Head of Jeep Brand NA is bullish on Gladiator future

[Gvsukids]

I agree with all of this. Also other than the base sport model the Gladiators should come with nothing smaller than a 33" tire, the wide axles and the max tow suspension. Though a niche vehicle it would put it more inline with the other trucks on the market. As much as I would love a 6' bed, it would screw everything else that we have in the truck.

Now if they can give me a soft top that is fully opened, without taking out the back window panel to do it, I would love that.

Used to be able to order a Sport with just the Max Tow.

If they slap on an IFS front, then there's no reason for me not to get a Toyota on the next round. They've just lost their edge with the mid size pick up truck segment and open themselves up for a whole lot more head to head competition (which they already are facing).

Doors don't come off.

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[Jrgunn5150]

Should be a 392 option for Gladiators and Diesel. They should get rid of the 4xe and copy the Ram Charger or Scout motors EREV. Never gonna happen for either probably.

Everything next gen has BEV, EREV, and ICE capability.

The Gen 3 Hemi won't make it past the current gen HD trucks.

 

[ttn333]

Used to be able to order a Sport with just the Max Tow.


Doors don't come off.

It's a cool option but I rarely ever see doors come off on a Jeep. Mine never does.

 

[Zapper]

Be brave. Build the ultimate EV off-roader. Infinite torque while crawling is a feature.

Keep it simple so its still a Jeep.

Maybe not the best choice for a tow vehicle, but a JT ain't that great in that role as it is.

I have come into the house many evenings with grease up my arms and smelling like diesel so i am definitely not from the kill-the-cars club. But lots of components on an ICE vehicle are from the steam age. Valves, cams, geartrains, etc all no longer needed with pure EV.

To me, the biggest thing that makes a Jeep a Jeep is the ability to customize the vehicle - so don't lose that. Continue to encourage the aftermarket and keep the body aligned to the current JT/JLs.

 

[djthumper]

If they slap on an IFS front, then there's no reason for me not to get a Toyota on the next round. They've just lost their edge with the mid size pick up truck segment and open themselves up for a whole lot more head to head competition (which they already are facing).

If they go with IFS there is no reason for me not to go back to a GM product and get my diesel. The diesel is what brought me over to the Gladiator that I wanted.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

It's a different generation, a different culture, and a different time of need. The younger generation not only isn't as interested in driving, they also don't want to own traditional homes. They would rather live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse then own their own home. They want less responsibility and more freedoms.

They want to own a home, they just realize it's out of reach these days. The median wage in the US is about $59k and the median home price is about $420k. Even if they were able to save up $85k to put 20% down, the mortgage would be around 75% of their take home pay. It's not possible to buy a median priced home on the median wage in the US. The average age of home buyers now is 56 because only people with existing real estate equity can make it happen.

 

[Dooley the Clown]

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.

Not quite. I have wanted a JT since seeing the little green concept at an auto show in Burmingham, AL. The reason I don’t have one is simply the price.
Until the price is right I will keep driving my 95 YJ.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

The average age of home buyers now is 56 because only people with existing real estate equity can make it happen.

People keep saying this lol.

I'm 44, I own 5 legitimate homes, as well as a cabin that I won't count in any way.

None of them will get me on MTV cribs, none of them cost over 100,000, and every one of them is occupied.

 

[Lost1wing]

I think the 3.0 diesel and the 3.7 gas were both fails for the Gladiator. I'm not saying that either engines are failures, they just don't fit the Gladiator. Personally, I would like to see a V8 with some HP and lots of torque.

When I go to the hunt club, I still prefer to take the Duramax. That's what I would like to see, an HD Gladiator! And when I wake up, I'll hit post reply.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

People keep saying this lol.

I'm 44, I own 5 legitimate homes, as well as a cabin that I won't count in any way.

None of them will get me on MTV cribs, none of them cost over 100,000, and every one of them is occupied.

Unless you bought all of those properties in the last couple years, and without using equity, your situation is irrelevant. The numbers I posted were for the current housing market.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

People keep saying this lol.

I'm 44, I own 5 legitimate homes, as well as a cabin that I won't count in any way.

None of them will get me on MTV cribs, none of them cost over 100,000, and every one of them is occupied.

You're buying well below the national average and you most likely make more than the national average.

 

[ttn333]

People keep saying this lol.

I'm 44, I own 5 legitimate homes, as well as a cabin that I won't count in any way.

None of them will get me on MTV cribs, none of them cost over 100,000, and every one of them is occupied.

LOL. Congrats on your success. But you're the outlier. That does not count toward the median statistic that's being discussed here. You sound like one of those infomercial about how to get rich by taking my course. It's easy to do. I'll show you how.

 

[Bonanza]

People keep saying this lol.

I'm 44, I own 5 legitimate homes, as well as a cabin that I won't count in any way.

None of them will get me on MTV cribs, none of them cost over 100,000, and every one of them is occupied.

None of them cost over 100k, in 2025?? I am frightened to ask what kind of home you can buy in the United States in 2025 for less than 100k.

 

[DirkG]

They want to own a home, they just realize it's out of reach these days. The median wage in the US is about $59k and the median home price is about $420k. Even if they were able to save up $85k to put 20% down, the mortgage would be around 75% of their take home pay. It's not possible to buy a median priced home on the median wage in the US. The average age of home buyers now is 56 because only people with existing real estate equity can make it happen.

You just have to "get in" on some cheaper property (when the time is right) and then ride the wave. My wife and I have lived in nice homes in Orange County CA because we bought a condo years ago and built equity from there. Historically the market has always fluctuated and market conditions / interest rates should be improving soon. The time to "get in" may be approaching.

RE: Bullish on Gladiator future:

The Gladiator has always faced significant challenges, starting with its debut during the pandemic and its inclusion in the mismanagement debacle that came to define Stellantis. The Gladiator has its warts, but is truly a great product as long as its pricing models are fixed. A Mojave X for $70K is ridiculous. Fix the pricing, keep the cool colors and features, and the people will come.

 

[Janster]

There are full-sized trucks (example: Ford F150, F250, F350, F450)
There are Mid-sized trucks (example: Ranger)
There are compact trucks (example: Maverick)

The Maverick is selling like hotcakes due to its affordability, capability, and overall execution. I'm not a Ford guy, but I think Ford hit it out of the park when they released the Maverick.

Jeep, Dodge, and Ram have a lot to think about. The only mid-sized truck they have is the Gladiator and that's only going to fit a certain group of people.

I’m only referring to MIDSIZE trucks only…. Tacoma, Canyon, Colorado, Ranger, Frontier, etc.
You can’t compare Fullsize and you can’t compare Compacts with Midsize trucks - Two different animals with totally different price tags.

Jeep will never try to compete with Fullsize trucks, there’s no way they can be competitive in that market at all.

The JT fits a lot more people than you think…. I don’t think normal day-to-day consumers consider the JT as a viable option. It’s only 4 years old…… it’s still in it’s infancy. I don’t think Jeep has marketed it enough (or at all) to show normal day to day consumers that it exists. But then again….The price tag and the ’less than stellar’ gas mileage, is enough to make most consumers run in the opposite direction.

I’d agree with you on the compact segment. Design a compact truck on the Compass platform…. IFS, whatever…& give the people the electric option.

But please please please….for the love of God…DO NOT take away the Gladiator as it sits now!!! Keep true to JEEP ……. Solid axles, tops off, doors off…Wrangler-esque.
In fact…. LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!

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