Jeep is Cutting the Diesel Option for the Gladiator Pickup

by Chris Teague

Published: August 14th, 2023

jeep is cutting the diesel option for the gladiator pickup

Diesel engines are great at a lot of things, but many automakers are dropping oil burners as they transition to electrification. Ford cut the option from its F-150 line over a year ago, and Jeep removed diesels from its Wrangler lineup heading into 2024. Now, it’s the Jeep Gladiator’s turn, and the automaker recently announced plans to remove the diesel option from the truck’s configuration list after a final FarOut special edition model.

The 3.0-liter diesel engine only made a three-year run under the Gladiator’s hood, but the automaker’s cutting the option, citing a hard shift toward electrification as the cause. Ram cut the engine from its catalog in 2022, so it’s not surprising to see Jeep make the move. Jeep’s 4xe plug-in hybrids are also selling well, leaving little incentive to keep offering the diesel.

Though they’re better on fuel economy and offer more substantial torque, diesels aren’t the cleanest propulsion method around. They emit particulates and other pollutants and obviously don’t jive with electrification targets. GM dropped diesels from the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado lines for 2023, leaving a turbo-four as the only choice.

Jeep has shown its Recon EV concept, which is expected to go on sale by 2025. The automaker is also expected to deliver an electric Wrangler at some point in the near future and will likely expand its 4xe program to other vehicles.

[Image: Jeep/Stellantis]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#JeepGladiator #jeepdiesel #jeepreconev

Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

Comments

Join the conversation

12 of 37 comments

Redapple2 on Aug 14, 2023

I like diesels. Too bad.

2 Reply
- Lou_BC on Aug 14, 2023
  
  After owning a 2.8 Litre I4 ZR2 for a year, I'm a huge fan. I love the power characteristics.
  
  1
Lou_BC on Aug 14, 2023

The Jeep Gladiator is a much more logical place to put a V8 than a limited run overpriced 392 Wrangler Unlimited.

Like Reply
- See 4 previous
- Alan on Aug 14, 2023
  
  Lou, I think a Gladiator is not a very good 4x4. Way too long a wheelbase (poor ramp over) for any serious off road. For work, they are way too expensive might as well buy any midsize ute over it they are more engineered for work. The Gladiator is more a lifestyle prop. It's mainly about posing. Don't get me wrong, they do have some limited off road creed, but expensive.
  
  1
- Lou_BC on Aug 14, 2023
  
  @Alan - a diesel Gladiator was $33k more than my ZR2.
  
  Like
- MrIcky on Aug 15, 2023
  
  @Alan everyone has their opinion I guess, but having gone off roading in southern Utah and done the Oregon discovery.route in a gladiator with a 2inch lift and 35s, I can tell you from first hand experience that there are few trucks available that are really close without extensive mods. Yes the breakover can be an issue (it's not that bad really, it's better than a 4runner trd pro-but you never hear that. You mainly hear break over complaints because gladiator guys are struggling to keep up with wranglers which is harder) but it's the easiest vehicle to lift that you can buy. It's got extensive skids and rock guards and sometimes you just need to use them. It's approach is fantastic and it keeps tires in contact with the ground walking obstacles where other trucks are starting to hop and lose traction.
  
  1
- Lou_BC on Aug 15, 2023
  
  Mricky - agreed. Solid axles are a huge advantage at crawling speeds. Lifts are easier to install as well. Anything that fits a Wrangler fits a Gladiator. The only real negatives to a Gladiator are price and higher speed gravel road ride characteristics. That and the fact that it should have a V8 as an option or something more powerful than the V6.
  
  Like
- Alan on Aug 16, 2023
  
  Mricky, I,m glad your Gladiator suits your requirements. But for me it wouldn't suffice as there are more shortfalls, ie, payload only 633kg. When off roading as a rule you should only carry 50% of your onroad payload. So, place a passenger in your vehicle, some spare fuel, water, food and camping gear and then add the weight of towbars, bullbars and all the accesories you add, you payload quickly diminshes.
  Turning circle is huge, on tracks this can be cumbersome. Even my old midsize ute was long in the bush or in the outback.
  As for engine power I see other commenters making ridiculous comments regarding how much horse power you need off road. Off road you could get away with 150hp in a Gladiator or even a full size pickup.
  
  Like
- MrIcky on Aug 16, 2023
  
  @Alan the Gladiator does have flaws and I'd never argue that it doesn't, I even agree it's mainly a lifestyle vehicle. It seems you want to carry more crap offroading than I do, so I won't argue that either. But it's a VERY capable 4x4, especially for a pickup.
  
  Like
Alan on Aug 14, 2023

Cost has killed diesel and not the cost of running a diesel, but the manufacturing cost.
With the price of vehicles rising rapidly there are more bucks to be made out of petrol powered vehicles.

Diesels in light commercial vehicles and vehicles that are used where a sustained load is necessary with the best possible economy diesel is choice.

I see some lame comments regarding the size of a vehicle that should have diesels. The comments are quite limited, do these guys live in downtown apartments? skid steer equipment, zero turn mowers, generators, etc all light diesel powered and why? For the same reason a 4x4 or ute has a diesel. Efficiency.

1 Reply
- Lou_BC on Aug 15, 2023
  
  If I factor in DEF and the cost of the fuel filter,it is the equivalent of a 5% drop in cost savings over the same truck with a V6. In other words 25% advantage as opposed to 30%. The last few months diesel has been 3% cheaper than gasoline. There were several months where diesel was 20% more expensive. ROI is secondary to power characteristics and a well integrated 6 speed.
  
  1
Redapple2 on Aug 15, 2023

Lou. I remember reading comments how much you like yours. Congrats. Last of the breed.

Like Reply
- Lou_BC on Aug 15, 2023
  
  My only regret is not buying an extended cab in orange 2 years ago.
  
  Like