These auxiliary switches are a must if you plan on adding aftermarket equipment. Instead of fitting a cheap and awkwardly located switch for roof-mounted spotlights, you can connect the lights to one of these AUX buttons.

As mentioned, the Max Tow Package is $5 shy of $2,000, but it comes with that LSD, heavy-duty Dana 33 axles front and rear, daytime running lights, all-terrain tires, a Class IV hitch, a conventional differential front axle, and speed limiter that won’t let you go past 110 mph.

The 2024 Gladiator comes with an increased 7,700-pound towing capacity, and if you add this package, the GVW Rating also increases to 6,500 lbs. This increases the maximum hauling capacity to 1,850 lbs.

By adding these options, the Gladiator is on par with other pickup trucks in this segment, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado.

If you’re not going to tow, haul, or off-road, the standard car is just fine. But why would you buy a Gladiator or any pickup truck if you’re not going to do those things? A base Jeep Cherokee would be a much better bet.

For this Gladiator to make sense, you need to add these packages, but that’s not as easy as you think. While the quoted prices look cheap, you are required to add more stuff. If you add the Max Tow Package, the Trailer Tow and Auxiliary Switch Package is automatically added. Both packages require the addition of the eight-speed automatic transmission, and suddenly, you’re looking at $5,820 in options. That increases the total price to $45,610, destination included.

How does that compare to its rivals? A Ford Ranger XLT with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, a locking rear axle, and a trailer tow package costs $41,935. A 2024 2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Road with all these features retails for $44,395. A Colorado Z71 4WD, also similarly specced to the Gladiator, is $42,165.

The Gladiator is much closer to the midsize truck segment than the full-size segment, and the fact is that all the rival trucks we mentioned above are newer, more powerful, use less fuel, and are generally easier to live with.