Is the Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel on the Chopping Block?
Stellantis officially killed plans for the Ram Dakota, which would be based on the Jeep Gladiator platform. But which truck will they kill next? Is the Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel in danger? It’s not exactly the beefiest diesel option.
Is the Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel a good truck?
Yes, if you want a diesel Jeep truck, then the 2021 Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel is a great option. However, since Fiat Chrysler and French automotive group, PSA, merged to become Stellantis, major changes have been made.
For example, fans wished for the return of the Ram Dakota to provide another midsize truck option aside from the Jeep Gladiator. This isn’t because the Gladiator is a bad truck, but people may want a different type of midsize truck.
While Jeep models are known for being a little bumpy on the road and for having a loud interior, Ram trucks are known for providing smooth rides. Plus, not everyone who wants a truck wants to pay for a serious off-roading option.
According to All Par, the reason for canceling the Ram Dakota is unknown, but Stellantis may have been satisfied with the Jeep Gladiator sales. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Jeep Gladiator sold 20,552 units. It ranked in fourth place for the highest-selling midsize truck. So, Stellantis may not see the need for a Ram Dakota.
How does the Gladiator EcoDiesel perform?
A Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel review by Auto Blog caught our attention. While the Gladiator EcoDiesel provides a smooth ride. Also, for a spacious truck, it’s nimble and easy to park. But a few good points were raised.
The EcoDiesel isn’t great for towing. On the Rubicon trim is can tow up to 4,500 lb. That’s less than the Honda Ridgeline, which can tow up to 5,000 lb. Also, the Jeep Gladiator Sport with the gasoline-powered V6 engine can tow up to 7,650 lb. The Sport can carry a payload of up to 1,700 lb, while the EcoDiesel can only carry up to 1,075 lb too.
If you want a diesel truck for towing, check out the Ram 1500 with the same EcoDiesel engine. It can tow up to 12,560 lb. The Ram 1500 may not have a few issues that the Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel has too. For example, the EcoDiesel is loud and has a bit of delay upon accelerating.
On a positive note, the EcoDiesel Gladiator is available with a manual transmission. However, you can pair the manual transmission with the gasoline-powered models too. So, you don’t have to go diesel for the six-speed manual transmission.
The Jeep Gladiator 4xe is coming
The 4xe could replace the Jeep Gladiator EcoDiesel. Jeep Boss Tim Kuniskis said while announcing the Jeep Gladiator 4xe that he wouldn’t go into detail about the future of diesel models because he thinks we already know.
But, we don’t know! We need clear answers. Also, to increase speculation, the new turbodiesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee has been canceled. This may be due to rising emission standards.
A hybrid Gladiator will be incredibly different from the EcoDiesel version. But the Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid will provide 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The EcoDiesel has 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. So, this is an interesting upgrade to consider as Stellantis continues axing models.
