Just over a month after its confirmation for South Africa, Stellantis has released pricing for the facelifted Jeep Gladiator.

The Citizen reports that, limited once again to a single trim level – the off-road focused Rubicon – the Gladiator debuts just under two years after premiering its revised self in the United States and three years after its original South African market launch.

What has changed?

Requiring a keen eye to spot, the Gladiator’s new aesthetic consists of a blacked-out seven-slot grille, a colour-coded hard-top roof, the aerial now integrated into the windscreen, and new 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 32-inch all-terrain tyres.

As before, and indeed with its sibling, the Wrangler, the Gladiator’s doors and roof can be removed completely, with the windscreen able to fold onto the bonnet.

Inside

The biggest changes are inside, mirroring the facelifted Wrangler, with Jeep introducing a new 12.3-inch infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integrated satellite navigation and Stellantis’ latest Uconnect 5 software.

Along with a redesigned dashboard to accommodate the display, Jeep has restyled the air vents, upgraded materials and replaced type-A USB ports with type-C outlets.

Spec

Besides these upgrades, the Gladiator now features electric front seats, six airbags instead of four, and front parking sensors.

Carried-over features from the pre-facelift model include:

• seven-inch TFT instrument cluster display
• nine-speaker Alpine sound system
• removable wireless Bluetooth speaker
• auto on/off LED headlights
• remote engine start
• ambient lighting
• heated steering wheel
• keyless entry
• push-button start
• dual-zone climate control

Existing driver and safety systems consist of a tyre pressure monitor, rear parking sensors, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning and Rollover Mitigation.

Off-road first

Underneath, the Gladiator retains its off-road hardware, including the Rock-Trac four-wheel drive system, heavy-duty Dana 44 axles, Tru-Lok front and rear locking differentials, a low-range transfer case and rear sway bar disconnect.

Unlike before, Jeep has uprated the Gladiator’s payload from 693kg to 725kg, while also increasing the ground clearance from 249mm to 282mm.

The claimed tow rating remains at 2 721kg, as does the 800mm wading depth. The approach angle (43.4°), departure angle (26°) and breakover (20.3°) also remain unchanged.

V6 still the only engine

Up front, as the Gladiator is not offered with the Wrangler’s 2.0-litre turbocharged Hurricane petrol engine, the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 continues as the only option, producing 209kW/353Nm.

Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Colours

Nine colours remain available, but Snazzberry, Silver Zenth, Sting Grey and Sarge Green fall away.

Replacing them are 41 (paying homage to the original Willy’s Jeep), Anvil, an orange called Joose, and a green shade dubbed Mojito.

Retained colours include Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Firecracker Red and Hydro Blue.

Price

Priced at R1 399 900, the Gladiator includes a three-year/100 000km maintenance plan and a five-year/100 000km warranty as standard.