Jeep recently announced the 2023 model year upgrades for the Gladiator. Like the Jeep Wrangler, the enhancements are not that extensive, with an all-new bright-yellow hue called High Velocity - which replaces 2022's Snazzbery - being the most noticeable exterior difference. The Gladiator will now also have an American flag on each front fender.
Other notable changes include a new Capability Package for the top-spec High Altitude trim, which consists of a winch-capable steel front bumper, steel rock rails, and a front-mounted off-road camera.
Customers shopping further down the range will be happy to learn that the mid-spec Willys gains a few comfort and luxury features. For added practicality, Jeep is adding proximity keyless entry, remote start, and a garage door opener. The interior is enhanced via a seven-inch instrument cluster.
The Freedom Special Edition will continue into the new year. Opt for this model, and you'll get an Oscar Mike badge on the tailgate, LED headlamps and fog lamps, body-color fender flares, winch-capable steel front and rear bumpers, steel rock rails, black wheels and accents, and an American flag decal along the side of each vehicle. It has leather/cloth combination seats with black accent stitching on the inside.
The rest of the Gladiator is carried over as is. There are four main trims, including Sport, Overland, Mojave, and Rubicon. As usual, there is a selection of in-betweener models, all based on the four basic trims. Examples include the Willys Sport, Sport S, Freedom, and Willys.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar naturally aspirated V6 engine is carried over as is. This means the Gladiator will likely only receive the upgraded version of this engine in 2024. Stellantis has not revealed any details about the enhanced V6 engine, but since the Michigan plant needs retooling, the most likely scenario is a mild-hybrid assistance system.
All models (apart from the top-spec High Altitude) get a six-speed manual transmission as standard, but an eight-speed automatic is available for $2,000 extra.
The 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel engine is available on certain trim levels. It's rated at 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque and is only available in combination with the eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined, these two features add $6,500 to the MSRP.
Jeep's online configurator for the 2023 Gladiator is already live, and the pricing is quite interesting. The base Sport model is $190 cheaper than before. The Willys Sport and Sport S models' price has gone up by $205, while the Freedom has gone up by a significant $3,705.
The additional kit added to the Willys has resulted in a $1,355 increase, and the Overland has gone up by $2,000. The off-road-ready Rubicon and Mojave both still fall under the $50,000 threshold, while the $54,475 High Altitude has gone up by just $395.
