Both the Wrangler and Gladiator have been hit with production cuts, albeit for different reasons. Stellantis spokesperson Ann Marie Fortunate revealed that Gladiator production will be paused this week as the automaker deals with bloated inventories. Temporarily laid-off workers are expected to return Monday, September 23.
It's not clear how many workers have been temporarily laid off as a result of the Gladiator's week-long production pause. The Wrangler, meanwhile, faces a different problem affecting production at the Toledo Assembly Complex. At the North plant, Wrangler production has been disrupted due to an issue with an external supplier. Stellantis did not name the supplier nor the parts that are in short supply. Also,
Speaking to The Detroit News, spokesperson Ann Marie Fortunate also revealed that Stellantis "will continue to monitor the situation to assess whether further production adjustments are needed."
UAW Local 12 president Bruce Baumhower made it clear to the cited publication that the Toledo Assembly Complex has struggled to get the right mix of models and trim levels. Even if dealers get what prospective customers prefer, don't forget that high prices and broken promises also keep customers away from the Jeep brand.
Regarding the broken promises part, March 2024 saw Jeep announce the 2024 model year Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition. Limited to 3,700 units worldwide, the HEMI-powered swansong isn't actually a last hurrah. The 2025 model was announced in July 2024 with less kit than the 2024 model. Not being as special as the 2024 is one thing, but put yourself in the shoes of someone who ordered a 2024 believing that it truly is a collectible.
Photo: Jeep
As for the high prices, do you think it's okay to charge $99,995 sans the $1,895 destination charge for a body-on-frame SUV with a lovable yet archaic V8 engine? For reference, the V8-powered BMW X5 M60i starts at $90,000. The six-cylinder M4 Competition xDrive Convertible, meanwhile, is $95,300.
The JL series came out in 2017 for the 2018 model year, with Jeep building on the strengths of the JK with bigger flares, a nicer interior, more high-strength steel, and a longer wheelbase. Another key difference is the Rubicon getting 33-inch tires as opposed to 32 inches for the JK-series Rubicon.
In addition to the bed, the next biggest difference between the JT and the JL is the Gladiator's rear suspension. Not only does it feature Ram 1500-style links, but the shocks are mounted forward to the rear axle as opposed to rearward for the Wrangler.
Refreshed for 2024, the Wrangler has a single true competitor in the form of the Bronco. Unfortunately, the Ford Motor Company is having trouble moving the Bronco as well, with Ford selling 50,152 units in the first half of 2024 versus 58,580 last year. Although it's a fairly capable truck due to its 7,700-pound max towing capacity, the Gladiator is way too expensive at $37,895 from the outset.
Both the Wrangler and Gladiator feature the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 by default. For 2025, however, the 2.0-liter turbo inline-four Wrangler 4xe's powertrain will be upgraded, with said plug-in hybrid setup carrying over to the Gladiator 4xe.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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