Stellantis has confirmed when the recently facelifted Jeep Gladiator bakkie is scheduled to arrive in South Africa…

Stellantis recently revealed a facelifted version of the Jeep Gladiator. Now the multinational automotive group has confirmed when the refreshed version of the Wrangler-based off-roading bakkie is due to arrive in South Africa.

According to Stellantis SA, the updated Gladiator is scheduled to make local landfall only “from Q3 2024 onwards, as the final production timelines have not been confirmed as yet”. That means we’re facing a wait of at least a year.

Note the new grille design.

Unwrapped at the 2023 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the refreshed Gladiator double-cab bakkie gains “greater capability, advanced technology and more refinement”, according to the automaker.

The styling tweaks are subtle. For instance, the slimmer 7-slot grille scores an updated look featuring black textured slots, “neutral grey metallic” bezels and a body-colour surround. There’s also a new “trail-ready stealth antenna” integrated into the front windshield (replacing the previous steel mast item), along with fresh alloy-wheel designs.

The larger touchscreen is the main update to the Gladiator’s cabin.

Though specifications for South Africa have yet to be confirmed, the US-spec Gladiator will be offered in a choice of 9 exterior hues (including a fresh “Anvil” colour), while the updated cabin features a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12-way power adjustable front seats, a smattering of added soft-touch surfaces and a pair of extra airbags. In North America, the renewed Gladiator will be available in Sport, Sport S, Willys, Mojave, Mojave X, Rubicon and Rubicon X guise.

Power again comes from the American brand’s naturally aspirated 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine. From what we understand, this motor’s peak outputs are unchanged at 209 kW and 347 Nm. Drive is delivered to all 4 wheels via either a 6-speed manual gearbox (a cog-swapper not currently available in SA) or an 8-speed automatic transmission.

This is the US-spec Gladiator Willys derivative, complete with an upfit package by AEV.

The pre-facelift model was revealed in November 2018 but arrived in South Africa only in June 2022, offered exclusively in Rubicon form. At launch, it was Mzansi’s most powerful and most expensive double-cab bakkie, labels that have both since been inherited by other models (the Ford Ranger Raptor and Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, respectively).

Over the opening 8 months of the year, Jeep has sold 187 examples of the Gladiator in South Africa, translating to a monthly average of about 24 units. The single derivative offered locally is currently priced at R1 329900.

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