Since the 2020 Jeep Gladiator truck held its first showing in November of 2018, it’s caught the attention of Jeep and truck fans alike. Advertised throughout the media by Jeep as 100% Jeep and 100% truck, Jeep’s 2020 Jeep Gladiator is a mid-size truck that’s built to face rugged terrains, muddy trails, and inclement weather. During a prolonged and intense developmental phase, Jeep put the Gladiator through the ringer to ensure that it was tough enough to endure any driving or road conditions a seasoned road warrior would face. So watch Jeep torture-test the new Gladiator truck and learn about some of its specs below.

Towing capacity, brakes, and payload

Motor1 shows the Gladiator torture test taking place on Chrysler’s testing grounds in Yucca, Arizona. As Motor 1 describes it, the Gladiator manages to haul an enclosed car trailer up a 12% grade. Auto Revolution notes that the Gladiator is put to the test on elevations somewhere between 500 and 6,500 feet and that the rear suspension is a five-link coil design similar to the Ram 1500.

Exterior description

The ad gives you a view of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator‘s five-foot bed, steel cargo box and aluminum tailgate observes The Truth About Cars. If you opt for a soft-top with your gladiator, you’ll see it’s designed so that you can fold it up and enjoy the open sky, one of the vehicle’s most attractive jeep adventure features. On that same note, the doors are removable and the windshield folds down as well. And for your road trips, you’ll find a couple of options for storage: There’s storage behind the rear seats, and you can raise the seat benches where under-seat storage bins sit, reports the TTAC reviewer. 

Engine

TTAC observes that the engine in the current Gladiator is a 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It comes with the option of a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic.

Other Specs

To make the Jeep Gladiator able to perform so well in its torture test, it’s equipped with a hauling capacity of 7,650 pounds, and comes with the largest brakes in its class, with a payload capacity of 1600 pounds. In addition, as Motor1 notes, the vehicle has “11.1” of ground clearance, 30″ of water fording ability, and 84:1 crawl ratio—plus you can automatically engage lockable Dana 44 axles on both the front and rear. This feature is particularly handy for when the vehicle tackles tough terrain on an off-road tour.  

Interior features 

TTAC also describes how in the interior, 5- 7-, or 8.4 touchscreens are available. As another available feature, you can get Fiat Chrysler’s UConnect infotainment system. In addition, TTAC adds, there’s a helpful “off-road pages” app available which displays features like altitude, roll, and pitch. You also have heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Furthermore, you’ll find five USB ports, a wireless speaker, and a subwoofer. And in terms of safety and driver assistance, the vehicle has blind-spot monitoring, cross-path detection, and adaptive cruise control.

In conclusion, the Jeep Gladiator torture test shows that the Gladiator is built to perform fully as a jeep and a truck. It’s got the towing capacity of a truck, yet it’s equipped with the specs a jeep needs to hold its own in the most challenging off-road conditions. At the same time, you’ll find the creature-comforts and technologies you’d expect in today’s new vehicles. So if you’re hitting the roads hauling a car trailer, or getting ready to explore rocky off-road terrain, Jeep’s rigorous torture test made sure that the 2020 Gladiator was built to last.