Once you have a family, your family truck options slim down, if you are a fan of the Jeep brand, you might be considering getting yourself a Jeep Gladiator, but Is the Jeep Gladiator a good family truck?
Jeep Gladiators are one of the best off-roading and Overlanding trucks in the market, they are designed to be good for off-roading, and at the same time offer comfort and luxurious features to their owners.
The Jeep Gladiator features a very powerful engine a 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 285 horsepower, and other modular features such as removable doors and a top, it’s very reasonable for a responsible mum or dad to question whether a Jeep Gladiator is the best truck for your family.
If you are the dad or mum, you are in the right place, James is a dad who owns a Jeep gladiator, being the main contributor of this post, we encourage you to read further on, we will cover some of the finer details regarding the Jeep Gladiator that we have discovered to help you make an informed decision if the Jeep Gladiator is the right truck for your family.
Background & History of The Jeep Gladiator.
The first Jeep truck was introduced in the 1940s after World War II, Jeep had been producing Jeep cars for the military but after the war ended in 1960, Jeep wanted to venture into a new market, targeting the modern American farmer with their truck Jeep called the “Willys-Overland Truck.”
The trucks were sold to farmers across the United States until the year 1971, and Jeep changed the name to the J series, the J series was produced until the end of Jeeps trucks in the year 1987.
In early 2000, demand for trucks in the automotive industry was rising, Jeep introduced their first truck concepts in the year 2000, and worked on the designs until the year 2020 when customers had a chance to purchase their first Jeep Gladiator. The Jeep Gladiator was available in different configurations Sport, Sport S, Overland, and Rubicon.
The Jeep Gladiator features and borrows many of its rugged designs and features from the Jeep Wrangler, such as big tires, a tapered nose, removable doors, hard tops, and Jeep’s iconic grill, however it includes a trunk bed that differentiates it from the Jeep Wrangler.
From the designs of the Jeep Gladiator and its similarities to the Jeep Wrangler, its clear Jeep wanted to capitalize on the success of the Jeep Wrangler and was targeting Jeep Wrangler owners who now had families, and wanted the fun and freedom of owning a fun and freedom SUV with a truck bed attached to its hind quarters, and at the same time be spacious enough to fit their families.
Just like the Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Gladiator has become synonymous with and more adaptable for off-roading and Overlanding. So, if Jeep trail conquering is your thing, the Jeep Gladiator will help you scratch that itch.
One thing that sets the Jeep Gladiator apart, was the focus on handling and ride behaviors that made it a commuter-friendly truck. The Jeep Gladiator’s interior, safety features, and mechanical parts are designed to provide plenty of comfort.
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What To Look for In a Family-Friendly Truck.
You now know the origin and have a clear picture of the Jeep Gladiator, let’s now check out the factors you should consider when looking for a family-friendly truck. While these are the rules you might consider when comparing the Jeep Gladiator with its competitors such as Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.
Some of the factors to consider include:
Having mentioned some of the considerations and deciding factors dads and mums are looking for when deciding whether to purchase a truck or not, let’s now check how the Jeep Gladiator truck fulfills these factors:
Is the Jeep Gladiator a Full-Size Truck?
A Jeep Gladiator is not a full-sized truck, it’s a mid-sized truck with a balance of off-road and utility capabilities ideal for a family looking for a fun and utility truck.
The Jeep Gladiator features many desirable features a family might be looking for in a family truck, it can tow two tons more than an ordinary family SUV and has a longer wheelbase which gives it a better ride compared to family SUVs.
The towing capacity of the Jeep Gladiator is 7,650 and can tow things such as boats, trailers, and other Overland trailers that are ideal for family trips and Overlanding with your family utilities.
Every Jeep Gladiator comes with a pickup truck bed, which makes it a truck, the length of the Jeep Gladiator is 218 inches, with a truck bed of 60.3 inches X 44.8 inches X 33.9 inches.
How Many Does the Jeep Gladiator Seat?
The Jeep Gladiator can comfortably fit a family of five, however, with an additional three-passenger seat fitted on the truck bed, the Jeep Gladiator can be customized to fit up to eight passengers.
While some five seats in family SUVs are common, the Jeep Gladiator has the most comfortable front and back seats, they are quite roomy with the front passenger seats getting 42.8 inches of headroom, and 41.2 inches of legroom. The back seats have 42.8 inches of headroom and a spacing of 38.3 inches of legroom enough for the kids.
With the spacing this roomy on a Jeep Gladiator it’s easy to picture the kids enjoying their favorite movies or listening to their favorite songs on the high-end 7 to 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system of the Jeep Gladiator.
Is the Jeep Gladiator a Safe Car?
The Jeep Gladiator has been marketed to be perfect for families, and part of the marketing objective is to showcase the safety features of the Jeep Gladiator. The Jeep Gladiator performs very well when it comes t its safety tests, it received an Overall score of Good by IIHS but hasn’t yet had an NHTSA test.
The Jeep Gladiator features dual frontal airbags, and side bags that protect the Jeep Gladiator passengers from the chest and head in case of an accident, however, the head protection airbags are not available for the back seats.
The Jeep Gladiator features automatic emergency brakes through its sensors to prevent the driver from bumping into other vehicles, it also features a blind spot monitor, Lane keeps assist, and emergency lane keeping.
The Jeep Gladiator received lots of its upgrades and safety features from the Jeep Wrangler, and a close inspection shows that these features are capable to protect you and your family to ensure a worry-free family driving experience.
Is the Jeep Gladiator a Good Family Truck?
Overall, yes, the Jeep Gladiator is a reliable family-friendly truck. The Jeep Gladiator has unique features such as a luxurious yet comfortable interior, a rugged look for off-roading and Overlanding, and a truck bed spacious enough to fit your family’s groceries, gears, and cargo.
The safety features of the Jeep Gladiator, the rating of the Jeep Gladiator is good overall, and with the latest high-end safety and entertainment, technology to make sure your family is well entertained, comfortable, and secured during road trips, camping, and Overlanding needs.
The Jeep Gladiator has enough room for a family of five, but with additional modification on the truck bed, you can comfortably fit a family of eight.
Conclusion.
The Jeep Gladiator is an appealing Family truck and performs well compared to its rivals, and we can’t blame you for choosing it as your family truck. It’s important to check out its features and check whether it is appealing to you as your family truck.
The Jeep Gladiator is roomy and has ample storage options, you can also add a bed rack to your Jeep Gladiator for more additional storage.
There are a lot of aftermarket Jeep Gladiator parts and Accessories you can find in our Jeep Accessories Category on our site, that are helpful for your Family trips and Overlanding. Share this with your family and friends, who are looking to buy a new or used Jeep Gladiator.
Here is a video review of a family detailing how the Jeep Gladiator fairs as a family truck:
About the Author: James Ndungu
James Ndungu is a seasoned automotive professional with a deep passion for Jeeps. With 40 years of experience in owning, testing, and reviewing various Jeep models, James has gained extensive first-hand knowledge and expertise. He shares his insights, tips, and advice through his engaging writing, helping fellow Jeep enthusiasts navigate the exciting world of Jeeps.
