To everyone’s surprise, the struggling Jeep Gladiator just snagged a 2020 best truck award. It has failing sales, bad reviews, and has been ranking last in most categories, so this is shocking news. Let’s check out how the Jeep Gladiator won the Rocky Mountain Truck Of The Year award.

The Jeep Gladiator is Rocky Mountain Truck Of The Year 

The Jeep Gladiator won the Rocky Mountain Truck Of The Year award for the way it handles driving in the steep, twisty roads of the Rocky Mountains. 

The award was supposed to be announced in Denver, CO, at the Denver Auto Show, but this event has been delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

Trucks that compete for this award are judged on how well they handle Rocky Mountain road sand rugged terrain. 

Other trucks that were finalists for this award include the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, the 2019 Ram 2500, and the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500. 

While this award is generally given to truck models that have made significant improvements year over year, the Jeep Gladiator doesn’t have a previous model to be compared to. 

It’s the first Jeep truck since the Jeep Comanche was wildly popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

What Fans Love About The 2020 Jeep Gladiator 

The Jeep Gladiator is unique. Literally, it’s not like any other truck because it’s a Jeep Wrangler truck, giving it exclusive features that drivers love. 

For example, you can take the doors and roof off of this truck to connect with nature. Even the windshield folds down. 

For a midsized truck that’s designed for off-roading, the Gladiator also has a pretty capable towing ability. It can tow up to 4,500 pounds. 

To add some substance to this number, the Ford Ranger can tow up to 3,500 lb while the Toyota Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lb. 

Drivers also love the Gladiator’s unique hidden storage areas to protect their gear and removable wireless speaker. 

Once you reach your destination on the road or while off-roading, pop the speaker out for a good time. 

Also, the camera in the front grille is forward-facing, so you can always see what conditions you’re driving into for more safety while off-roading. 

Jeep Gladiator Facts 

If you want to get started in a brand new 2020 Jeep Gladiator the base model starts around $33k, which is a little high for a midsized truck. 

We suggest upgrading to the Rubicon trim if you want this truck for off-roading. The Rubicon model is already outfitted to crawl over various obstacles and challenges. Upgrade to the Rubicon model for $43k. 

Also, don’t expect an excellent fuel economy. The Jeep Gladiator only gets up to 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. 

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine produces 260 horsepower and 462 lb-ft of torque. While Jeep has a powerful V8 engine available, there’s been no word on if the Gladiator will get it or not.