rob495
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So I ended up going from a 2021 Rubi to a 2025 Rubi X and wanted to give some impressions. Both vehicles were equipped about the same so it's an apples to apples comparison.
Road Noise - I'd say there is about a 20-30% reduction in road noise at highway speeds. GREAT improvement, I love talking to my occupants without having to yell. Slightly more interior creaks but a great trade off in my opinion. The creaks seem to be coming from the roof panels, I may throw some grease on the rubber and see if that quiets things down.
Steering Wheel - The leather steering wheel on my older Gladiator appears to be higher quality. I enjoyed the feel and texture as silly as it may sound. The new wheel almost feels synthetic. I'm disappointed with the downgrade. A steering wheel is an incredibly important interface with a vehicle. I think it can make or break the automotive experience.
Heated Steering Wheel - As an older guy, my hands hurt more in the winter bc of the cold. With my 1st gladiator the heated steering wheel would get extremely HOT! Now, I have to angle the vents onto the 3 and 9 position on the steering wheel to get my hands comfortable. I am hoping that there is a sensor that detects extremely cold weather and adjusts heating "stages" appropriately. Otherwise, I may have to grab an older steering wheel on ebay and install it.
Steering - Might be my imagination but there seems to be less on-center slop. I am not making as many micro steering adjustments while driving on the highway, the improvement greatly reduces fatigue.
Ride - The new Gladdy is more solid, less vibrations through the body/frame of the truck when hitting potholes. Less wallowing at higher and lower speeds. May be due to the age of my last truck. Time will tell.
Seats - I had difficulty getting comfortable in the old seats. The angle of the bottom cushion was all wrong. The adjustability in the new seats is game changing, especially for my wife who is 5'3. I only wish the seats moved faster and that they had a memory setting. My old Gladiator had tan seats, the new one has black. I have to figure out a way to break up all the black, especially since the exterior is black as well.
Antennae - Believe it or not, I prefer the old school antennae flapping in the wind. Very nostalgic. I miss it.
Mopar Trifold - My new Rubi X came with a soft trifold bed cover. The old one had the hard trifold. I often keep a small toolbox, tire repair kit, air compressor, jumper cables, straps, and some other miscellaneous items in the bed. I no longer feel comfortable doing so, gonna have to find a used hard trifold on facebook market place.
Infotainment - I appreciate the massive improvement. When I saw pics on the internet of the new screen and vent design I was bummed. I loved the quad circle vents and the classic look of the dash. But after a day, quickly got over it, I love the functionality and extra real estate you get with the new screen. It's extremely quick and appears to be durable, I'll report back in a year or so.
Head room - I have shorter legs and a tall upper body. I notice that the roll bar is much closer to the left side of my lead while having the seat in the lowest setting. I have to take a little more care jumping into the cabin. May be a consideration for taller drivers.
All in all, I think the improvements are excellent. I think the addition of the rear side curtain airbags and the power seats should be a massive consideration to those looking to upgrade.
Road Noise - I'd say there is about a 20-30% reduction in road noise at highway speeds. GREAT improvement, I love talking to my occupants without having to yell. Slightly more interior creaks but a great trade off in my opinion. The creaks seem to be coming from the roof panels, I may throw some grease on the rubber and see if that quiets things down.
Steering Wheel - The leather steering wheel on my older Gladiator appears to be higher quality. I enjoyed the feel and texture as silly as it may sound. The new wheel almost feels synthetic. I'm disappointed with the downgrade. A steering wheel is an incredibly important interface with a vehicle. I think it can make or break the automotive experience.
Heated Steering Wheel - As an older guy, my hands hurt more in the winter bc of the cold. With my 1st gladiator the heated steering wheel would get extremely HOT! Now, I have to angle the vents onto the 3 and 9 position on the steering wheel to get my hands comfortable. I am hoping that there is a sensor that detects extremely cold weather and adjusts heating "stages" appropriately. Otherwise, I may have to grab an older steering wheel on ebay and install it.
Steering - Might be my imagination but there seems to be less on-center slop. I am not making as many micro steering adjustments while driving on the highway, the improvement greatly reduces fatigue.
Ride - The new Gladdy is more solid, less vibrations through the body/frame of the truck when hitting potholes. Less wallowing at higher and lower speeds. May be due to the age of my last truck. Time will tell.
Seats - I had difficulty getting comfortable in the old seats. The angle of the bottom cushion was all wrong. The adjustability in the new seats is game changing, especially for my wife who is 5'3. I only wish the seats moved faster and that they had a memory setting. My old Gladiator had tan seats, the new one has black. I have to figure out a way to break up all the black, especially since the exterior is black as well.
Antennae - Believe it or not, I prefer the old school antennae flapping in the wind. Very nostalgic. I miss it.
Mopar Trifold - My new Rubi X came with a soft trifold bed cover. The old one had the hard trifold. I often keep a small toolbox, tire repair kit, air compressor, jumper cables, straps, and some other miscellaneous items in the bed. I no longer feel comfortable doing so, gonna have to find a used hard trifold on facebook market place.
Infotainment - I appreciate the massive improvement. When I saw pics on the internet of the new screen and vent design I was bummed. I loved the quad circle vents and the classic look of the dash. But after a day, quickly got over it, I love the functionality and extra real estate you get with the new screen. It's extremely quick and appears to be durable, I'll report back in a year or so.
Head room - I have shorter legs and a tall upper body. I notice that the roll bar is much closer to the left side of my lead while having the seat in the lowest setting. I have to take a little more care jumping into the cabin. May be a consideration for taller drivers.
All in all, I think the improvements are excellent. I think the addition of the rear side curtain airbags and the power seats should be a massive consideration to those looking to upgrade.
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