The Jeep Gladiator has been refreshed for the 2024 model year, borrowing many of its updates from the facelifted Wrangler. Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the new pickup truck gets the same revised front-end styling as its brother, as well as a much better interior and more gizmos to keep you entertained. There are also two new models to choose from, the Mojave X and Rubicon X, which take a more refined approach to what has been a rough ‘n’ tough model in the Jeep portfolio. We’re talking leather upholstery and power-adjustable seats. Okay, so these are not exactly earth-shattering developments, but perhaps of more note is the improved off-road features both models will get, including steel bumpers and a full-time transfer case.

Those wanting to up the ante can now place an order with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) via Jeep dealers across the country to upfit their trucks with a range of extreme packages. When the 2024 Jeep Wrangler was unveiled in April, we called the design “divisive.” However, it seems a great many of you loved the new seven-slot grille, and if we’re honest, it’s grown on us too. Sitting alongside the refreshed Wrangler, the outgoing Gladiator was looking decidedly old hat. But it was always a foregone conclusion that the cosmetic lift would be headed the pickup’s way. Aside from aping the Wrangler, the new design fits in with Jeep’s current design language. The slats are slimmer and more upright, while the trim and exposed mesh provide a much more vivid contrast than the previous model’s softer shape.

 

Other than that, the rest of the external changes are limited to an antenna that now lives in the windshield (one less protrusion to snag while off-road), an additional exterior color option (“anvil”), and a range of new wheel designs. The things that make the Gladiator a Gladiator remain present and correct, including the multiple windshield, door, and roof combinations. On that note, the Premium Sun-Rider soft-top has become a standard feature from 2024 for better sound insulation and durability. Vital stats also stay the same, with an overall length of 5,539 mm, width of 1,875 mm, and a height of either 1,907 mm with the soft top or 1,857 mm with the hardtop.

If the exterior looked just a touch old hat, then the outgoing Gladiator’s interior was certifiably archaic compared to most other options in the market. The refresh brings a whole lot more functionality and modernity to the interior of the pickup, with improved materials, a larger infotainment screen, and revamped software. The main feature is the 12.3-inch touchscreen display that sits atop the dash, running Stellantis’ Android-based Uconnect 5 operating system. Vastly superior to its predecessor, the system will now be able to receive over-the-air updates, wirelessly connect to phones via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and summon Amazon Alexa as a virtual assistant.

 

Just like the Wrangler, the Gladiator gets Jeep’s Adventure Guides, a way for trail lovers to test out the Gladiator’s off-road chops with detailed guides for 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails. Those wanting more than the 62 on offer (which already includes the Rubicon Trail in California, Hell’s Revenge in Utah, and Jericho Mountain in New Hampshire) can purchase a subscription to unlock the full gamut of 3,000 retail guides. New to the Gladiator and improved upon since its launch in the 2024 Wrangler, Trail Guides now feature a “Follow Mode” that provides the right information at the right time by displaying popups for waypoints, such as intersection directions, obstacles, or points of interest. All models get slightly better standard equipment. You’ll still have to upgrade to the Sport S trim before you can save yourself the manual labor of winding your windows down, but the first and second rows now get side-curtain airbags as standard. The two new Mojave X and Rubicon X trims come with Nappa leather seats and 12-way adjustable power seats for the front occupants. Adding to their off-road capabilities, the models get a full-time transfer case, an integrated off-road camera, and steel bumpers for the front and rear.

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator comes with just one engine choice: a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The powerplant remains unchanged from the outgoing model, with the same 285 hp and 353 Nm of torque. A six-speed manual transmission remains standard, while you have the option of an eight-speed automatic. Fans of diesel power will be in mourning though, as the 2024 Gladiator drops its 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 for the new model year. The decision to axe the oil burner is a result of the company’s ongoing electrification push, with plans to convert half of its sales in North America to EVs by 2030. There’s no mention of a Gladiator 4xe just yet, but a PHEV version may just help ease the pain of diesel’s loss. With the plug-in hybrid variant of the Wrangler reportedly accounting for 38% of Q1 sales in the United States, there’s certainly a case to be made, too, but as yet, it remains unconfirmed, although an earlier image released by Jeep may point to such a model making an appearance in the future.

Order books for the facelifted 2024 Jeep Gladiator are now open, and expect the first models to start appearing in showrooms before the end of the year. Pricing is yet to be announced