2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

FINAL REPORT: Four-wheel drive to the finish

- By Jered Korfhage

When it comes to off-road capability straight out of the box, it’s hard to match the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. The truck won the 2020 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year award after capturing our attention with its impressive trail competence, on-road manners, and various other features. Since its win, we’ve had the privilege of spending a year with the Gladiator with the task to evaluate the truck from all angles. From extended overland travel and weekend camping trips to grueling pushes on the interstate and assorted cargo-moving chores, the Gladiator has demonstrated its utility across the board. As we prepared to bid farewell to the Hydro Blue seven-slotted four-by, we thought it was fitting to point it to the mountains for some trail exploration. As it turned out, it became a particularly wet weekend that allowed us to affirm the truck’s off-road prowess on rain-soaked and mud-slathered trails.

When winding through mildly bumpy tracks, wet or dry, the Fox shocks handled the jolts respectably, and only the sneakiest of potholes caused us to fully consume our uptravel. The disconnecting front sway bar allowed the Falken tires to find traction on the rocks while the pair of locking differentials kept all four corners pulling forward. Even if we did have a mishap, the steel armor on the undercarriage, rockers, and both bumpers was on standby. When the rutted, muddy trails resembled Southwest beef stew, the 11.1 inches of ground clearance kept our pumpkins from plowing into the dirt.