The top model, for Jeep's only ute, is jam-packed with fun. There are little Easter eggs, some which are unique, to be hunted and shared across Jeep fan pages. The body shape brings on some ’90s heart-throb vibes and the sheer size of it will crick a few necks as they go for a second peek.
This is a ute that demands attention and has serious road presence. It competes against the Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota HiLux Rogue but the off-road capabilities of this almost place it in a category of its own.
I didn’t test the off-road stuff (leaving it to the expert, Crafty), but I did drive this for a week with my family of three for an ‘on-road’ field test. And it’s been an interesting week.
Jeep Gladiator 2023: Rubicon (4X4)
| Engine Type | V6, 3.6L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 12.4L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $72,380 - $83,160 |
| Safety Rating |
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What does it look like?
Like its sibling, the Wrangler, this is chock-full of character with the signature blocky black accents and robust shape. It looks like the sort of vehicle you’d want to have during a zombie apocalypse. Very purposeful and capable looking, which is just highlighted by the 32-inch off-road muddies!
There are a few little Easter eggs to be found on the car, too, which adds to the sense of fun. There are Willys MBs icons located on multiple surfaces, which, for those who don’t know, was a military vehicle used in World War II.
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It was satisfying hunting them down and looking up Jeep forums to see if there were any that I missed. Its little things like this that invoke a certain fondness in an owner, which is something Jeep has done well.
The interior has a lot of utilitarian styling that pays homage to its military heritage, which is a nice nod to the past. Hard exposed metal, hex bolts and squared edges are seen everywhere.
The dashboard is very shallow but that makes you feel like you're right in on the action. The leather seats with the Rubicon logo add some refinement to the cabin but it's not the main player in design.
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How does it drive?
The Gladiator has a 3.6-litre 'Pentastar' V6 petrol engine that’s shared across the Rubicon and Night Eagle variants.
Why change what works? It’s a powerful engine with plenty of torque (209kW/347Nm) and despite its size, I found it easy to maintain my speed on hills.
There’s a decent amount of pick-up in it, too, and you can handle city-traffic fairly well, but I would still be avoiding tight city streets. It’s here that the size won’t work for you.
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The engine is surprisingly quiet and the cabin noise is okay at low speeds but the tyres start howling at you when you put your foot down; which got tiresome on a longer trip where your senses felt a bit battered.
The steering is vague and while that could be because of the muddies, it still doesn’t do much for the overall confidence.
It was amusing to park because of the long wheelbase and the 13.6m turning circle. You do get used to it, just choose your car space carefully.
The reversing camera is clear and dynamic guidelines are great but the Gladiator would benefit from a 360-degree view camera.
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Overall, this is a car that you have to think about driving. However, there’s a sense of on-road camaraderie with Jeep owners, which I really liked.
I got a little finger salute from every Jeep I passed and it made me feel like I was a part of a club.
How spacious is it?
Front passengers will enjoy the most space with ample legroom and elbowroom but the roof feels close even for my 168cm height, so taller occupants may not be as comfortable.
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The rear seat is fairly spacious and I had my 187cm friend nestled in the back but he hit his head on the cross bar getting in and out, and figured that it wouldn’t be the best road tripper for comfort.
The storage throughout is a little average with webbing and netting being the primary fixtures. You’ll be able to tuck your gear away but it might not be super neat.
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There’s a cool lockable cubby underneath the rear seat, if you need extra space, though. According to my son, the cross bar offers a perfect hiding space for snacks.
The tray isn’t as large as some dual-cab utes on the market but it will service for your off-road weekend adventures.
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How easy is it to use every day?
Every day use starts to show some rough edges. The high ground clearance made it awkward to get in and out of the cabin. My six-year old treated it like an adventure but by the end of the week he was starting to get annoyed that I had to help him.
But he adored his high seating position all the same because he had such a good view.
The driver's footwell is narrow and curves in on the left side, meaning you can’t rest your left foot or stretch it out – which could get tiring on a long trip.
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The rear door apertures are quite narrow and the door lock anchors jut out, making it very easy to scrape your back when you slide in.
The narrow apertures and high clearance, made it hard to fit our child seats. There isn’t a decent side step, so you do have to climb in or have help when you strap them into place.
The top tether anchor points also seem a bit thicker than those I’ve used before. I had to use pliers to get my tether off, which surprised me!
The tray has a grippy liner which minimises gear movement, always a plus, and I love the multiple anchor points and rail track system. I would have liked a lockable lid but you can get an optional soft or hard tonneau cover to keep your stuff secure, which range from $805 to $4618, fitted.
How safe is it?
The Gladiator only achieved a three- out of five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing done in 2019. That testing is based on its sibling, the Wrangler, but the ANCAP report is worth reading if you’re considering buying this for your family.
There are some safety features you expect to see on a family vehicle, like: AEB with forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert, which I always like to have on a big vehicle.
It has a reversing camera and parking sensors but because it’s so chonky (1.9m wide) and long (5.6m), you really miss having a 360-degree view camera.
There are only four airbags and unfortunately, none service the rear seats.
There are two ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and two top tether points. There’s just enough space for a 0-4 rearward facing child seat but it will cramp tall front occupants.
What’s the tech like?
The 8.4-inch touchscreen multimedia system is easy enough to understand and it’s great that it has built-in satellite navigation but the screen can be laggy.
This has wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but I would have liked it to be wireless because there’s not really a spot to put your phone other than between the cupholders and I’m not fan of a trailing cable.
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The front seats are heated but remain manual in terms of adjustment, which goes well with the mean off-roader vibe. As do the four programmable AUX switches which can be optioned, should you need them.
The front row get a USB-A, USB-C and a 12-volt port, while the rear enjoy two USB-C ports. There is cool wireless portable speaker that’s tucked in behind the seat, which could make picnic days fun.
How much does it cost to own?
There are only two models available for the Gladiator and the Rubicon is the top grade, despite sharing the same engine with the Night Eagle.
This will set you back $87,250, before on-road costs, which makes it one of the most expensive utes in the class, with the Ford Ranger Raptor being the closest competitor.
You do get some cool features, like the heated leather front seats, removable roof, doors and windscreen (while on a private road) but make no mistake, you’re paying for the off-road capabilities as this is the only 'Trail-Rated' ute on the market.
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The official combined fuel cycle is 12.4L/100km but real-world testing saw my figure at 14.6L, and that was after a lot of open road driving. So, it’s thirsty, but I reckon if you’re considering a vehicle like this you probably won’t care!
You get a five-year/100,000km warranty, whichever occurs first, but this class usually sees an ‘unlimited’ km term, so this is a little disappointing.
This comes with a five-year capped-priced servicing plan and services are $399, which is competitive for the market. Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 12,000km, whichever occurs first but it could get painful if you clock a lot of kays every year.
Verdict
Let me be frank – if this was an Adventure Review, this would be achieving a very different result. There’s no doubt I had fun and enjoyed my brief time in the Gladiator but there are too many things that made the experience a bit rough around the edges. The safety is a big one for my family and it's hard to move past that three-star ANCAP rating. The on-road driving performance is serviceable but would grow tiresome on longer trips. It also isn’t always practical to use, getting in and out of the cabin is awkward and the rear seat doesn’t seem designed for passenger comfort.
I enjoyed the novelty of cruising around in this but there are other utes on the market which tick more boxes for my family and because of that, I’m only giving this a 5.5/10.
My son had a stack of fun in this big Jeep but having to have my help getting in and out started to annoy him before the week was out. He wanted me to go off-road and tackle every mountain or pothole he saw, and he loved the red paintwork. He gave it a solid 10/10 for sheer fun.
Pricing Guides
Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Night Eagle (4X4) | 3.6L, Unleaded Petrol, 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $70,950 - $81,510 |
| Rubicon (4X4) | 3.6L, Unleaded Petrol, 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC | $72,380 - $83,160 |
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