Twas a week before Christmas, when all through the workplace, journos were requesting a car with space. There was a need for seven seats, and roof racks was well, though what car they would get, only time would tell. A road trip was planned, with bags all packed, though without a large boot, how would the luggage be stacked?
Then out in the carpark, arose such a clatter, I sprang from my seat ignoring the chatter. A red JEEP appeared, so big and dominate I almost cried, as I learned this Gladiator would be my summer ride.
I’ve never been a fan of American cars since spending time in the states during my twenties. The aura of the muscle car error did attract me, though post the 1987 stock market crash and subsequent recessions, the cars of the nineties were uninspiring and odd compared to the local V8 heroes and emerging Japanese hot hatches.
So when I climbed aboard the ginormous JEEP Gladitor, I wasn’t expecting much. As I crawled out of the car spot, I could feel every tread block on the BFG mud-terrain tyres being tortured as it was twisted against the concrete floor. Then as my speed increased on the quiet suburban street, the whir from the tyres broke the silence.
You can’t deny the ‘wow’ factor with this car and the off-road credibility that comes with JEEP and the Rubicon models, though how would it fare as a daily drive or on a Christmas road trip?
To my surprise, it was a very comfortable daily drive. On the inside the size isn’t as noticeable, and the square cabin actually provides good visibility when parking and changing lanes. It was easy to find a comfortable driving position and once I settled in I was ready for an urban assault.
It took on the speed humps and ignored roundabouts. With a longer wheelbase and Rubicon suspension with FOX shock absorbers, it’s a completely different ride to the top selling local 4X4s. It’s comfortable!
The road trip was a different story. There’s no boot! And this is my biggest gripe with Australia’s penchant for 4X4 dual cab utes. When you want to take two adults, three kids and some luggage, you need a boot.
On Christmas Day it really did look like a modern sleigh because the tray was packed with presents as we made the rounds to visit extended family. And as big as the Gladitor looks, it’s still a squeeze for three teenagers in the back seat.
Despite the traditional design and rugged exterior, the Gladiator comes with the same modern safety features you’ll find in any new car. The interior reflects the off-road purpose of all JEEP models with grab handles and masculine features complemented by anodised aluminium surfaces. It also has the modern comforts of Apple CarPlay, heated seats and navigation. The one thing that seemed less than adequate was the climate control. In a hot Sydney summer it felt overwhelmed.
This 4WD truck is another reminder not to judge a book by its cover. Would I own one? Yes, because I was surprised how it nice it was to drive around town and on the open road. The lack of boot would be an issue when travelling with the family, though there are many solutions to this problem. And as amped as the mud-terrain tyres look, I would swap them for the BFG A/T option to reduce the road noise.
