Sky-high pricing for Jeep Gladiator ute

When the 2020 Jeep Gladiator becomes available here in May the all-new dual-cab 4x4 pick-up will be priced at the pointy end of the ute market, from $75,450 plus on-road costs – just $1000 less than the hard-core Ford Ranger Raptor.

The new Jeep Gladiator range will comprise two full-time models – the entry-level Overland and the more rugged Rubicon ($76,450 plus ORCs) – plus the limited-run Launch Edition ($86,450 plus ORC) limited to 100 units.

But throw in some of the many options, prices for which were also announced today, and some Aussie Gladiator buyers could spend close to $100K for their Wrangler-based ute.

Standard features across the four-door, five-seat Jeep Gladiator range include a 209kW/347Nm 3.6-litre petrol V6 hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, climate control, alloy wheels and a five-foot steel tray that Jeep says is big enough to swallow dirt bikes, surfboards and ATVs.

But while most of its rivals offer a 3500kg towing capacity and around a tonne of payload, the Jeep Gladiator will haul just 2721kg and carry only 620kg, and turbo-diesel power is yet to be confirmed for Australia.

However, Jeep is alone in offering a removable roof on all models, making it the "only convertible truck of its kind" according to the US off-road brand.

Pitched as a highly capable off-road dual-cab ute, the Gladiator is based on a variation of the Wrangler SUV’s rugged ladder-frame chassis, equipped with a low-range transfer case and an on-demand four-wheel drive system (Selec-Trac Active in Jeep-speak).

As well as offering around 70 MOPAR accessories in Australia, including a drawer storage system for the cargo tray, the Jeep Gladiator will be offered in nine colours, depending on the model grade.

These include Firecracker Red, Hydro Blue, Diamond Black, Bright White, Billet Silver Metallic, Sting Grey, Granite Crystal Metallic and two exclusive Gladiator colours, Gobi and Gator.

Jeep Gladiator Overland models come with 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seat trim, push-button engine start, LED headlights, an 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), nine-speaker stereo, heated front seats and steering wheel and body-coloured wheel-arches.

Gladiator Rubicon models are tailored for hard-core bush-bashing and while they lack leather trim and get smaller 17-inch alloys, they’re fitted with BFGoodrich off-road tyres, 2.0-inch aluminium Fox shocks, locking diffs front and rear, a more capable 4x4 system (Rock-Trac Active), black wheel-arches, removable roof and a forward facing off-road camera.

Gladiator Launch Edition vehicles get all that plus a leather-wrapped instrument cluster, steel front bumper, three-piece body-coloured hardtop, 17-inch black wheels and a trio of unique exterior colours.

The vehicle has not been tested by ANCAP yet but the confirmation that it will get autonomous emergency braking should see it follow the Wrangler's three-star rating.

There's a lot riding on the new Jeep Gladiator in Australia, where the US car-maker hopes the pick-up will boost sales and revitalise its tarnished image in the wake of quality issues for the once-popular Jeep Grand Cherokee.

While the overall Aussie car market is in a world of pain at present and Jeep sales dropped from a high of over 30,000 in 2014 to just 6000 last year, Jeep climbed ever so slightly during the first two months of 2020, from 848 to 853 units.

How much does the 2020 Jeep Gladiator cost?
Overland – $75,450
Rubicon – $76,450
Launch Edition – $86,450
* Prices exclude on-road costs

Jeep Gladiator Overland standard features:
McKinley Leather Seats with Overland logo
Jeep Selec-Trac Active On-Demand 4x4 system
Heated Front Seats and Steering Wheel
18-inch Alloy Wheels
Removable Body Colour Freedom Hard Top Roof
LED Headlights/Taillights/Day-Time Running Lights/Fog Lights
Forward Collision Warning Plus
Body Colour Fender Flares
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Path Detection
Remote Proximity Keyless Entry
Nine-Speaker Alpine Premium Audio System
Uconnect 8.4-inch Touchscreen with Navigation
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon standard features:
Jeep Rock-Trac Active On-Demand II 4x4 system [4:1 Transfer Case]
Jeep Tru-Lok Front & Rear Locking Differentials
Front Sway-Bar Disconnect
FOX aluminum-bodied 2-inch diameter shocks [front/rear]
Forward-Facing TrailCam Off-Road Camera
Selectable Tyre-Fill Alert
32-inch BFGoodrich Off-Road Tyres [255/75R17]
17-inch Alloy Wheels
LED Headlights/Taillights/Day-Time Running Lights/Fog Lights
Forward Collision Warning Plus
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Path Detection
Remote Proximity Keyless Entry
9-Speaker Alpine Premium Audio System
Uconnect 8.4-inch Touchscreen with Navigation
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Jeep Gladiator Overland options:
Premium Paint - $1035

Lifestyle Adventure Package - $3835
Cargo Management Group with Trail Rail System
Lockable Rear Underseat Storage Bin
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
Spray-In Bedliner
Auxiliary Switch Bank (4 Programmable Switches) 240-Amp Alternator
700-Amp Maintenance Free Battery
Wireless Speaker - Bluetooth

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon options:
Premium Paint - $1035
17-inch black wheels with polished lip - $975
Rubicon steel front bumper - $1650
Body-colour three-piece hard top - $1950
Premium black sunrider soft top - $3575

Lifestyle Adventure Package - $3835
Cargo Management Group with Trail Rail System
Lockable Rear Underseat Storage Bin
Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
Spray-In Bedliner
Auxiliary Switch Bank (4 Programmable Switches)
240-Amp Alternator
700-Amp Maintenance Free Battery
Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Rubicon Luxury Package - $2535
Black Leather Trim Seats
Body-Colour Fender Flares
Heated Front Seats & Steering Wheel