2021 Jeep Gladiator Gets the Willys Treatment and More

By Nick Yekikian - Sep 01, 2020

2021 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon

2021 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon

 

There's a Gladiator 80th Anniversary trim coming, too.

 

The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is a well-packaged truck that's extremely capable off the beaten path. It was a welcome addition to the Jeep lineup for 2020. A few new trim levels find their way to the Gladiator lineup for the 2021 model year. The off-road-ready truck gets a Willys package and an 80th Anniversary model, but a few key changes are coming to the rest of the lineup, too.

The Gladiator's Willys package comes with black 17-inch wheels with mud-terrain tires, rock rails from the Rubicon trim, a limited-slip differential, black exterior accents with black Willys stickers, and body-colored fender flares (as opposed to the standard, black plastic ones). Willys models also get the truck's Technology and Convenience packages. Those net the truck a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment setup, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a universal garage door opener, and a few other goodies. We wouldn't be surprised if Jeep also plans to add a more budget-friendly Gladiator Willys Sport trim (much like what's available on the Wrangler) that ditches the Technology and Convenience packages.

The 80th Anniversary model commemorates 80 years since the original Willys MB Jeep was launched into service in World War II. The 80th comes with 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, an 8.4-inch infotainment setup (that nets an Alpine audio system and an in-dash navigation system, among other things), remote start, body-colored fender flares, gray exterior accents, and model-specific badging.

 

2021 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon

2021 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon

 

The rest of the lineup now gets full-time four-wheel-drive with a two-speed transfer case. Sport, Overland, and Mojave models, meanwhile, get Jeep's Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case and a 2.7:1 low-range gear ratio. On the Rubicon model, the Roc-Trac transfer case has a 4.0:1 low-range ratio.

Base model Gladiator Sports now have the option for LED headlights and fog lamps, and Overland models can now be optioned with TrailCam—a forward-facing off-road camera that makes steep climbs and descents much more manageable. Jeep is also adding a diesel engine to the Gladiator lineup for 2021.
 
 
SOURCE: MOTORTREND