2020 Jeep Gladiator Shouts War Cry at 2018 L.A. Auto Show

New Jeep pickup will drop late 2019 in Sport, Overland and Rubicon trims, along with standard AWD on all models.

We have literally been talking about a Jeep pickup for decades. Since the Cherokee-based Comanche went out of production in the 1990s, the Jeep and off-road community as a whole has been calling for a new “trail rated” pickup. Today, at long last, those calls have been answer as the new Jeep truck became a reality. During today’s start of the 2018 Los Angeles International Auto Show, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator was revealed, ending the long wait for the Wrangler-based pickup truck.

“Unquestionably a truck and instantly recognizable as a Jeep, the all-new 2020 Gladiator is the ultimate vehicle for any outdoor adventure,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Jeep Brand – North America. “There is tremendous demand for this unique vehicle from our loyal Jeep customers and pickup truck buyers everywhere. Born from a rich and proud heritage of tough, dependable Jeep trucks, Gladiator combines rugged utility, versatility and functionality resulting in the most capable midsize truck ever.”

Between spy shots, leaked information and simple assumptions based on what we know about the JL Wrangler, there really aren’t many surprises with the Gladiator. However, today’s debut puts all of the guesses and assumptions to rest, as we finally have real, official information on the Jeep pickup to discuss.

Exterior Design

This comes as absolutely no surprise, but the 2020 Jeep Gladiator looks just like the Wrangler Unlimited from the front bumper to the rear doors. The Gladiator is a Crew Cab with a five-foot cargo box, so aside from the bed out back, it looks just like the Wrangler, although the rear doors of the truck do look a bit shorter than the SUV’s rear doors.

Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator has a removable top for open-air fun while comfortably seating five people, but unlike the Wrangler, this Jeep pickup has room for large cargo like motorcycles or other off-road toys. The truck also comes with the easy fold-down windshield, the high tech headlights and all of the other basic exterior features of the Wrangler, including those features which make the Rubicon models so competent in any off-road situation.

Ultimately, the bottom line here is that the Jeep community wanted something that looks and feels like the Wrangler, but with a truck bed, and the Gladiator is exactly that. We would like to see a regular cab model at some point, but in terms of exterior design, this new Jeep truck is perfect.

Wrangler-like Cabin

While the outside of the 2020 Gladiator looks a great deal like the Wrangler, the interior is nearly identical to the SUV. There might be some dimensional changes, but the steering wheel, the gauges, the dashboard and the front seats all appear to be identical to those in the Wrangler.

The door panels of the truck are shaped differently and the rear seats of the truck have more of a bucket-shape to them, but for the most part, the interior of the Gladiator offers everything that Wrangler owners love about the cabins of their SUV.

Finally, like the Wrangler and so many other FCA vehicles, the Gladiator is available with the award-winning, 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment system that controls every aspect of the interior. There is also an optional 7-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster system, like the Wrangler, so in addition to being tough, the new Jeep pickup is packed with technology.

2020 Jeep Gladiator Shouts War Cry at 2018 L.A. Auto Show continued…

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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