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In 2021 Jeep started offering a diesel engine in the 2022 Jeep Gladiator pickup truck. It’s a great option for those who want to not just get dirty and go off-roading, but for towing and hauling, too. The Gladiator, which was new in 2020, is more than just a Wrangler with a bed. It was designed to do truck stuff, but with a Jeep Wrangler’s flair. That means the doors come off, it has the amazing four-wheel-drive system of the Wrangler, and the Wrangler’s blocky good looks. But what makes the new diesel special?

Is the Jeep Gladiator diesel any good?

A Jeep Gladiator uses locking differentials to navigate off-road terrain.
Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

The 2022 Jeep Gladiator diesel is a significant upgrade over the gas-powered Gladiator because, simply, it makes more power. It is heavier and it has a smaller fuel tank. And, like the Wrangler, the Gladiator is noisy, rides rough, and it has a basic interior. But, if you’re buying a Jeep Gladiator, you not only expect those things, you welcome them because it’s a beast off-road. The one thing the diesel does do better, though, is accelerating. According to Motor Trend, the EcoDiesel is the quickest Gladiator. It can hit 60 miles per hour in 7.6 seconds. It’s quicker, but only by 0.3 seconds, over a V6 Gladiator with a manual transmission.

The diesel makes substantial power

The diesel Jeep Gladiator.
2021 Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel | Jeep

Jeep’s 3,0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine comes with start/stop technology. Unfortunately, it does not come with a six-speed manual gearbox. It does, however, come with an eight-speed automatic. The diesel engine option will cost $4,010, however it last requires you to add $2,000 more for the automatic over the manual box.  The diesel makes 260  horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. That’s a big increase over the gas engine, which makes 285 horsepower but only 260 lb.-ft.  

How much can the diesel Jeep Gladiator tow?

Diesel engines are made for towing. But you can only get the regular $645 trailer towing package. The max tow package is available with a gas engine and has heavy-duty axles front and rear, as well as heavy-duty engine cooling. Towing is limited, however. While other trucks with diesels can easily tow five tons, the Gladiator tows 6,500 in Overland or Sport trims and just 6,000 pounds with the Rubicon trim. That’s plenty, however, to pull a medium-sized camper, a small boat, or even a car trailer.

Is the 2022 Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel worth it?

2021 Jeep Gladiator crawling on mountains
2021 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

If you’re towing or off-roading, the diesel is a great addition to the 2022 Jeep Gladiator.  Overall, Jeeps are not perfect vehicles, but they are fun ones. The torque of the diesel helps the big truck off-road easily climb steep hills and get over bigger boulders. But it’s pricey. The diesel option adds $6,010 over a base model Gladiator. The EcoDiesel also gets better fuel economy than gas-engine versions. The EPA estimates 24 mpg combined, while the gas-engine Gladiator gets 19 combined.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.