Road Test: 2024 Jeep Gladiator Willys

The Jeep Gladiator Willys has been given a refresh for the 2024 model year, including a new front fascia and wheel designs, as well as interior enhancements.

The vehicle’s safety features have also been upgraded, with the addition of side-curtain airbags for the front and rear, as well as standard forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control.

The Gladiator Willys’s base price starts at $56,945, with an as-tested final bill of $79,280. That includes an extensive list of options, which includes but is not limited to a three-piece modular hardtop, tonneau cover, a technology package that adds a 115-volt power outlet and a portable wireless speaker and more.

Powertrain: While the previous generation offered consumers the choice between a gasoline and diesel engine, the latter is gone for 2024.

The lone powertrain for 2024 is a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 under the hood, delivering 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

The standard transmission on the Willy is a 6-speed manual gearbox, with an extra $2,695 added on for the 8-speed automatic.

The V6 delivered plenty of power and the Gladiator Willys comes equipped with the Command-Trac part-time shift-on-the-fly 4×4 system,

In terms of fuel economy, the Willys has an estimated average of 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres, with a real-world testing result of 14.3 L/100 km.

Exterior: The $395 spent on the blue paint is well worth it as it allows the Gladiator Willys to stand out, and the black accents are much more noticeable.

That includes the Willys decals, as well as a refreshed seven-slot sport grille with black finish and a nice set of 17-inch aluminum wheels and aggressive-looking tires.

Our tester wad equipped with a black step to enter the vehicle, although that is not really needed. It does act more like a rock protector than anything else.

The pickup truck look on a Jeep is still something I am not quite used to, but the Gladiator Willys has grown on me since last I drove it.  The rather short cargo bed remains of limited use on the Willys.

The removable roof panels are easily taken off to allow for open-air driving in the Willys.

Interior: In addition to the exterior modifications, the interior also gets some upgrades, notably the 12.1-inch touchscreen that is front and centre in the cabin.

Other changes include more soft touch materials throughout.

The cloth seats, with accent stitching, are comfortable for the most part, and the heated cushions and steering wheel are part of an optional package.

With Jeep cramming the power-window controls into the centre stack, it may appear crowded and messy, but everything has a logical placement.

Rear-seat legroom is quite limited and a little unpleasant for those with longer legs.

Infotainment: The Gladiator Willy has the Uconnect5 system and like previous samplings of the software, I found it to be excellent and easy to use.

It has a good interface and is quite intuitive to use.

It comes with all the bells and whistles consumers now expect, like satellite radio, wireless and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The eight speakers are more than enough for the Willys.

The system also displays information about off-road trails for your adventures.

Drive: This is a Jeep at its core, so the ride is understandably a little rough, even when on city streets. Every bump and undulation in the pavement can be felt in the cabin, which is also quite noisy overall.

The large wheels are meant for off-roading, and the Willys also features heavy duty front and rear shocks that are ready for taking you wherever you want to go.

The 4×4 system’s functionality is set manually using the lever next to the gear selector, allowing the driver to be in full control of choosing the best setting for the driving situation.

Conclusion: This was my second time with the Gladiator Willys, and it enamored itself a little more with me. The styling tweaks for 2024, inside and out, and the addition of safety features, give the vehicle a bit more appeal.

The larger infotainment screen is a big improvement for the cabin’s overall appeal.

The lack of space in the back seat and the limited utility of the truck bed, however, remain weak points for the Gladiator.

2024 Jeep Gladiator Willys
Price as tested: $79,280.00
Freight: $2,195.00
Configuration: Front engine/All-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 3.6-litre V6/ 8-speed automatic
Power/torque: 285 horsepower/ 260 lb-ft of torque
Fuel (capacity): Regular (83 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 12.3 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 14.3 L/100 km
Warranties: 5-years/100,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma
Website: Jeep Canada