Daily driver review?

[DMoney]

Does the window on the hard top come off? rear window

I believe the window on hard top is solid and can't be removed

It can. It just has to come off with the rear portion of the roof.

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[Rex3rd]

It can. It just has to come off with the rear portion of the roof.

Ooo hold up the whole top comes off?!

 

[jhale1800]

Is yours stock? also im coming from a 2018 f150

Yes, I have a stock setup at the moment.

 

[ATLalien]

Overland hardtop here, 100% stock with right at 2K miles today. Traded two vehicles in on it, so the Gladi is now my daily driver.

• Gas Mileage: Averaging 19 with a 50-50 hwy-city mix. Was able to average 24mpg on one highway trip by babying it a bit. Won't normally drive that way, but wanted to see the best it could do.
• Daily commuting/driving experience: To give some context, I'm coming from a 17 Charger Daytona 392 and an 04 F150 5.4. I'd driven a couple of wranglers in the past as rental cars and been a passenger (most recent was a JL sport rented back in June), but this is the first Jeep I've actually owned.
  • The noise level in the Gladiator Hardtop was surprisingly low to me. Granted, previous jeeps I'd driven were either soft tops or much older. The exhaust on the Charger was awesomely loud, and my F150 was ancient, so I'm probably not the best judge on noise, but it's very acceptable. No problems using the hands free phone through the Uconnect and being heard/understood.
  • Ride Quality& comfort: Again I was pleasantly surprised here, ride is nice and smooth, doesn't feel jittery at all. I have the leather seats and find them very supportive and comfortable for the most part. Getting the headrest to a comfy position may be challenging to the very tall or very short (I'm 6'), but I was able to find a good height for it. The legroom in the driver's footwell seems a bit tight and the wiring harness/door strap is right against your leg (there's a twist fix for this on this forum somewhere). Plenty of room in the backseat for my 8 year old and I can even sit back there fairly easily.
  • Engine Power: 15-25 more ponies under the hood certainly wouldn't hurt. Still power is more than adequate; no trouble passing and it kind of even feels peppy with the AC off. But, I've been spoiled by the 485hp Charger! I will say it does feel quicker than my F150, which only had 15 hp more for almost 1000pds more weight.
  • Handling: The good news is the extra length of the Gladiator vs the JL 4 door isn't noticeable most of the time, but it does have a wider turning radius as you might expect. The stock tires on the Overland are the Bridgestone All season street tires. They ride nicely in a straight line but do have some sidewall rolling and wallow a bit in sharp turns. But traction is good, even in light off-road situations. They will spin in the rain while turning and applying throttle like most pick ups (light in the rear with empty bed).
    • Steering: The JLU I rented earlier this summer had a serious wander, would almost give you vertigo. Test drove a Gladiator sport that was almost as bad. However, my Overland is pretty decent with little wander. Still it does require more corrections than my previous cars. My guess is this has more to do with variance between vehicles and tire/suspension set ups than trim level itself.
  • Bed: When I first got the Gladiator, the little bed seemed laughable compared to my F150 (and it was a supercrew short bed). But really, it's more than enough space for 90% of my needs. Haven't hauled much apart from 20 squares of sod and bicycles.
  • Off-Road: Even in Overland trim, there's a feeling the gladiator really comes into it's own when the pavement ends. I only do light off roading, but the Jeep feels much more agile and generally capable off-road than my F150 4X4 did. If the Ford felt more like a Bull off-road, the Gladiator feels more like a mountain goat! My Off roading is so light, the high centering issue with the long wheelbase will probably never be an issue, but it looks like it would be pretty easy to scrape the belly in the right conditions.

 

[streetdweller]

Ran my Overland stock for first 2k miles. loved it. road noise as anticipated, wind noise...yep. Its a box truck so it was all expected. Averaged about 19-20 mpg. Switched to 35's x12 tires, it feels alot better against the elements but with a loss of 2mpg. Its super comfortable IMO. But nothing like the comfort of a Ford F150 or my old Chevy Avalanche. Jeep could have added some adjustable lower lumber support, but all in all, it is so much fun to drive i don't even notice. just passes 3k. and still grin when I climb in.

 

[TrailHiker]

The diver‘s seat on my Sport S has an adjustable lumbar support p, the conteol,is a manual knob on the side of the seat bac.
cheers

 

[Gvsukids]

Wind noise can be greatly reduced with headliners

 

[Redfour5]

I'm giving a bump to this thread. It's interesting but so much information is old and based on units from 2020 and 21 when everyone was super excited about the new vehicle. There were problems back then that I do NOT believe are the same now but no one comments on some of the things, like how is it as a daily driver.

Jeep obviously had a big problem with steering until the did their TSB's and changed out the aluminum box for the steel one as I've read. I have to wonder if they did any changes to steering on the quiet in later years like 22 and 23 or late 21 that they really didn't talk about to improve things.

So, you don't really hear or see people talk about the steering which I suppose is a GOOD THING compared to the 2020's/early? 21's where people and Motor Trend (I believe) called them dangerous. The comfort thing seems to have been about the same since the beginning... Sounds like the Mojave bolsters should have been on all of them imho from observing.

I'm trading in a 2018 Jeep Renegade that to be honest has been a wonderful daily driver at 21 mpg, dog car and winter mobile in Montana. It also is a beast on national forest roads at 40 mph sliding in turns in Sand Mode sort of an Easter Egg in the performance of a Renegade. BUT, it won't go to Tizer Lake (I've tried) and many other places in close to me in Montana http://montanaoverland4x4adventures.org/trailsdestinations/4high4x4trails.html The Gladiator will.

So, anyone in trims other than Rubicons or Mojaves let's say late 21's, 22's or 23's have any comments on these as a daily driver in late 2023? There are still a lot of after market fixes out there for steering, but really about as much as with Ram trucks I'd say. Is the dead spot gone? How about the wander some of which I understand relates to the LACK of rack and pinion and a solid front axle.

AND, what is the easiest least expensive thing you could do to improve the steering. Track bar? ?

 

[MattKay]

I have a 2020 JTR that I got used. So I think I’m breaking all of your above constraints. lol! But steering to me is fine. I see what people are saying about a dead or soft spot at neutral but it’s nothing wierd. You get used to it. I like it a bit more than my other vehicles as it feels like I am driving it when I am driving it. If that makes sense. Like I have to be more present mentally vs just set it and forget it. Which again I like.

all the above is really to say go test drive one. Or rent one from enterprise for a day. Go test drive one at car max as they aren’t a bunch of asses. Then you’ll know how it compares to what you got now.

 

[Jobofly]

I daily drive my 22 Mojave. No complaints at all. I added seat jackers and a soft top headliner which helps a little with wind noise. I do want to get a hard top for it to use during winter. But this truck has been great, 22k miles on it so far and no issues. I am still fully stock and have no issues with steering.

 

[GWolgamott]

Not a new one, its a 2020 sport. But due to being daily driver with roughly a 45 minute one way commute I put a ton of miles on it. I get as it sits on the highway about 23 to even 30 mpg. Depending on the weather and my driving habit as the seasons change. I love it as a daily driver and considering I can literally turn off a road to do some mild trails half way home is just a bonus to have it as the daily driver.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm giving a bump to this thread. It's interesting but so much information is old and based on units from 2020 and 21 when everyone was super excited about the new vehicle. There were problems back then that I do NOT believe are the same now but no one comments on some of the things, like how is it as a daily driver.

Jeep obviously had a big problem with steering until the did their TSB's and changed out the aluminum box for the steel one as I've read. I have to wonder if they did any changes to steering on the quiet in later years like 22 and 23 or late 21 that they really didn't talk about to improve things.

So, you don't really hear or see people talk about the steering which I suppose is a GOOD THING compared to the 2020's/early? 21's where people and Motor Trend (I believe) called them dangerous. The comfort thing seems to have been about the same since the beginning... Sounds like the Mojave bolsters should have been on all of them imho from observing.

I'm trading in a 2018 Jeep Renegade that to be honest has been a wonderful daily driver at 21 mpg, dog car and winter mobile in Montana. It also is a beast on national forest roads at 40 mph sliding in turns in Sand Mode sort of an Easter Egg in the performance of a Renegade. BUT, it won't go to Tizer Lake (I've tried) and many other places in close to me in Montana http://montanaoverland4x4adventures.org/trailsdestinations/4high4x4trails.html The Gladiator will.

So, anyone in trims other than Rubicons or Mojaves let's say late 21's, 22's or 23's have any comments on these as a daily driver in late 2023? There are still a lot of after market fixes out there for steering, but really about as much as with Ram trucks I'd say. Is the dead spot gone? How about the wander some of which I understand relates to the LACK of rack and pinion and a solid front axle.

AND, what is the easiest least expensive thing you could do to improve the steering. Track bar? ?

I had a 2020 Overland I used as a daily driver from November 2019 to July of 2022. It was a wonderful, perfect daily driver. Comfort, nice ride, great highway and road manners, no steering issues at all once the steering gear was replaced the second time.
Drove that thing from central Iowa to Fort Wayne, IN, to Colorado Springs and back, all over the place. I towed my car hauler with it. Never got fatigued from any steering or ride issues. My wife even commented on how nice these things ride.
Then the 2022s came out with some options I decided I wanted so I traded my 2020 on an identical 2022 Overland but with SelecTrac and a couple of other things.
Been to Sarasota and back with it, towed with it, all over the place - made the trade in July 2022 and it's already got 17,500 on it and I'm retired so don't even need to leave home daily like I used to. When we go anywhere - we take my JT. Again - wife says it rides great, she likes driving it and if the steering was wonky, trust me, she'd say so! She used to be a Camaro person, then moved on to Grand Cherokees for many years - and so she knows what tight ratio rack and pinion steering is like.
Solid axle is no reason or excuse for steering issues on a highway - it's just not. It's only an issue on rough roads, where the axle has to move up and down a lot, that will throw steering off when one end of the axle moves up because the steering linkage can't follow like it does in IFS, but on a highway, there's none of that to have any impact on steering. IF the steering is loose - fix it. Mine is not loose, it drives and handles and rides fine (although the Eibach rear shocks I put on are a bit harsh when it's cold until they get good and hot - not as nice and smooth as the stock shocks on our streets here)

If I had to do it all over again - yes, I would. It's a great daily driver. (I have back issues, etc. and riding in my truck doesn't cause me any troubles with my back)

Wind noise, heck yes - and I know there are solutions, but I've not wanted to mess with that due to the added weight and hassle with installation. I've got enough extras on this truck adding to the weight. Sound deadening would just make it worse.
So I live with the bad wind noise.
I may do something for my wife's JLU though as we don't care about the weight of that one - it's not a load hauling vehicle.

 

[Redfour5]

I had a 2020 Overland I used as a daily driver from November 2019 to July of 2022. It was a wonderful, perfect daily driver. Comfort, nice ride, great highway and road manners, no steering issues at all once the steering gear was replaced the second time.
Drove that thing from central Iowa to Fort Wayne, IN, to Colorado Springs and back, all over the place. I towed my car hauler with it. Never got fatigued from any steering or ride issues. My wife even commented on how nice these things ride.
Then the 2022s came out with some options I decided I wanted so I traded my 2020 on an identical 2022 Overland but with SelecTrac and a couple of other things.
Been to Sarasota and back with it, towed with it, all over the place - made the trade in July 2022 and it's already got 17,500 on it and I'm retired so don't even need to leave home daily like I used to. When we go anywhere - we take my JT. Again - wife says it rides great, she likes driving it and if the steering was wonky, trust me, she'd say so! She used to be a Camaro person, then moved on to Grand Cherokees for many years - and so she knows what tight ratio rack and pinion steering is like.
Solid axle is no reason or excuse for steering issues on a highway - it's just not. It's only an issue on rough roads, where the axle has to move up and down a lot, that will throw steering off when one end of the axle moves up because the steering linkage can't follow like it does in IFS, but on a highway, there's none of that to have any impact on steering. IF the steering is loose - fix it. Mine is not loose, it drives and handles and rides fine (although the Eibach rear shocks I put on are a bit harsh when it's cold until they get good and hot - not as nice and smooth as the stock shocks on our streets here)

If I had to do it all over again - yes, I would. It's a great daily driver. (I have back issues, etc. and riding in my truck doesn't cause me any troubles with my back)

Wind noise, heck yes - and I know there are solutions, but I've not wanted to mess with that due to the added weight and hassle with installation. I've got enough extras on this truck adding to the weight. Sound deadening would just make it worse.
So I live with the bad wind noise.
I may do something for my wife's JLU though as we don't care about the weight of that one - it's not a load hauling vehicle.

Exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for. I'm retired might tow something similar in weight size to you, have the back issues etc. Much appreciated. Oh, I considered the headliner stuff as nice but not critical but got lucky and its on the one I am close to pulling the trigger on. And as for wind noise, that is a common complaint with Renegades, so no big deal, just waiting for the dealer paperwork... Oh, and they are practically giving them away right now. I'm getting 30% off MSRP on a 60K Freedom Edition.

 

[jcarbs]

I have a '21 Willys as my daily driver. With 44K miles, it's still a blast to drive especially with the ability to flip the sun rider top open before I get going. I did a leveling kit, bilstien shocks, and went to Toyo AT3's 35*11.5*17. Absolutely hated the Firestone mud tires. Super noisy after 20k miles. The resulting change in the tire and wheel setup lowered my mileage, but I understood that going into the modifications. Overall I get around 17.5 mpg and have seen 20mpg on longer trips.

So after almost 3 years would I do it again? Absolutely, the Gladiator is an extremely versatile vehicle that my family enjoys.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I'm giving a bump to this thread. It's interesting but so much information is old and based on units from 2020 and 21 when everyone was super excited about the new vehicle. There were problems back then that I do NOT believe are the same now but no one comments on some of the things, like how is it as a daily driver.

Jeep obviously had a big problem with steering until the did their TSB's and changed out the aluminum box for the steel one as I've read. I have to wonder if they did any changes to steering on the quiet in later years like 22 and 23 or late 21 that they really didn't talk about to improve things.

So, you don't really hear or see people talk about the steering which I suppose is a GOOD THING compared to the 2020's/early? 21's where people and Motor Trend (I believe) called them dangerous. The comfort thing seems to have been about the same since the beginning... Sounds like the Mojave bolsters should have been on all of them imho from observing.

I'm trading in a 2018 Jeep Renegade that to be honest has been a wonderful daily driver at 21 mpg, dog car and winter mobile in Montana. It also is a beast on national forest roads at 40 mph sliding in turns in Sand Mode sort of an Easter Egg in the performance of a Renegade. BUT, it won't go to Tizer Lake (I've tried) and many other places in close to me in Montana http://montanaoverland4x4adventures.org/trailsdestinations/4high4x4trails.html The Gladiator will.

So, anyone in trims other than Rubicons or Mojaves let's say late 21's, 22's or 23's have any comments on these as a daily driver in late 2023? There are still a lot of after market fixes out there for steering, but really about as much as with Ram trucks I'd say. Is the dead spot gone? How about the wander some of which I understand relates to the LACK of rack and pinion and a solid front axle.

AND, what is the easiest least expensive thing you could do to improve the steering. Track bar? ?

My 2021 non-Rubi, non-Mojave is not my DD, but I have a lot of time in the driver seat and quite a bit of time in the passenger seat too. 45k miles on the truck.

I don't care much for the seats for long rides.

Steering is fine. It requires a little more effort to keep straight than my F150, but it's nowhere near bad. I'm sure the 12.50 wide tires are not helping and I can't remember how it drove with stock tires.

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