Head of Jeep Brand NA is bullish on Gladiator future

[Jrgunn5150]

And you think the Gladiator is going to gain market share against them by losing it's identity and becoming just like them? I don't believe, at all, that it would work.

It's not about what I think lol. It's also not about opinion or feelings.

Companies purely act in favor of sales and profits, nothing else.

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[yoda13]

I am reasonably excited by this…if they don’t get rid of the solid front axle.

 

[Bonanza]

It's not about what I think lol. It's also not about opinion or feelings.

Companies purely act in favor of sales and profits, nothing else.

The Gladiator needs to change.

There are a bazillion ideas to make it better. People in this thread acting like a 15mpg, underpowered, lumber-wagon-esk ride quality, screaming-at-4k-to-tow-anything, overpriced lump is special; give me a break. We all took a bath on the resale value because these just aren't worth that much. A V6 that was engineered when Obama was running for office. Solid Axles need R&D? Please. This thing is a stretched JL with ram suspension, let's not all sit here and pretend it's anything more than that.

Mine sits in the driveway because it makes for a hideous daily driver. I felt the exact same way when I recently got a 2025 JL as a rental. Just an awful thing to drive daily. And I say that as someone who has driven 2 JKs, and this JT, as dailys since 2013.

Stellantis has a dud on its hands, make no mistake. It isn't selling because it simply isn't a competitive product. This is a gladiator board, and a few folks here are avoiding taking that look in the mirror. But let's call a spade a spade. The gladiator either needs to make a lot of improvements to keep its current price, or that price needs to drop by a signficant amount.

 

[Bonanza]

I am reasonably excited by this…if they don’t get rid of the solid front axle.

I used to be in this camp. But then seeing how IFS now dominates King of the Hammers, and the solid axle teams are nearly extinct, I stopped caring as much. The Bronco has shown that IFS is workable. Granted these are all custom rigs, IFS can be extremely competent in the rocks. I pretty much only wheel rocks where I live, and my next rig will not be a Jeep, as I wouldn't buy a cup of coffee from Stellantis. I'd probably already have a ZR2 if they fixed the gearing (too numerically low)

 

[red/green hawk]

Tacoma's outsell Gladiators by 6;1, Colorado's by 3:1.

Is this domestic or worldwide?

Either way, i know people that will never buy anything but a Toyota because of the superior customer service their dealers offer.

This is anecdotal but the point is I don't believe Jeep keeps customers because of the stellar dealer experience.

 

[Slojo]

The OP highlighted only one portion of the article and others posted the rest. The rest is what is important because it reflects "Executive Speak". It explains why they apparently halted the JT Hybrid because they are not going to continue Gladiators in the current configuration.

 

[Slojo]

I used to be in this camp. But then seeing how IFS now dominates King of the Hammers, and the solid axle teams are nearly extinct, I stopped caring as much. The Bronco has shown that IFS is workable. Granted these are all custom rigs, IFS can be extremely competent in the rocks. I pretty much only wheel rocks where I live, and my next rig will not be a Jeep, as I wouldn't buy a cup of coffee from Stellantis. I'd probably already have a ZR2 if they fixed the gearing (too numerically low)

And let's be honest. Most people buy Wranglers because of the unique heritage look and could care less about an IFS or Solid axle.
For Jeep's sake they should make an IFS version.
Order solid axles for the "purists".
IFS would run smoother to the mall, do any off-roading the body on frame SUVs do (and the style is all the rage now), and not have a death wobble.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

The Gladiator needs to change.

There are a bazillion ideas to make it better. People in this thread acting like a 15mpg, underpowered, lumber-wagon-esk ride quality, screaming-at-4k-to-tow-anything, overpriced lump is special; give me a break. We all took a bath on the resale value because these just aren't worth that much. A V6 that was engineered when Obama was running for office. Solid Axles need R&D? Please. This thing is a stretched JL with ram suspension, let's not all sit here and pretend it's anything more than that.

Mine sits in the driveway because it makes for a hideous daily driver. I felt the exact same way when I recently got a 2025 JL as a rental. Just an awful thing to drive daily. And I say that as someone who has driven 2 JKs, and this JT, as dailys since 2013.

Stellantis has a dud on its hands, make no mistake. It isn't selling because it simply isn't a competitive product. This is a gladiator board, and a few folks here are avoiding taking that look in the mirror. But let's call a spade a spade. The gladiator either needs to make a lot of improvements to keep its current price, or that price needs to drop by a signficant amount.

I am confused as to why you even have one?

Yes, it's a stretched JL with Ram suspension. We know that. There's nothing wrong with that.

What we (and Stellantis) needs to remember is this is a niche vehicle. Wranglers are to. Nobody buys these for comfort or for quiet.

Where I do agree with you is the price. It's way high. They are banking on the name. It's really not worth the money they ask. Seems like the big heads have finally realized that. Lets see where they take it. That's thier only option. If they take away the Solid axles, Jeeps are dead.

There are 5 things that keeps Wrangler alive.

Foldable windshield,
Solid Axles,
7 slot grille
round headlights
removable roof and doors

Delete any of those and you no longer have a jeep and the appeal is gone. May as well just ditch the name and make whatever SUV that remains a Dodge product. Just like I'll never buy a Blazer again until they return to the full size with removable roof. It's just not real.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

May as well just ditch the name and make whatever SUV that remains a Dodge product. Just like I'll never buy a Blazer again until they return to the full size with removable roof. It's just not real.

It's almost like you sit in the same meetings I do

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

There are 5 things that keeps Wrangler alive.

Foldable windshield,
Solid Axles,
7 slot grille
round headlights
removable roof and doors

Delete any of those and you no longer have a jeep and the appeal is gone.

Yep, exactly. Although, I could maybe see the folding windshield going away because they changed the JL (and by extension JT) in that the A-pillar still exists when you fold the windshield down and then it just looks like you're driving around with a busted out windshield vs the fold-down action of the CJ, YJ, TJ, and JK's.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

No way to prove it, but I've long wondered if we've reached the point in the market where everyone who would actually buy a JT has done so (or nearly there) within the 1st 5 years?

The majority of buyers fit the "I wanted a Wrangler, but also a bed" description. Due to the nature of capitalism and how businesses either need to grow or die you can't just ride that initial bubble of buyers for long before you need to start attracting everyone else, which means all the people buying the mid-size trucks (or full-size for that matter) that none of us reached for when we had the opportunity. Convincing those folks would require major changes to the platform.

Major changes to the platform alienates the folks who bought in to the original. Vicious cycle.

 

[Gvsukids]

Bronco Sport, zero off road capability

Badlands has very good off-road capabilities. Limited by ground clearance.



We bought one because most of the trails in Michigan can be traveled with one.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The Gladiator needs to change.

There are a bazillion ideas to make it better. People in this thread acting like a 15mpg, underpowered, lumber-wagon-esk ride quality, screaming-at-4k-to-tow-anything, overpriced lump is special; give me a break. We all took a bath on the resale value because these just aren't worth that much. A V6 that was engineered when Obama was running for office. Solid Axles need R&D? Please. This thing is a stretched JL with ram suspension, let's not all sit here and pretend it's anything more than that.

Mine sits in the driveway because it makes for a hideous daily driver. I felt the exact same way when I recently got a 2025 JL as a rental. Just an awful thing to drive daily. And I say that as someone who has driven 2 JKs, and this JT, as dailys since 2013.

Stellantis has a dud on its hands, make no mistake. It isn't selling because it simply isn't a competitive product. This is a gladiator board, and a few folks here are avoiding taking that look in the mirror. But let's call a spade a spade. The gladiator either needs to make a lot of improvements to keep its current price, or that price needs to drop by a signficant amount.

Coming from JKs, you had to know these things do not make the best daily drivers.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

I think they will go IFS and base the next gen on the Cherokee and Wagoneer like the OG Gladiator. No removable tops or doors, luxury interiors.

Hopefully they at least do a Honcho if they go that route.

Why not base it off the RECON platform then?

 

[Bonanza]

I am confused as to why you even have one?

Yes, it's a stretched JL with Ram suspension. We know that. There's nothing wrong with that.

What we (and Stellantis) needs to remember is this is a niche vehicle. Wranglers are too. Nobody buys these for comfort or for quiet.

The only place I agree with you is the price. It's way high. They are banking on the name. It's really not worth the money they ask. Seems like the big heads have finally realized that. Lets see where they take it. That's thier only option. If they take away the Solid axles, Jeeps are dead.

There are 5 things that keeps Wrangler alive.

Foldable windshield,
Solid Axles,
7 slot grille
round headlights
removable roof and doors

Delete any of those and you no longer have a jeep and the appeal is gone. May as well just ditch the name and make whatever SUV that remains a Dodge product. Just like I'll never buy a Blazer again until they return to the full size with removable roof. It's just not real.

I have one because it's resale is in the toilet. I would've traded mine in long ago, but resale plus money sunk on mods means that I'm keeping it. And credit where credit is due, mine has been dead bang reliable and performs wonderfully offroad. I regeared it myself, did every mod myself, and it's where I want it to be capability wise. But I've fallen out of love with it for sure. It's a tool to me now. I have no connection to it. The bed is useful, and it tows my camper. But if it had a halfway decent trade in value, it would've been gone already.

Let's talk about your list.

Foldable windshield, to me, is probably the absolute last thing people care about. I have never seen anyone, anywhere, at any time with the windshield folded down. Not on JKs, not on JLs. No one does it. I agree slightly with the rest, but what really "sells" the wrangler is the image of being outdoorsy. There's a mere fraction of Jeep owners who really wheel their Jeeps. Even this board, I'd reckon only a fraction wheel their Jeeps. Don't believe me? Look at people's pics. Their bumpers, sliders, diff covers, wheels-- still look factory fresh. Look at the bottom of my Jeep and you'd think I just slid it around on the ground since I bought it.

Image is, at the end of the day, what sells a Jeep. The exposed door hinges, hood hinges, hardtop. Jeep doesn't care about purists, they care about money. For better or worse, that's why Stellantis is such huge trouble. They pursued maximum short term profit, and that's been a horrendous decision.

BMW started making FWD cars because why? They are in business to make money, not cars. 95% of Jeep buyers don't understand what a solid axle even is. I'm surprised it hasn't already been ditched to be honest. And even if they did go IFS, there would be no mass exodus because again, most buyers wouldn't even know. "Most buyers" is what sells, not the select few who actually wheel.

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