2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel Full Review

One of the most anticipated upgrades for the Gladiator truck is a diesel engine. Still, the FCA made a surprising move when decided to go this way. Well, the truck is going to feature the same unit as the full-size Ram 1500. For the mid-size class, a 3.0-liter displacement is too big. Still, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel is not going to replace it.

The only rival in this segment is the Chevy Colorado with the Duramax engine. It seems like Ford gave up on Ranger diesel, and the Blue Oval company is upgrading the lineup with a V6 or a hybrid configuration. Toyota wrote off oil burners some while ago. Other carmakers were never so serious about this kind of a powertrain.

2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel

2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel Specifications

A 3.0-liter six-cylinder EcoDiesel is ready to crack 260 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. A bigger displacement is not making the 2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel a leader in towing for the mid-size segment. This vehicle will tow only 6,500 pounds, which is 1,200 lbs fewer than the Chevy Colorado with a turbo-four unit. For the Ram 1500, the same unit increases the towing capacity to 12,000 pounds. Still, the EcoDiesel does 500 lbs more than the petrol displacement with all the required upgrades. Rear-wheel drive is standard, like for the gasoline mill, and the power router is an eight-speed automatic. Fans expected a manual as well, but it seems that is not going to happen this year.

2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel specs

Best Off-Road Truck

If you are an adventurer, the 4×4 is the first recommended upgrade. After that, you will probably pair the 2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel with the Rubicon package, that provides special upgrades. There are skid plates, unique shocks, all-terrain tires, tow hooks… Everything a truck needs not to stop moving anywhere.

Recently, we’ve heard rumors about the Gladiator Hercules, the special package based on the Rubicon version. There are no details about the upcoming model, but it should be even better, built for extreme situations.

2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel vs Chevy Colorado Duramax

Besides Colorado, there is another diesel truck by General Motors. Nevertheless, GMC Canyon is a mechanical twin of Chevy’s pickup. Basically, those are the same vehicles with different nameplates. Although the FCA is using a larger engine, which is not appropriate for mid-size trucks according to experts, Gladiator is not taking advantage. It delivers more power and torque, but the towing capacity is what matters at the end. And Chevy Colorado diesel can haul 7,700 lbs, at the same time returning better gas mileage. Plus, the ZR2 package is one of the top 3 upgrades for off-roading.

2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel price

2023 Jeep Gladiator Diesel Price

The base cost of the new truck is $35,000. A diesel engine is not available for the Sport model, but only starts from Willy Sport trim level. This one, with a petrol mill, costs $38,000 and the EcoDiesel upgrade is going to cost you about $6,000 ($4k for the engine and another $2k for the transmission). Heavily loaded, the truck can hit premium class, with the price tag above $60,000.

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