It’s official: a diesel engine is available under the hood of the 2021 Jeep Gladiator pickup.
A year after Jeep stuffed the 3.0L under the hood of the four-door Wrangler Unlimited it’s finally giving truck buyers the same option — but it won’t come cheap. Official pricing hasn’t been announced, but if the Wrangler is any indication the diesel-fired V6 is likely to add a substantial sum to the selling price. The engine is a $9,190 upgrade in the 2020 Wrangler.
Those willing to stomach the price will be rewarded with 260 hp and a whopping 442 lb-ft of torque to work with. Unfortunately, the only transmission offered is an eight-speed automatic, which is a perfectly fine gearbox, but this engine is just begging for a six-speed manual option.
Either way, all that low-end torque is handy to have for those looking to haul heavy loads or hit the trails in the Jeep truck. Capacities haven’t yet been released, but it’s reasonable to expect the diesel-powered Gladiator will be able to tow about as much as the 3,425 kg (7,550 lb) the Chevrolet Colorado diesel can.
According to Jeep Canada, the diesel engine will be offered in all three Gladiator trims — Sport, Overland, and Rubicon. They should start arriving at dealers across the country this fall.
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