A tough pickup truck that we have been dreaming about for ages is finally here. The news of a pickup truck from Jeep’s stable is not new; and by not new, I mean, it’s been doing rounds for almost a decade. Finally, the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator has arrived. The wait has been worth it because it is as tough as it can get, and it comes with manual transmission as it should! Put your tongues back in, purists.

It Is Capable Of Going Almost Anywhere

From the look of it, the Gladiator has Jeep DNA all over it. When viewed from the front, it looks just like the Jeep Wrangler. Tim Kuniskis, Head of Jeep brand, said that the Gladiator is “the ultimate vehicle for any outdoor adventure.” When compared to the Jeep Wrangler, the Gladiator is 31 inches longer and has a 19.4-inch longer wheelbase. It will ride on 33-inch mud terrain tires. Interestingly, the front windshield folds flat, and the roof comes off, which is a classic Jeep feature.

The Gladiator has an approach angle of 43.6 degrees, a breakover angle of 20.3 degrees, and a departure angle of 26 degrees. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator’s towing capacity is rated at 7,650 pounds, and the payload capacity is rated at 1,600 pounds. It sits 11.1 inches off the ground.

Under The Hood

The Gladiator comes packed with a 3.6-liter, V-6 engine that develops 285 ponies and 260 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission (Hallelujah!) or an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox. This unit will be mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox only.

A Strong Off-Roader

. The Sport trim and Overland trim will be offered with a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and the top Rubicon variant will come with a Rock-Trac 4x4 system with a “4LO” ratio of 4:1. The Rubicon comes with improved total suspension travel with an electronic sway-bar disconnect, and a Fox aluminum-bodied 2-inch-diameter shocks lockers.

In Terms Of Safety

The new Jeep Gladiator offers safety features like rear cross path detection, standard rear parking camera, blind-spot monitoring, forward-facing off-road camera, and electronic stability control (ESC) with electronic roll mitigation, and adaptive cruise control, to name a few. The Rubicon trim will come with rock rails along the rocker panels to keep the long-wheelbase Gladiator safe from dings and metal bars aft of the rear axle to protect the long rear overhang.

Interior

Step inside the cabin, and you will be greeted by a 7-inch or an optional 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system on the center console that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Gladiator’s rear bench folds flat to provide additional storage space. The LED lights on the quarter trim panels illuminate the storage space behind the seats when the bench is folded down. To keep the fun quotient alive, Jeep is providing a removable wireless speaker that can be attached to the tailgate during picnics and parties.

Conclusion

The Gladiator will be produced at Jeep’s Toledo factory in Ohio, where the old Wrangler JK was manufactured until April this year. The production will kick off from the first half of 2019, and deliveries will follow immediately. The prices, however, are not yet revealed. What are your thoughts on the new 2020 Jeep Gladiator pickup truck? Share them with us in the comments section below.

Further reading

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator Comes to Take on the Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Jeep Gladiator.

Read our full review on the 2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept.