Jeep Gladinflator lands Down Under

"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly) 06/22/2020 at 21:43 • Filed to: Jeep

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2020 Jeep Gladiator pricing*

Overland $75,450

Rubicon $76,450

LaunchEdition $86,450

*Excludes on-road costs

All the above courtesy of GoAuto.com.au

All versions are Pentastar with the 8 speed auto. Launch Edition is the Rubicon with even more accessories.

And my thoughts on this? At least Jeep Australia are being philosophically realistic about this...

“I don’t think we want to play into the ute markets, the product has not been designed for it, and we don’t want to be positioned exactly like this. And we are not intending to come and sell 15,000 cars in that market, because we know we have a product that is unique and specific and with a purpose,” he said.

Which seems to be sales speak for "won't sell many but the margins will be awesome!".

Without the towing capacity (only 2721 kg, needs another 300 kg) and payload capability (only 620 kg which lame for something so large) of even its premium local competitors like the Ranger Raptor, Amarok Highline and Navara N-Trek Warrior...I’m not sure that the off road chops that this nails is, on its own, going to help win the day. No matter how well specified they are...and they are chock full of goodies.

It could have been so much better...

Nauraushaun > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 22:05

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Seems pricey. I guess maybe the brand alone will sell it.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Nauraushaun 06/22/2020 at 22:18

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$82,000 drive away for a top spec dual cab Land Cruiser GXL with a 4.5 litre V8 TDI and 6 speed manual transmission. Plus annual depreciation is measured in very very small increments...

And Jeep has priced the Gladiator against it...and the performance utes already mentioned. That's a tough sell in my books...

atfsgeoff > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 22:21

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Can it really do anything a TRD Pro Taco can’t?

Gone > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 22:25

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No diesel seems brave. Doesn’t th e JL get a 2.xL 4cyl TD there as an option ?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 22:28

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There is nothing near so novel a take on a pickup in the US market. It will sell well for years to come and I totally understand it. I would actually consider buying one which can’t be said for many larger pickups.

I suppose our pickup markets are very different. The lawn care guys sometimes drive top spec trucks lifted on custom rims. Well, the white lawn care guys do.

Oh, and we get a 6 speed manual. Seems strange not to give that to your market. I guess it really sells on the American image.

My bird IS the word > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 22:32

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At that price, how is it not cheaper to just import it yourself?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > My bird IS the word 06/22/2020 at 22:35

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LHD means that's not advisable. 

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Gone 06/22/2020 at 22:35

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No diesel because Jeep would only invest in one driveline as part of the RHD engineering. Jeep Oz picked the gas/auto combination. See even Jeep knew they weren’t going to sell many! They did spend the extra to get the diesel option in the RHD Wrangler ...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > My bird IS the word 06/22/2020 at 22:38

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If I imported one I’d have to spend significant coin getting a RHD conversion.

Besides our versions are completely loaded...compare them with your top spec versions...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > atfsgeoff 06/22/2020 at 22:39

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No idea.... Toyota don't supply us with Tacoma's. 

atfsgeoff > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 22:48

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My God... someone slap Toyota of Australia in the face, they’re turning a blind eye to a goldmine.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/22/2020 at 22:53

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Honestly... there’s not here either. And on that alone, they’ll sell quite a few.

But Jeep appear to have targeted premium off road lifestyle as their niche. While there’d be few showroom vehicles that can do that well there’s a number that can do it nearly as well but also a number of other things besides.

70 series Land cruiser dual cab ute can take five people off road like the Gladiator with a smaller tray, less ventilated lifestyle and less bling but more payload and more towing capacity...and comes with Toyota reliability and support.

Ranger Raptor won’t go anywhere near as far off road but is much nicer on it and faster to boot...though a bit smaller. Same goes for the other premium pickups.

Then there’s Toyota Prado, Land Rover Defender, Ford Everest and other even more conventional and even cheaper offerings...

Honestly, it might be a good truck but I suspect it’s in the wrong niche, with the wrong engineering specification and the wrong price. However, if Jeep are comfortable with that then what I think doesn’t matter.

No- one here buys the Wrangler in the manual format...so Jeep decided to play along.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > atfsgeoff 06/22/2020 at 22:56

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Given the Hilux is the best selling vehicle in the country...I don't think they are too worried. Especially not when the latest update is out next month...

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 23:02

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So novelty, status, with a slathering of capability and Jack of all trades. More refinement than a land cruiser as well.

You called it the Gladinflator but, though it is a massive vehicle, it doesn't have nearly the ungainly and bulbous proportions as something like a current gen Tundra. My goodness is that thing ancient, ugly, and overweight. I hope it is a wake up call to the truck market to stop making their crap so thicc. The Gladiator actually doesn't have a stupid high liftover for the bed side (no flip down cuz 'Murica).

atfsgeoff > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 23:15

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Do they offer a factory TRD package for the Hilux?

My bird IS the word > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 23:16

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I guess that is more reasonable given the conversion rate.

Nauraushaun > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/22/2020 at 23:43

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Ooooh. That is a tough sell. In some ways the ol Landie is less cool..but also it’s got a bulletproof reputation for being bulletproof. I know which one i’d have.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > atfsgeoff 06/23/2020 at 01:10

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Nope. TRD as a brand has never taken off. The speedy brand now is GR as in Gazoo Racing.

However....Toyota Oz does off three lifestyle ’packs’ known as Rogue, Rugged and Rugged X. Rogue is the around town showoff while the Rugged and Rugged X versions provide off road accessories in the former and accessories plus capability modifications in the latter. It is also possible to order mining and agricultural target specifications...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/23/2020 at 01:18

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Novelty? Yes

Status? Not really. Jeep is still trying to come back from some really awful products and customer service failings.

Capability? Off road sure...but most Australians live in coastal capital cities ..as do most Jeep dealers.

Jack of all trades? That title is perhaps more appropriate for the Ranger and Hilux pickups that dominate out market (as in top sellers #1 and #2). Gladiolii are a bit more specialised than they are...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Nauraushaun 06/23/2020 at 01:21

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Me too...

pip bip - choose Corrour > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/23/2020 at 03:55

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2700kg tow capacity?

that’s piss poor!

no manual is a deal breaker for me (if i were to buy one)

Cé hé sin > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/23/2020 at 06:10

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I think the issue is not that Jeep sell in Australia on the American image, but rather that they don’t really sell at all!

Cé hé sin > My bird IS the word 06/23/2020 at 06:13

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From where? It would need to be RHD ( Australia doesn’t normally allow the registration of new LHD vehicles) so that limits your options.

BigBlock440 > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 06/23/2020 at 07:33

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It’s probably much cheaper for something Wrangler based though, since I believe they’re designed for it from the start.  That’s why most mail carrier vehicles are Wranglers, the conversion was easy (JKs at least, don’t know about JL/JT).

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > pip bip - choose Corrour 06/23/2020 at 07:44

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It’s certainly not up to date... it’s still more than our old Nissan Patrol farm ute though. But combined with the paltry payload... it’s not very useful for much more than a weekend away. My guesstimate is that, for the three of us, our camping gear, food and water for a long weekend in the bush would come very close to the maximum load. Add in recovery equipment, safety gear and a second spare tyre plus more food, fuel and water for a longer trip...and you’d sail over. And all that is based on the assumption that you haven’t taken advantage of any of Jeep’s accessory list before you left the dealership.

The shame is that the vehicle is capable, roomy, character laden and has the size to carry all our stuff but the limitations of our market, stupid marketing choices and some odd engineering choices have meant that a vehicle that sh ould, on paper, be perfect for us is a complete non-starter...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BigBlock440 06/23/2020 at 07:56

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RHD conversions will set you back 15 to 30 grand. Add that to the cost of a US base spec Gladiator, the cost of shipping and customs...and the cost of time. It just isn't worth it when this market has so many other practical options.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Cé hé sin 06/23/2020 at 08:02

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Grand Cherokee and the odd Wrangler is what it comes down to. They dropped the Renegade last year. The Cherokee and Compass make up the numbers...